LOS ANGELES — Guests, parents, teachers, students and supporters of the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) Arshag Dickranian School (ADS) gathered at the Walter and Laurel Karabian Hall on Friday, March 22, to celebrate the school’s 32nd Annual Dinner Dance. The evening was organized by the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).
The theme of the evening was “Greek Night” offering Greek food and Greek music.
The event was sponsored by Ara and Julia Aghishian. Ara Aghishian, an attorney, was a former member of the Board of Trustees of TCA Arshag Dickranian School. He currently serves as the president of Armenia Fund Inc., US Western Region. His wife is a volunteer teacher at Dickranian School and teaches elementary and high school grade levels.
Among the guests attending the event were the Rev. Manoug Markarian, school benefactress Laurel Karabian, retired California Supreme Court Justice Armand Arabian and his wife, Nancy, Albert Boyajian, a philanthropist and member of the International Board of Trustees and Hayastan All Armenian Fund and his wife, Tove.
The celebration started with the opening remarks of ADS alumna and third-grade teacher Violet Tatoian, who was the MC of the event. In her welcoming message, Tatoian made a point to expound on the purpose of the evening, after which she invited the Rev. Archpriest Manoug Markarian for the invocation. First on the program were the messages by PTO Chair Armine Gasparyan and Principal Dr. Maral Yeranossian. Gasparyan thanked the attendants for supporting the school emphasizing on the importance of keeping the Armenian educational identity alive. Yeranossian spoke of her goals as the new principal, stating that throughout her 15 years at Dickranian School, first as counselor and now as principal, she has learned that ADS students are persistent, passionate and prudent, and their hunger for education gives them the determination to excel. She then proceeded by inviting guest of honor Ara Aghishian to the podium.
Aghishian presented his remarks in fluent Armenian. “I have seen the school grow in size and I am proud to see our graduates’ accomplishments and successes, but there is a lot more to be done for which we need the community’s financial support to keep up with the advances in educational technology,” said Aghishian. He added that assisting all other organizations is essential as well, but assisting an educational institution is far more important to prepare better Armenian-Americans in the Diaspora.
