California State University, Fresno Armenian Studies Program Non-Profit and Armenian Students Organization U.S. Postage 5245 N. Backer Ave. M/S PB 4 PAID Fresno, CA 93740-8001 Permit No. 262 FRESNO, CA CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED HYE SHARZHOOM st Armenian Action 31 FA| <ARVOUM Year October 2009 Vol. 31, No. 1 (107) Ethnic Supplement to The Collegian Der Mugrdechian-25th Year Pianist Nareh Arghamanyan Gives Outstanding in Armenian Studies Program Concert in Philip Lorenz Keyboard Series PATEEL EVELYN K. DEMIRCHIAN MEKHITARIAN STAFF WRITER EDITOR Twenty-year-old piano prodigy Dr. Dickran Nareh Arghamanyan graced a Kouymjian was re- packed auditorium on September cruited from France to 18th at the Fresno State Concert restart the Armenian Hall. Arghamanyan’s electrifying Studies Program at performance was at once elegant, Fresno State in 1977. moving, and worthy of the interna- Prof. Barlow Der Barlow Der Mugrdechian tional praise she has received as one of the youngest professional Mugrdechian was a fresh- Photo: Ali Peyvandi Mugrdechian man at Fresno State in 1974, and “Dr. Kouymjian inspired me to concert pianists. Playing a two-hour Der was present to experience the be- continue my studies in Armenian set, Arghamanyan exuded energy ginning of the new program. Studies after I graduated from with her performance, not often Der Mugrdechian was very in- Fresno State in 1979. I was ac- seen in classical piano. Beginning Barlow volved in Armenian related events cepted to UCLA in the fall of 1980, her set with Mendelssohn’s Varia- during his college career, taking a and spent five years completing tions sérieuses, Op. 54, Photo: Philip Lorenz Keyboard Concert director Andreas Werz with one-month trip to Armenia spon- my Masters Degree and Candidate Arghamanyan played with a mas- pianist Nareh Arghamanyan at Keyboard Concert, Sept. 18. sored by the Armenian Church in Philosophy degrees,” said Der terful touch, showing off her skills Youth Organization (ACYO) in Mugrdechian. After completing his taking on Schuman’s Carnaval, a Lorenz Keyboard concert Series at The vigor and energy that pours out 1978, and also taking a course in degrees in fall of 1985, he was lively rendition of Op. 9, Fresno State and co-sponsored with from her performance ignited ex- Armenian Art with Dr. Kouymjian. invited by Dr. Kouymjian to return Tchaikovsky’s Concert Suite from the Armenian Studies Program. citement in those who were wit- Der Mugrdechian was eager to ex- to Fresno State and teach courses in “The Nutcracker” and finally a Arghamanyan’s concert elicited ness to her masterful command of pand his knowledge of the Arme- Armenian language and culture. beautiful take on Rachmaninoff and a cheerful round of applause from the keyboard. Coming out onto the nian culture. He recalls how the Since then, he has been happily his Sonata in B-flat Minor, Op. 36. the audience and delighted the many SEE ARGHAMANYAN PAGE 6 Armenian Students Organization teaching, becoming the Coordina- The concert was part of the Philip that came out that night to see her. was reorganized and the beginning tor of the Armenian Studies Pro- Rosalie Mahakian Bequest of $50,000 to ASP of the Armenian student newspa- gram and the Director of the Center per, Hye Sharzhoom/Armenian STAFF REPORT beth Hagopian. Her childhood was a shoestring. She developed an in- Action, in 1979. SEE DER MUGRDECHIAN PAGE 7 that of a typical farming family: satiable passion for the arts that Keyan Armenian School Begins Castro Valley resident Rosalie picking grapes, stacking trays when took her to the major museums of Mahakian has bequeathed the Ar- it rained, or drying raisins. Living the world. She traveled extensively New Year With Positive Changes menian Studies Program at Cali- conditions were Spartan, but pa- to Europe (including a trip to Ar- fornia State University, Fresno rental love was overflowing. menia), South America, and Africa current location at 108 N. Villa $50,000 for general Program pur- Mahakian received her where she flew over Victoria Falls. Ave, in Clovis. In that time they poses. She passed away in Castro bachelor’s degree from the Univer- She took shorter trips to the Ozarks, have made it their home, bringing Valley on February 10, 2007. sity of California at Berkeley and Hawaii, Cape Cod, Washington, Armenian culture into the walls of Rosalie Hagopian Mahakian, was an educator for 32 years in the D. C., the Rockies and many other the buildings. Along with the move, born in Fresno, California July 7, same San Leandro school during places. the Armenian Community School 1922, was one of five children in which time she developed a pas- of Fresno was renamed the Charlie the family of Ovagim and Eliza- sion for traveling—mostly done on SEE MAHAKIAN PAGE 7 Keyan Armenian Community School (CKACS), to honor Charlie Eleventh Annual La Porta Starts New Semester at Keyan, whose donation allowed the Armenian school to purchase the new grounds. Fresno State With Enthusiasm This fall, Sophie Mekhitarian Film Festival HAGOP OHANESSIAN joined the staff as principal. Within STAFF WRITER the first few months of her tenure, Spring 2010 Photo: Tamar Karkazian she has sparked a new “can do” (Date to be Announced) Dr. Sergio La Porta attitude. Her goal is to not only get Principal Sophie Mekhitarian was appointed as Haig all of the children on and above Sponsored by the Armenian and Isabel Berberian TAMAR KARKAZIAN grade level but also to help each Students Organization Professor of Armenian STAFF WRITER child find their “niche in life.” Armenian Studies Program Studies at Fresno State Ms. Mekhitarian has been in- and joined the faculty For over 30 years Armenian volved in education all of her life, Partially funded by the this Fall semester as an children from all over the Valley working both as a teacher and ad- Diversity Awareness Program Associate Professor of have been attending the Armenian ministrator in the Clovis District. of the University Student Union Armenian Studies. Community School of Fresno. In “Sophie is helping the school reach Dr. La Porta’s father Dr. Sergio La Porta the past couple of years the Arme- a new level with her positive en- First Call for Entries immigrated from Sicily Photo: Barlow Der Mugrdechian nian Community School has un- ergy,” stated Hagop Kelejian, co- in 1960 and his mother, dergone numerous changes, rang- Chair of the Board of Education, Entries are being sought for the whose parents were English and ing his junior year at Columbia, he ing from a change in location to “Good things are happening.” 11th Annual Armenian Film Fes- Dutch, was born in New York. Dr. studied abroad at Oxford Univer- introduction of after-school pro- Ms. Mekhitarian has already tival to be held on the California La Porta is a native of Elmhurst, sity where he studied Sanskrit, Pali, grams. started incorporating some new State University, Fresno campus. Queens, New York City and re- and Tibetan. After graduating, he Some of the more obvious programs in the school day to help Films made by Armenian direc- ceived his undergraduate degree attended Rothberg International changes are of the name and loca- the students grow. An after-school tors/writers, or films with an Ar- from Columbia University in New School of the Hebrew University tion. Over a year ago the Armenian York where he studied Indology Community School moved to its SEE ARMENIAN SCHOOL PAGE 7 SEE FILM FESTIVAL PAGE 2 SEE LA PORTA PAGE 6 and Middle Eastern Studies. Dur- 2 Hye Sharzhoom October 2009 Armenian Studies Program California State University, Fresno Book/Video/CD/Archival Gifts Armenian Studies Program Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian and the Armenian Stud- ies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and Spring 2010 Schedule of Courses publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, and archival gifts, either offered personally, or to the Course Units Time Day Instructor Program. General Education Arts & Humanities, Area C1 Antonia Arslan and Paolo Zaninoni for the gift of the book La Strada di Smirne [The Road From Smyrna] (Milan, R.C.S. Libri SpA; • ArmS 20 Arts of Armenia 3 9:30A-10:45P TuTh B Der Mugrdechian 2009), authored by Antonia Arslan. (Class #33057) Serge Avedikian, Paris, for a copy of his movie, “We Drank the Same Water.” [French, English, Armenian]. Arts & Humanities, Area C2 Dr. George Bournoutian, Iona University, for his gift of the book • Arm 1B Elementary Armenian 3 10:30A-11:35A MWF B Der Mugrdechian Armenians in Australia and New Zealand, by Fr. Aramais Mirzaian (Class #32265) (Sydney, Australia, 1966). • Hum 10 Hum Antqty/Ren 3 11:00A-12:15A TuTh S LaPorta Dr. Bill Erysian, Fresno, for the gift of his dissertation, Economic (Class #32430) Challenges and Solutions in the Future Development of Agricul- tural Management in the Republic of Armenia, (Armenian State Agrarian University, Yerevan, 2008). 174 pp. Arts & Humanities, Area IC Richard Kloian, Richmond, California, for a gift of the newly restored • Arm 148 Masterp. Arm Culture 3 11:00A-11:50A MWF S LaPorta and edited 24 minute segment of the historic motion picture, (Class #37261) Ravished Armenia, produced in 1919. The newly remastered video (2009) was produced by the Armenian Genocide Resource Upper Division Armenian Studies Courses Center of Northern California. It includes a music score, an introduction, 125 sub-titles, and slideshow of production stills. • ArmS 108B Arm History II 3 9:30A-10:45A TuTh S LaPorta Col. Carl Mahakian, Palm Desert, for the gift of the following books: (Class #31010) William Saroyan’s The Time of Your Life (New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1939); Ataturk: A Biography of Mustafa • ArmS 120 Armenia Today 1 5:00-8:50P Fri B Der Mugrdechian Kemal, Father of Modern Turkey, by Lord Kinross (New York: (Class #36818) 9:00A-5:00P Sa William Morrow and Company, 1965); Journeys Between Wars Meets Friday, Feb.