GLENDALE–Seven college bound Armenian-American’s will receive a helping hand with tuition and books this year, as the Armenian Youth Federation Western Region (AYF-WR) announced last week the recipients of the “Nanor Krikorian Memorial Scholarship.”

The recipients are, Taron Matevosyan from Glendale High School, Pateel Krikorian from Glendale High School, Carina Khanjian from Alex Pilibos Armenian High School, Vahan Hartooni from Clark Magnet High School, Bedig Galladian from Northwest High School in Maryland, Ani Megerdichian from Cranston High School West in Rhode Island, and Serli Nazarian from Clark Magnet High School.

“Each year the pool of qualified applicants applying for the scholarship increase, making it difficult to choose which applicant will receive the scholarship. There were more than fifty applications to choose from and we hope the number of applicants double come around this time next year” said Ani Garibyan, AYF Nanor Krikorian Scholarship Coordinator.

In its sixth year, the AYF-WR has been able to assist 42 students to further their education through the Nanor Krikorian Scholarship. Each year, seven students are given a scholarship ranging from $250 to $1000. These students are chosen by not only on how well they did in their high school careers, but also by how they have contributed to their perspective Armenian communities and to Armenia.

“We are proud of the scholarship recipients and believe that they will continue to serve the Armenian Diaspora and Armenia” said Saro Haroun, chairperson of the AYF-WR Educational Council. “These students are among a greater number of educated and Armenian hearted youth who will flourish in all their endeavors,” added Haroun.

The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization. With chapters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the AYF actively advances the concerns of Armenian American youth on a broad range of issues.

The scholarship went out as follows;

Taron Matevosyan – $1000

Pateel Krikorian – $750

Carina Khanjian – $500

Vahan Hartooni – $500

Bedig Galladian – $250

Serli Nazarian – $250

Ani Megerdichian – $250

GLENDALE–The Armenian community of Glendale gathered at Saint Mary’s Church in Glendale on Sunday for a vigil to commemorate and honor the sacrifice of five young individuals who, on July 27, 1983, occupied the Turkish Embassy in Lisbon to demand the international recognition of the 1915-23 Turkish Genocide against the Armenians. The five individuals, who came to be known as the Lisbon 5, were forced to set off explosives, destroying the embassy and killing themselves.

The requiem service, presided over by Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, was followed by a video presentation in the church’s hall dedicated to the memory of Simon Yaheneian, Vatche Daghlian, Sarkis Aprahamian, Setrak Adjemian and Ara Kerjelian–the Lisbon 5.

In attendance were members from the ARF Western USA Central Committee, members of the ARF Aharonian Glendale Chapter, members of the AYF Roupen Chapter, and members of the Glendale Ararat Homenetmen Scouts who carried a wreath in memory of the Lisbon 5 to the Church alter.

Following the vigil, Glendale AYF member Meghmik Babakhanian spoke about the influence the Lisbon 5 has had on today’s young Armenian activists, describing their sacrifice as an inspiration to her generation to learn from the past and work within the political process for the advancement of the Armenian cause.

“25 years have passed since the sacrifice of the Lisbon 5 and the political atmosphere of the world has changed. It was common for people then to resort to violence in order to be heard,” Babakhanian said, noting, however, that for Armenians–and the Lisbon 5–violence was only used as a last resort. “The times have changed and so have the means with which we struggle for justice.”

“Ara, Sarkis, Setrag, Simon and Vatche, were ardent believers in fairness, justice and human rights. Their sacrifice laid the groundwork for the worldwide political recognition of the Armenian Genocide and their high ideals continue to inspire us today,” she added. “Their memory will live eternally in our hearts and minds as we continue to seek international recognition of the Armenian genocide,” she said.

Following Babakhanian’s speech, 3 AYF badanees, Tony Ghanime, Verginie Touloumian and Nare Terzian recited a poem by famed Armenian poet Hovhannes Shiraz dedicated to the Lisbon 5. Armenian musician Nersik Ispirian also performed “Lisbon 5,” a song dedicated to the five young Armenian activists.

Babakhanian, who served as the event’s Emcee, presented a short video that included short biographies about the five boys, as well as audio reenactments of them as they spoke about themselves and relayed their message to their families and the Armenian community as a whole. The video also featured footage from the Lisbon bombing.

Following the video, Keynote speaker Hovan Tashjian spoke more about the five boys, the circumstances that lead them to Lisbon and how their actions have impacted Armenians today. Their actions were considered a surprise by the world, Tashjian said, adding that “Armenian life was not the same after July 27, 1983.”

In the early 1980s, the entire world seemed apathetic to the Armenian Cause, and the genocide question was consistently brushed aside in diplomatic forums. It was a time of great frustration for the Armenians who faced a vicious campaign to deny the Genocide by a Turkish government unwilling to engage in dialogue concerning the Armenian Genocide.

As the Lisbon 5 characterized it at the time in communiques to the world, the press and the Portuguese authorities, the wall of silence surrounding the Armenian Genocide had become so thick, that the only way to penetrate that wall was to make the ultimate sacrifice for one’s country.

Their sacrifice inspired a new generation in the 1990s, as Karabakh freedom fighters sacrificed their lives to liberate the historic Armenian territory and establish a democratic republic, explained Tashjian.

“[The Lisbon 5] were well aware that they were the descendants of the remains of the tragic act of the annihilation of an entire nation at Der Zor. They were the birth of the Armenian Diaspora and had received their national baptism in Armenian schools and youth organizations that marshaled the Armenian Cause, Tashjian said during his remarks. “In our community centers, they had felt the freedom-loving spirit of Nigol Tuman, Dro and the likes.”

Archbishop Mardirossian concluded the event with his own remarks. Echoing Tashjian’s remarks, he added that “25 years ago, on this day, a heroic event was transcribed into our modern history, when 5 young Armenians joined the martyrs of our past, who had died for our homeland and cause.”

La Crescenta, CA–About a hundred young Armenia’s gathered Friday night at the La Crescenta Armenian Center for a night of music and poetic reflection during the third annual Open Mic Night, hosted by the Crescenta Valley ‘Zartonk’ chapter of the Armenian Youth Federation.

The evening’s event, entitled “Speak Your Mind,” has become a tradition in the fast growing Armenian community of La Crescenta and featured performances by a dozen community members, and up and coming Armenian-American artists.

MCed by Zartonk’s very own comedic duo, Artem Aghourian and Shant Bairian and set to the energetic tunes of live DJ music by Zartonk’s Shahan Kazanchian, the grass-roots concert was held in a dimly lit hall decorated with artwork and photography chronicled the Armenian Cause.

The event showcased originally composed music, poetry recitals, stand-up comedy, and traditional, patriotic, and opera vocal performances in Armenian.

The Open Mic Night kicked off with an opera performance of Komitas’ Groong by Talin Nalbandian. Following the 15-year-old choir singer was Siana Kay and then Aubriana Labrae, each singing their own originally composed pop and R&B numbers. The Kambourian brothers, Avo and Armand, played an acoustic set of Britney Spears songs, which evoked laughter and participation from the audience, while Payla Kevorkian, who appeared on stage with her keyboard throughout the evening, sang an originally composed love song.

The poetry of Bedros Tourian and Barour Sevak was brought to life by a passionate Garen Kazanc following the showing of intermission video, which showcased AYF Youth Corps members rebuilding a community center in Karabakh last year.

Kazanc’s Armenian poetry set the tone for 14-year-old Alex Pilibos student Hoory Minoyan, who dedicated her performance to the martyrs of Lisbon 5, whose sacrifice for the Armenian Cause, she said, was very close to her heart.

The night’s second intermission featured two short films produced by Avo Kambourian. The first, titled “Gotta Catch Me was a light comedy centered around a game of tag between friends, while the second a more serious showing, titled, “Homeland,” followed an unexpected and supernatural conversation on the issue of repatriation between a Karabakh War veteran living in America and the disappointed ghost of his fallen comrade in arms.

The final showcase of the event included spot-on impersonations of Persian-Armenian parents by Ajmin Baghramian, star of My Big Fat Armenian Family, a new film parody on the lives of Armenian families in the Diaspora. Bedik Atmajian sang Armenian revolutionary music, while duet performances by Lara Panossian and Viki Tavitian, and Sanahin and Nair Balian showcased the surreal sounds of Armenian folk. Nare Garibian recited a poem she had written about her fateful encounter with an Armenian living in the Turkish occupied Western Armenian town of Arabkir, while acoustic guitarist Raffi Semerdjian performed a repertoire of original music he wrote during his stay in Armenia.

The night concluded with a surprise performance by Lara Panosian who, in complete costume, performed a riveting traditional Armenian dance number for an audience that shortly after, walked outside to see a vibrant supersized mural of the words “Speak Your Meetk” spray-painted by Osheen Rostami.

“Since we started the Zartonk Open Mic Night in 2006, it has grown to become an open forum for the community to gather and express themselves artistically, emotionally, and intellectually,” said Zartonk Chairperson Sanan Shirinian.

“It wasn’t easy organizing the event, but it was worth it, because today’s youth are in desperate need of a fun environment to experiment and share their interpretations of our heritage,” added Zartonk Social Committee Chair Nayree Kodaverdian. “Events like this help us as Armenian youth hold onto our culture in American society.”

“The Open Mic night is one of the most unique opportunities for young Armenia’s to express themselves artistically through whatever means they choose, commented AYF-WR Central Executive member Vache Thomassian. “Its amazing to see the talent of our membership in so many diverse forms.”

Last year’s open mic night featured, among others, a riveting performance of Armenian folk music by “Las Vegabond Girls,” the passionate prose of a young Armenian faced with the threat of white genocide, and solo guitar performances of songs from the day’s of the Karabakh Movement, and a song commemorating the Genocide by Armenian Rapper Armin.

Los Angeles, CA – Initiated in the days leading up to the Senate confirmation hearing for ambassador-designate Marie Yovanovitch, the Armenian Youth Federation Western Region (AYF) has launched an innovative campaign using YouTube video messages to encourage U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to ask President Bush’s nominee frank questions about the Armenian Genocide.

Sen. Boxer and her colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider Yovanovitch’s nomination to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia on June 19th, at hearings scheduled for 2:15pm EDT. The previous ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, was fired by President Bush for speaking honestly about the Armenian Genocide.

“It is vital that the voice of Armenian American youth in California be heard by Senator Boxer on this human rights issue,” stated AYF Central Executive Chairman Caspar Jivalagian. “We must be certain that the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia acknowledges the acts of 1915 as Genocide and we believe our video messages will accurately and effectively convey our expectations,” he added.

Advocacy efforts by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) to “End the Gag Rule” on the Armenian Genocide have included web faxes, a national postcard campaign to Members of Congress, and an extensive ad campaign on key Congressional websites, including The Hill, CQPolitics, and Politico. The ads are currently running on RollCall.com. The video messages prepared by the AYF add a new dimension to the grassroots efforts of the Armenian American community.

On March 28, 2008, President Bush nominated Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch to serve as America’s next Ambassador to Armenia. President Bush’s previous nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Hoagland, was subject to two legislative holds by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and was ultimately withdrawn by the Administration, following the nominee’s statements denying the Armenian Genocide.

As the Yovanovitch confirmation hearing approached, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Barack Obama restated his commitment to U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. In a letter to ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, Senator Obama wrote, “I share your view that the United States must recognize the events of 1915 to 1923, carried out by the Ottoman Empire, as genocide. . . We must recognize this tragic reality. The Bush Administration’s refusal to do so is inexcusable, and I will continue to speak out in an effort to move the Administration to change its position.”