2010_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 2010

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Hye Sharzhoom
May 2010
Graduating Seniors 2010
Name: Pateel Mekhitarian
Major: Chemistry
Minor:       Armenian      Studies
Honors
What     on-campus     Armenian
activities were you involved in?
I served as Treasurer for ASO for
two years and at the same time I was
a staff writer for Hye Sharzhoom.
Starting my junior year, I became
the  editor  of  Hye   Sharzhoom,
and continue until now. I believe
students at Fresno State are very
fortunate to have such a strong
Armenian Studies Program, with many opportunities to get involved.
How did your involvement with the Armenian Studies Program
affect your college exper ience?
Completing a Minor in Armenian Studies was important to me.
Although I already read, speak, and write the language, I greatly
enjoyed taking the language and history courses. The Armenian
culture is very complex and unique, and it was very beneficial for
me to fully comprehend our culture. My involvement in the Program
amplified my experiences at Fresno State, and made me very involved
with Armenian related events within our community.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or
event?
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the courses, however my most memorable
course was physically traveling to Armenia with Prof. Der Mugrdechian
and a group of Fresno State students. I am very thankful to have had
this experience, especially since I took the trip with my sister. It was my
first time visiting my homeland, in the summer of 2007, and therefore
it was a very special experience.
What did you enjoy most about your experience at Fresno State?
Bsing a scholar in the Smittcamp Family Honors College and earning a
Minor in Armenian Studies have both been the most meaningful aspects
of my college years. I feel very blessed to have had such positive and
inspirational opportunities provided to me.
What are your plans for after graduation?
After graduation, I will attend pharmacy school in Fall 2010. Working
in the pharmacy field these past four years has provided me full
appreciation of the field. I also plan on continuing my involvement
within the Armenian community.
Name: Arthur G. Petrosyan
Major:   Business   Management
(Organizational Leadership)
What on-campus Armenian
activities were you involved in?
I have taken a few Armenian
Studies courses: Armenian 1A/1B
(Elementary Armenian), Armenian
Studies 20 (Arts of Armenia), and
Armenian 148 (Masterpieces of
Armenian Culture). I was also
involved with the Armenian
Students Organization.
How did your involvement with the Armenian Studies Program
affect your college exper ience?
Bsing involved with the Armenian Studies Program has benefited
me in many ways. One way is through my education; I learned from
knowledgeable professors. The information I've obtained from my
classes will be something I will use for future reference and never
forget.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or
event?
My favorite Armenian Studies class was Armenian Studies 20.
Learning about my culture's artwork was incredibly interesting
because it fashioned the future for the Armenian people. Analyzing
specific visual works of art of the Armenian culture made me greatly
appreciate the influence of the past.
What did you enjoy most about your experience at Fresno State?
What I enjoyed most about my experience at Fresno State was meeting
and interacting with countless new people. This opportunity opened
many doors for beneficial networking and also gaining life-long
friends.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I plan to pursue my MBA and also work for the family business —in
the auto collision repair industry.
Photos: Pandy Mmgkn-Dotta
Antonyan Completes Successful Semester
Pateel Mekhitarian
Editor
TheArmenian Studies Program
at Fresno State was pleased to
welcome Junior Fulbright Scholar
Dr. Kristine Antonyan for the
spring semester. Unfortunately,
Antonyan's visit at Fresno State
is quickly coming to an end, as
she is returning as planned to
Armenia in early May Looking
back, Antonyan shares many
memorable experiences that she
had at Fresno State. Antonyan
graduated from Yerevan State
University with a concentration
in Bionomics and soon after, her
strong interest in the field led her
to pursue her Ph.D in Economics.
Throughout her stay, Antonyan
became involved in many
activities. She gave presentations
in numerous classes concerning
economies in transition and the
transformation of European
education. Antonyan also sat in
on many courses to gain ideas
on how to enhance her teaching
methods. The driving purpose
for her interest was to be able to
take back educationally beneficial
information to better the courses
she teaches at Yerevan State
University.
When asked what her main
accomplishments were during the
semester, Antonyan replied, "I
was able to get acquainted with so
many Armenians living in Fresno.
I have always had a dream to
see how much Armenians are
united, and how they live and
act in different communities in
different countries. I managed not
only to see, but to be involved in
the Fresno Armenian community
life." With such fond memories
of the Armenian community,
Antonyan  plans  to  collaborate
L: to R. : Tom Burns, Dr. Kristine Antonyan, Emil Milevoj,
and Dr. Bill Erysian discussing plans for MBA program.
Photo: Barlow Der Migrdechian
with the Armenian Studies
Program in the near future on
upcoming projects.
One of A ntonyan' s ma j or goals
when arriving to the campus was
to have an open mind on different
teaching styles. "I will organize
my classes with more 'student-
centered' methodology, rather
than 'course-centered,'" she said.
"I will try to make my students
do more individual and group
projects, develop presentation
skills, think more openly and
express their point of view, and
organize more round tables and
debates. I believe that the free
conversations may create new
knowledge and allow students
to learn better. Also, I will try
to extend the usage of the new
technologies in my teaching."
Antonyan is very thankful for
the many opportunities provided
to her while at Fresno State.
She sincerely wants to thanks
Frof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian
for the determinative role he
carries in the  Program.     She
appreciates the measures that are
taken to connect the Armenians
from Armenia to the Armenians
abroad. When asked for her final
thoughts, she said, "If I compare
the Armenian community and the
activities it implements with what
I have seen in other countries, I
can say that for the first time ever
in my life, being abroad Armenia,
in another country, I really have
been very proud to say 'I am
Armenian.' That is thanks to
you, my countrymen, thanks to
the reputation that you had been
creating around our nation in this
city and in this country. Thanks
to you, Armenians are known as
hard-working, smart, intelligent,
kind people, with a national
and cultural rich heritage. I am
leaving back to Armenia filled
with positive impressions, hope,
and a love of Fresno."
TheArmenian Studies Program
is appreciative of Dr. Antonyan's
contributions to the university and
looks forward to hosting more
Fellows in the future.
Fresno State Kicks Off Centennial Year
Celebration in April-Activities to 2011
Students, faculty, and staff gathered toform the number 100. Photo: Randy Vaughn-Dotta
Staff Report
TheArmenian Studies Program
will be joining the College of Arts
and Humanities for the Fresno
State's centennial celebration,
slated to begin in April 2010 and
culminating with commencement
in May 2011.
The history and programs
of the College of Arts and
Humanities will be highlighted in
October 2010. The Henry Madden
Library will be at the center of the
celebration, with displays and
history of the ten departments
that comprise the College.
TheArmenian Studies Program
is  planning   several   important
events during the centennial year,
culminating with a gala banquet
on March 20, 2011.
Fresno State alumni will be
asked to join in the celebration.
California State University,
Fresno launched its Centennial
celebration on Friday, April
16, with a proclamation and
then with hundreds of students,
staff, faculty, alumni and future
alumni forgoing lunch to gather
in the campus amphitheater for a
birthday photo opportunity.
The festivities are an
invitation to the community
and alumni to return to campus
during the 13 months until the
100th  Commencement in May
2011 to celebrate at one of
numerous events planned for the
Centennial.
Fresno State was established in
1911 as the Fresno State Normal
School, a teacher's college. In
1935, by act of the Legislature,
the official designation became
Fresno State College. Between
1953 and 1958 the college was
moved from the old campus site,
by then surrounded by the city of
Fresno, to a 1,410-acre site six
miles to the northeast. In 1972, the
state college system became The
California State University and
Colleges, and in 1982 the system
was renamed The California State
University.