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CSUN PROF. GAGIK MELIKYAN RECIPIENT OF KENNEDY CENTER/STEPHEN SONDHEIM INSPIRATIONAL TEACHER AWARD
By MassisPost
Updated: April 6, 2015
NORTHRIDGE -- California State University, Northridge chemistry
professor Gagik Melikyan is the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim
inspirational Teacher Award recipient.The annual Kennedy
Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards publicly
recognize specific educators by spotlighting their impact on the
lives of students. The awards celebrate the teaching profession, the
important role of teachers in society and seeks to inspire others
to pursue this profession."To be a teacher is the most exciting,
most demanding and most rewarding profession," said Melikyan. "I
enjoy challenging my students, making them believe in themselves,
creating life-changing opportunities and putting them on the path
to a prosperous future. Every new day is as exciting as the first
day on the job as an educator." "I have known Gagik for close to 10
years as dean of the college," said Dean of Science and Math, Jerry
Stinner. "I have tremendous respect for Gagik and consider him to
be one of the finest scholars and mentors in the college. He is a
first-rate scientist, with a remarkable publication record, and is
incredibly dedicated to training students in his laboratory."
Nominated by students they once taught, the award recipients reflect
the power one teacher has to inspire others and transform lives,
according to Kennedy Center officials.
Melikyan was nominated by Christopher Wild, a student who earned his
B.S. and M.S. degrees fromCSUN, and is currently a Ph.D. student at
the University of Texas Galveston."He is one of those students who
will make CSUN proud as their alma mater," said Melikyan of Wild."Dr.
Melikyan is my professional role model and was the catalyzing figure
of my academic and professional development while at CSUN," Wild said.
"He continues to play a prominent role to this day."Wild noted
that Melikyan's "high level of knowledge is apparent just after one
lecture. He demands excellence while being very fair. In his research
lab, Dr. Melikyan trained me himself. As an incoming Ph.D. student
in medicinal chemistry, I was able to hit the ground running. I
was so well trained that I was immediately able to conduct research
independently."Another one of Melikyan's colleagues, Steve Oppenheimer,
a biology professor at CSUN, noted Melikyan's talents when he said,
"Gagik is a fantastic teacher, research scientist and author. His
enthusiasm and clarity in the classroom are distinguished.
His award-winning book on exposing problems with hundreds of thousands
of chemicals (Guilty Until Proven Innocent), is a truly important
contribution to public health and welfare. It is a classic and should
be read by everyone."Melikyan is quick to point out that CSUN has
been one of the main reasons for his success.
"Over the last two decades, CSUN has provided such a large amount of
support, encouragement, understanding and appreciation that I could
hardly receive in any other setting," said Melikyan. "And the current
accomplishments, both in the classroom and research laboratory, could
not be possible without continuous assistance and help provided by
the university, college and departmental levels."
On the award, Melikyan said "of course, it is a great honor coming from
such a reputable institution. I consider it to be an appreciation of
my decades-long commitment to provide quality professionaltraining
to my students, both in the classroom and most importantly in the
research laboratory."
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards
were created in 2010 in honor of Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday
and were initiated and funded through the generous support of Freddie
and Myrna Gershon.
On March 22, Stephen Sondheim's birthday, a select number of
these teachers received The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim
Inspirational Teacher Award, and a money grant in appreciation for
their contributions to the field of teaching. Awardees will also
be showcased, along with the people they inspired, on The Kennedy
Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards website.
"The award will support my quest to educate the general public on
health-related issues, as well as ongoing professional activities as
an educator, writer and public advocate," said Melikyan.
Wild knows first hand the importance of that education. "The
greatest lessons he taught me, was that to be successful you must
have confidence. And confidence comes from preparation which requires
hard work."
http://massispost.com/2015/04/csun-prof-gagik-melikyan-recipient-of-kennedy-centerstephen-sondheim-inspirational-teacher-award/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
By MassisPost
Updated: April 6, 2015
NORTHRIDGE -- California State University, Northridge chemistry
professor Gagik Melikyan is the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim
inspirational Teacher Award recipient.The annual Kennedy
Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards publicly
recognize specific educators by spotlighting their impact on the
lives of students. The awards celebrate the teaching profession, the
important role of teachers in society and seeks to inspire others
to pursue this profession."To be a teacher is the most exciting,
most demanding and most rewarding profession," said Melikyan. "I
enjoy challenging my students, making them believe in themselves,
creating life-changing opportunities and putting them on the path
to a prosperous future. Every new day is as exciting as the first
day on the job as an educator." "I have known Gagik for close to 10
years as dean of the college," said Dean of Science and Math, Jerry
Stinner. "I have tremendous respect for Gagik and consider him to
be one of the finest scholars and mentors in the college. He is a
first-rate scientist, with a remarkable publication record, and is
incredibly dedicated to training students in his laboratory."
Nominated by students they once taught, the award recipients reflect
the power one teacher has to inspire others and transform lives,
according to Kennedy Center officials.
Melikyan was nominated by Christopher Wild, a student who earned his
B.S. and M.S. degrees fromCSUN, and is currently a Ph.D. student at
the University of Texas Galveston."He is one of those students who
will make CSUN proud as their alma mater," said Melikyan of Wild."Dr.
Melikyan is my professional role model and was the catalyzing figure
of my academic and professional development while at CSUN," Wild said.
"He continues to play a prominent role to this day."Wild noted
that Melikyan's "high level of knowledge is apparent just after one
lecture. He demands excellence while being very fair. In his research
lab, Dr. Melikyan trained me himself. As an incoming Ph.D. student
in medicinal chemistry, I was able to hit the ground running. I
was so well trained that I was immediately able to conduct research
independently."Another one of Melikyan's colleagues, Steve Oppenheimer,
a biology professor at CSUN, noted Melikyan's talents when he said,
"Gagik is a fantastic teacher, research scientist and author. His
enthusiasm and clarity in the classroom are distinguished.
His award-winning book on exposing problems with hundreds of thousands
of chemicals (Guilty Until Proven Innocent), is a truly important
contribution to public health and welfare. It is a classic and should
be read by everyone."Melikyan is quick to point out that CSUN has
been one of the main reasons for his success.
"Over the last two decades, CSUN has provided such a large amount of
support, encouragement, understanding and appreciation that I could
hardly receive in any other setting," said Melikyan. "And the current
accomplishments, both in the classroom and research laboratory, could
not be possible without continuous assistance and help provided by
the university, college and departmental levels."
On the award, Melikyan said "of course, it is a great honor coming from
such a reputable institution. I consider it to be an appreciation of
my decades-long commitment to provide quality professionaltraining
to my students, both in the classroom and most importantly in the
research laboratory."
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards
were created in 2010 in honor of Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday
and were initiated and funded through the generous support of Freddie
and Myrna Gershon.
On March 22, Stephen Sondheim's birthday, a select number of
these teachers received The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim
Inspirational Teacher Award, and a money grant in appreciation for
their contributions to the field of teaching. Awardees will also
be showcased, along with the people they inspired, on The Kennedy
Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards website.
"The award will support my quest to educate the general public on
health-related issues, as well as ongoing professional activities as
an educator, writer and public advocate," said Melikyan.
Wild knows first hand the importance of that education. "The
greatest lessons he taught me, was that to be successful you must
have confidence. And confidence comes from preparation which requires
hard work."
http://massispost.com/2015/04/csun-prof-gagik-melikyan-recipient-of-kennedy-centerstephen-sondheim-inspirational-teacher-award/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress