Armenian Evangelical College Banquet in Beirut

The Armenian Evangelical College’s Annual Banquet took place at the Pheonicia Hotel’s Ballroom on May 22, 2010, at 9:00 p.m. under the auspices of the Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri, who was represented by Minister of State Jean Oghassapian.

In attendance were many dignitaries and notables of the Armenian Community. After the National Anthem, the Principal of the College, Dr. Zaven Messerlian welcomed those present. He was followed by the Pastor of the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut, Rev. Hagop Sarkissian, who gave the Prayer. The evening enjoyed the music of Hratch Isahakian and his band, as well as the noted Armenian singer Vicken Tarpinian, accompanied by Patrique Peryeras on the piano, who had especially come from Paris for the event.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of special awards. The First Armenian Evangelical Church honored with plaques of recognition Dr. Arda Ekmekji and Mrs. Roubina Artinian, respectively former and current chairpersons of the School Board of the Armenian Evangelical College, for their 25 years of dedicated service, as Board members.

Next came a surprise, when Mrs. Roubina Artinian announced that the President of the Republic, Gen. Michel Sleiman, had awarded Dr. Zaven Messerlian, Principal of the College, with the distinguished Medal of Education for his 50 years of service as an educator, 43 years of which as the Principal of the Armenian Evangelical College. Dr. Messerlian is also a historian and the author of five published books and over 100 articles. Minister of State Jean Oghassapian read the Presidential Decree, and bestowed upon Dr. Messerlian the Medal, to the enthusiastic applause of the banquet attendees.

A good number of donations were made by generous donors, to benefit the school’s scholarship fund.

A Cultural Event with the Participation of the Six Armenian Evangelical Schools

Sponsored by the Lebanese Armenian Evangelical Educational Council and organized by the Lebanese Armenian Evangelical Educational Coordinating Committee, and on the occasion of the 95th Year of the Armenian Genocide, on Friday, 30 April, in the Boghossian Theatre, the cultural event was held, with the theme of rebirth, that were presented by the students of the Lebanese Armenian Evangelical Schools.



After the Lebanese and Armenian anthems, the chairman of the committee welcomed the guests.

Then six Armenian Evangelical Schools' (the Armenian Evangelical Secondary School of Anjar, the Armenian Evangelical Central High School, the Armenian Evangelical P. & E. Torosian School, the Armenian Evangelical Gertmenian School, the Armenian Evangelical College, the Armenian Evangelical Shamlian Tatigian Secondary High School) students presented dances,individual and group recitations of Armenian poems, songs, and musical pieces.

At the end of the cultural event, the Executive Director of the Armenian Evangelical Missionary Association, Mr. Levon Filian was invited to give a speech. He confirmed the fact that when 2-3 Armenians come together, they create culture, and build home, school, and church. He greatly appreciated and congratulated the students for the presentations, and he concluded with the following words, "Our mother tongue, our Armenian culture, our Christian forefather's spilled blood, let us keep it, let us uphold their faith".

In the end, Mrs. Sossy Balian congratulated and thanked all those who took part in making this event a successful one. She also thanked the students and their parents, the teachers and the principals. Also, to the mayor of Bourj Hammoud, Mr. Antranig Messerlian, for his support.

The event was closed with prayer by Rev. Soghomon Kilaghbian, the chairman of the Central Committee of the UAECNE.


The choir of the Armenian Evangelical Shamlian-Tatikian Secondary School


Students of the Armenian Evangelical Central High School playing on different types of musical instruments


Joint choir of Anjar & Torosian & AEC


Armenian Evangelical Gertmenian School's students singing


The Sipan Dance Group of the Armenian Evangelical Shamlian-Tatikian Secondary School


Dance Group of the Armenian Evangelical College


Dance group of the Armenian Evangelical School of Anjar


Dance group of the Armenian Evangelical Central High School


A student from the Armenian Evangelical College


A student from the Armenian Evangelical School of Anjar reciting a poem


Mr. Levon Filian, the Executive Director of the AMAA


Ms. Sossy Balian


The closing prayer of the Rev. Soghomon Kilaghbian

Commemoration of a Former Armenian Evangelical Scouting Program of Beirut, Lebanon

By Zaven Demirjian


Former Scouts with their Scoutmaster
Names of people from Left
1st Row: Zaven Demirjian, Dr. Steven H. Aharonian, Rev. Dr. John Khanjian, Raffi Aposhian, Nishan Basmadjian, Robert Meneshian,
2nd Row: Dr. Vicken Aharonian, Dr. Ivan Shnorhokian, Dr. Ara Tilkian, George Keushguerian, Vatche Kasparian, Barkev Tashjian


The former members of the Junior Christian Endeavor Organization of the First American Evangelical Church of Beirut, Lebanon, hosted a dinner and program on January 17, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., in the Derian Hall of the Armenian Cilicia Evangelical Church, in Pasadena, California. The guest of honor for the evening was Rev. Dr. John Khanjian, who was the organization’s prominent Youth Leader and Scoutmaster during the years of 1957 to 1962.
Rev. Kevork Terian, Pastor of the Cilicia Church, gave the invocation. He thanked God for the virtuous character and dedicated service of Dr. Khanjian, who has been a role model to his students.
Zaven Demirjian described some of the activities of the scouts. He stated that the church provided a room, that was used as a meeting place and storage area. Tents and sleeping bags were purchased at a discount from Hagop Salibian’s business. The scouts went on camping trips to different mountain locations, such as Brummana. In the winter a popular trip by train was the snow covered mountain at Dahr El Baydar.
Nishan Basmadjian presented the biography of Dr. Khanjian who was born in Aleppo Syria. He graduated from Near East School of Theology and the American University of Beirut in 1962. He also graduated from Claremont Graduate School with a Ph.D. degree in 1974. He has taught at Aleppo College,Near East School of Theology, Kansas Wesleyan University and University of La Verne. He was Dean of Students from 1987 to 1993 at the Armenian International College/University of La Verne, where Nishan also worked as Librarian. From 1995 to 2002 he was President of Haigazian College, which became a University in 1997. At Haigazian University he upgraded the academic program, the infrastructure, including the renovating and moving back to the old campus in West Beirut. Presently he is the Provost of the Evangelical Theological Academy (Seminary) of Armenia in Yerevan, which aims at training ministers and Christian workers.
Some of the former scouts shared interesting events and experiences.
Dr. Steven H. Aharonian stated that he had served with Dr. Khanjian in the Haigazian University Board. As the President of AMAA he regarded the success of the Seminary in Armenia very important for him. He was confident that Dr. Khanjian will apply his administrative experience in laying a solid foundation for the Seminary.
Dr. Vicken Aharonian appreciated the fact that his father, Rev. Hovhannes Aharonian, the President of the Near East School of Theology, had assigned Dr. Khanjian to be Youth Leader and Scoutmaster. He recalled a camping trip at the Litany River,where the scouts tried to catch frogs.
Dr. Ara Tilkian said that his father, Rev. Garabed Tilkian, being the Pastor of our church in Beruit was very busy, and he was glad that Dr. Khanjian was helping him by working with the youth. He also reminded us about “Kchag” Summer Camp, located on a beautiful Lebanese mountain covered with pine trees. Christian Endeavor groups held their summer camps and retreats in “Kchag.”
Dr. Ivan Shnorhokian reminded us about an injury to his nose after a scary fall at a campsite. First aid was applied, the wound healed, and no trace of injury remained.
A plaque was given to Dr. Khanjian in appreciation of his services to our organization. He was grateful for the affection shown to him, and he said he still considered his scouts to be adolescent “badani” at heart.
The scouts were thankful to their Scoutmaster for teaching them survival skills, endurance,moral values and to be “always ready” to serve the Lord, the church and humanity.

Source: FORUM, Sept-09 Issue

SPORTS DAY in ANJAR

Friday, 29/5/09 was a joint sports day for all of the Arm. Evang. Schools in Lebanon. All of our Elem. 4-6 And Int.– Sec. students headed to Anjar and had different types of games (Basketball for Sec. students & mini football and field games for the elem. Students). The day started with a hymn & prayer and continued with the games. Our school brought home two cups (1st place for big boys mini-football & 2nd place for junior mini-football) and a bunch of medals from the elem. field games. All enjoyed the beautiful sun & nature of Anjar.




Source: Shamlian-Tatikian blog

AEC Alumni Launches its New Website



New website for the AEC Alumni. The address is:

www.aecalumnibeirut.com

An announcement from the AEC Alumni Web Team that we re-post below:

This is a personalized, Ad-free and custom-made site designed by Vartkes Nicolian and administered by Vartan Tonbazian. It is replacing the MSN Alumni site which will be decommissioned soon.
Hope you will be part of it and become an active visitor and contributor.
Its purpose is; for the A.E.C. Community to stay informed, connected and keep live the good-old-days.
You can read about the latest Events, Activities and News of the school and other classmates. You can watch the Photo Albums and videos of Get-Togethers, Reunions, etc. Sign the Guestbook and more.

You can start by Creating an account, then create a Photo Album of your choice and upload the photos that you have from your days at AEC.
If you have any personal or family news (newborn, baptism, reunion, etc.) please email the details to us and we will post it on the site, so we can stay connected and know the status of each other. After all we are an AEC family!...

This site will evolve in time with new features and updates, so feel free to re-visit and check it often. Also we appreciate any comments to make it better.

The Group invites all A.E.C. students past & present and alumni to Join and participate.

Regards,
The Web Team

85-TH ANNIVERSARY COMMENCEMENT OF THE ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL COLLEGE

The 85th anniversary commencement of the Armenian Evangelical College, the first Armenian high school of the post Genocide Armenian Diaspora, was held on July 2, 2008. The commencement took place on the campus of the College in Rue Mexique, Sannayeh in Beirut. Among those present were Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian Chairman of the Central Committee of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East and President of Haigazian University, former Minister Souren Khanamirian, Fathers Mesrob, Mgrditch and Paren Vartanian, Reverends S. Kilaghbian, H. Svadjian, A. Sarkissian, along with civil dignitaries of the community, parents and friends.
Rev. Hagop Sarkissian pastor of the Armenian Evangelical First Church read from the Bible and prayed, then the guest speaker Prof. Sossy Balian (RN), gave an address to the public and graduates. After a recitation by Elem. VI students, and performance of the Vocal Ensemble of the school, the valedictorians of the graduating class, Natalie Kalayjian and Shantal Arabsessian, respectively in Armenian and Arabic speeches, thanked the school. Later both were awarded the Examplary Student medal.
The speeches were followed by the distribution of prizes and diplomas. Then the principal, Dr. Zaven Messerlian, gave the address to the graduating class.
The commencement ended with the closing words and blessing of Rev. H. Sarkissian.

The high school graduates were: Arabsessian Shantal (distinction), Artinian Harout, Boyadjian Nareg, Cheorekjian Sevan, Frounjian Carla, Kalayjian Natalie (distinction), Keshishian Tsoler, Piranian Lori.

The elementary graduates were: Baghdoyan Meghri (high distinction), Dekirmenjian Jennifer, Demirjian Araz (high distinction), Hovhannesian Berj, Sarkissian Patil, Shahinian Christine, Svadjian Nazani.