On Saturday, March 11, 2017, the fourth annual Interschool Recitation Contest was held at Vahan and Anoush Chamlian School in Glendale with the participation of 48 students from Chamlian, Rose and Alex Pilibos, Mesrobian, Ferrahian, Marie Cabayan, AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian, and Sahag Mesrob Schools. This annual event is held under the auspices of the Western Prelacy and is organized by the Board of Regents of Prelacy Schools in collaboration with an ad-hoc committee. This year’s contest was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Artsakh’s independence.
On behalf of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian and Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian attended. Also in attendance were Executive Council member Mr. Alec Baghdasaryan, Board of Regents Chair Mrs. Lisa Gaboudian, and members Mrs. Lena Kortoshian and Mrs. Valentina Ogaryan.
The program began with welcoming remarks by Mrs. Kortoshian. Fr. Nareg delivered the invocation and conveyed the Prelate’s blessings and commendation. Mrs. Gaboudian spoke on the importance of the event and similar events in celebrating and upholding the Armenian language and thanked the parents for entrusting the educating of their children to Armenian schools. On behalf of the host school, remarks were delivered by Mr. Vahan Mehrabian.
Mr. Mihran Toumajan, a member of the ad-hoc organizing committee since the inception of the contest, introduced the jury members; Mrs. Takouhi Arzoumanian, Mr. Grigor Ogaryan, Mrs. Maral Varjabedian, Mr. Sayat Baboumian, and Dr. Manoug Seraydarian.
The contest took place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Students presented their recitations in three groups; 4th and 5th grades, 6th to 8th grades, and 9th to 12th grades. The participants all received gifts from Sardarabad and Abril Bookstores and from the Board of Regents.
The winners will be announced and an awards ceremony held in due time.
