2000_03 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper March 2000

              March 2000
Hye Sharzhoom
3
Armenians and the Internet
By Ara Mekhitarian
Staff Writer
The Official Armenia- Diaspora Home Page
Address: http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/
Contact: info@armeniadiaspora.com
Categories: History, Population, Database of Professionals, Travel/
Tourism Commerce, Guest Book, Links.
How to use: Links are all listed on the left side of the page.
Brief Summary: Ever wonder how many Armenians there are in
the world? The Armenian population ofthe world today is estimated
to be a little more than 8 million. Armeniadiaspora.com gives you
country by country figures of the Armenian population. It is
interesting to see how many Armenians live in all of the different
areas ofthe world. This site's "History" page also does a great job
in educating readers on how the Armenian Diaspora came to be
formed. If you are planning on visiting Armenia, check out their
"Travel/Tourism Commerce" page. It offers links to all of the
different Armenian travel agencies around the world to help you
organize your trip to Armenia.
1999 Con'erence
History
Population
DataDase or
professionals Kfe
Travel / Tourism
Commerce
vrjarja
Guest Book
Guest Book
(review)
Discussion Forums
z
News
LinKsPags**"'
Cuming soon
(fi
1700    Anniversary of Christianity in Armenia
Address: http://www.freespeech.org/oneworld/1700/
Contact: onewm@usa.net
Categories: Introduction, Adoption of Christianity, The Armenian
Church, History of the Church, Pilgrimage, Related Links.
How to use: Choose your language (Armenian or English), then
select one of the sections on the right side of the page.
Brief Summary: In 2001, Armenia will celebrate the 1700th
anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as the national religion
of Armenia. It is the oldest Christian Church in the world. This web
site offers information about the big celebration next year as well as
interesting facts about the Armenian Church and the adoption of
Christianity. The site also allows you to choose whether you would
like to view the pages in English or Armenian depending on your
preference. The "Related Links'' page offers many other interesting
pages with more information on'Armenian Christianity, the Church,
land and culture. Overall this is a great educational site that is easy
to navigate and informs us more about Armenian Christianity.
ASO Activities-Sp' 2000
By Shayla Srabian
Staff Writer
T
his spring semester the
Armenian Students
Organization is on the
meeting led by new ASO President
Armen Ghanbarian. Ghanbarian
joins executive members Gary
Atashkarian, vice-president; Talar
Atarian, secretary; Tammy
Karakashian, treasurer; Shayla
Left to right: Shushan Khalachyan, Heidi Dunbar,
Hasmik Khalachyan-Canas
Ag Students From Armenia Study for Semester
By Hasmik Khalachyan-Canas
Staff Writer
After several years of
preparation by a team
consisting of the
United States Department of Agricultural (USDA), Fresno State University, College of Agricultural
Science and Technology, Armenian Agricultural Academy (AAA),
and the Armenian Studies Program,
two exchange students from Armenian are finally here at Fresno State
participating in the Armenian Agricultural Exchange Program.
Mihran Movsissyan, 18, and
Sona Vardanyan, 19, are the first
students to participate in this program. They were selected for their
outstanding academic achievements and their English proficiency
and were approved by the AAA
and the US Department of Agriculture.
The Armenian Agricultural
Exchange Program is a campus
partnership of the Armenian Studies Program, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology,
and the International Programs office that is cooperating with the
USDA to jointly sponsor these students. The aim is to expose students from Armenia on agricultural techniques and business so
that they can take back to Armenia
what they have learned and apply
it. Fresno State was chosen to be
involved in this exchange program
because ofthe large Armenian community in the Central Valley and
because it is in the center of the
richest agricultural area in the
world. In addition, a vibrant Armenian Studies Program with international ties is located at Fresno State.
Movsissyan and Vardanyan arrived in mid-January and will stay
for a total of six months with all
their expenses covered by the pro
gram. They are living in dormitories with non-Armenian roommates
and are getting a real taste of American culture.
Vardanyan's expectations
were that the US would be a very
Dr. John Shields
modern country where everything
is easy. So far she is pleasantly
surprised how easily people communicate with each other.
They both have six classes and
take most ofthe saem classes. They
are taking Introduction to Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business Computer Applications, Agricultural Export marketing, Introduction to Armenian Studies, English as a Second Language, and a
one-unit class in Contemporary
American Culture that is required
for all foreign exchange students.
They are enjoying their stay in
America and say that people are
treating them very well. Vardanyan
said that it was difficult at first and
she did not talk much, but now she
is more comfortable and is opening
up to people.
They both miss their family
and friends in Armenia.
Movsissyan said that his father
might come to visit him in one
month.
Their air-fare, health insurance, and room and board are being
paid for by the USDA. The University is providing tuition-wavers,
while the College of Agricultural
Science and Technology is paying
all of their student fees and will
attempt to find them summer jobs.
The Armenian Studies Program is
giving them each a scholarship that
pays for books, supplies and miscellaneous living expenses.
Dr. William Rice of the Marketing Department at Fresno State
headed the USDA-Fresno State-
AAA project for nearly two years
and was instrumental in the two
students studying at Fresno State.
From the time that the grant was
first awarded, Professor Barlow Der
Mugrdechian from the Armenian
Studies Program and Professor John
Shields from the Agricultural Economics department have been
working closely with Dr. Rice to
make this program successful. They
have both made several trips to the
AAA in Armenian in conjunction
with the grant. The Student Exchange Program is initially depending on USDA grant money that in
time will hopefully be replaced by
an endowment to continue the program for many years.
Vardanyan plans to take the
knowledge that she obtains in
America back to Armenia, and
would like graduate and work with
food companies as a food economic
manager.
Movsissyan is interested in intentional trade and wants to become an export marketer.
They are the first students to
participate in this program, and the
program has had an excellent beginning.
In the future the exchange program plans to overcome the language barrier and have students go
from America to Armenia. They
will be looking towards the large
Fresno Armenian community for
help.
Profile of Armenian Agricultural Exchange Program Students
Nineteen-year-old Sona Vardanyan    the Armenian Agricultural Acad-
from Aramous, Armenia is the
middle child of three daughters.
She graduated in 1997 and joined
Sona Vardanyan
emy. She hopes to finish school
and become a food econom ics manager. Vardanyan enjoys cooking
Armenian food, listening to classical music and reading Armenian
literature.
Eighteen-year-old Mihran
Movsissyan from Yerevan, Armenia is the oldest of two sons. He
graduated school at the age of 15
and is now a sophomore at the
Armenian Agricultural Academy.
After he graduates from the AAA
he plans to be an export marketer.
Movsissyan loves soccer and is a
member of the Armenian National
Mihran Movsissyan
Soccer team. He enjoys watching
television and listening to rap music.
move with many activities.   The
ASO began with their bi-weekly
Srabian, historian, who are planning activities together.
Ghanbarian's main goal as
president he says, "Is to get back to
Armenian brotherhood, to not only
focus on the academic aspect of our
collegiate careers but to embrace
social and cultural perspectives in
our own lives."
ASO's first activity of this
spring semester was a Valentines
Day party at Armen Karlozian's
house. It was a stormy night, but
that didn't stop students from having a good time. It was an evening
filled with dancing and socializing.
The party was an occasion for members and friends to catch up with
each other, and a great way to start
the semester.
On April 6 and 7, the ASO is
organizing an Armenian Film Festival at Fresno State featuring the
works of young Armenian directors/producers from throughout
California.
Another talent the ASO is
bringing to the Fresno State campus is Lory Tatoulian, an stage performer from San Diego. She will
be performing her "One Woman
Show," a drama and comedy, on
Thursday, April 13.
ASO members are still work
ing very hard to organize a commemoration and remembrance of
the Armenian Genocide on Monday, April 24. This on-campus
event, held annually at noon in the
Free Speech area, i s set to honor the
85th anniversary ofthe 1.5 million
Armenian martyrs ofthe 1915 Armenian Genocide.
The ASO is continuing their
hard work and involvement to preserve their culture and heritage.
The members are really excited for
the upcoming events of this semester.