LOS ANGELES — The TCA Arshag Dickranian School (ADS) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a gala banquet on Saturday, April 2, at the Taglyan Cultural Center. The event was one of the series of affairs taking place throughout the school year in observance of the anniversary.
Traditionally being solely hosted by the PTO, this year the Banquet Committee integrated into including members of the Board of Trustees, past Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) chairpersons and several alumni.
At arrival, guests were greeted by the host committee, then moved to join the gathering at the lobby to rub shoulders with old and new acquaintances in attendance, amongst whom were benefactors, prominent officials, past and present parents, committee and faculty members, alumni, upper-grade students and friends. It was heartening to see the assemblage of 350 devotees gathered for the common purpose of paying tribute and offering their support to Arshag Dickranian School. At the end of the social hour, Fr. Manoug Markarian, archpriest of St. John Church, offered the invocation.
Houri Taglyan-Kourouyan was the emcee for the event. She introduced herself as a personification of the 30-year success story of the TCA Arshag Dickranian School. She was an alumna of the first graduating class, in 1990, went on to pursue higher education, married a former classmate, enrolled her child at the school and became a member of the PTO.
After sharing her thoughts about the merits of her alma mater, Kourouyan concluded her remarks by acknowledging the presence of several dignitaries, amongst them the banquet’s guest of honor, Hmayak Baltayan, Los Angeles City Council member Paul Krekorian and Grigor Hovhannisyan, the consul general of the Republic of Armenia, inviting the latter to the podium to present his congratulatory remarks.
Following the consul general’s remarks, the lights of the hall were dimmed for the video presentation of the blessings and congratulatory message of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Armenian Church Western Diocese.
