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AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.agbu.org
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 5, 2011
AGBU-AYA San Fernando Valley Chapter's Veterans Committee Hosts Lecture
on Challenges Facing Youth
The AGBU-AYA San Fernando Valley Chapter's Veterans Committee held its
fourth successful educational lecture on the evening of February 25,
2011 in the Agajanian Auditorium of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School
(MDS). The lecture was divided into four topics touching on the problems
and challenges faced by schools and parents in educating and raising
today's youth. MDS Vice-principal Anahid Nalbandian-Pezeshgian, who
served as master of ceremonies, introduced the four guest speakers.
The first speaker was Haig Messerlian, chairman of the newly created
AGBU Western District Committee, who talked about AGBU's educational
mission insofar as it concerns the organization's schools and the
community. He stated that more emphasis should be placed on teaching the
rich history of AGBU and its accomplishments during the 105 years since
its establishment in Egypt. He stressed the importance of becoming a
member of the organization and participating in its scouting, athletic,
social, and cultural activities. The final portion of his talk was a
video presentation of AGBU's major global accomplishments.
Messerlian was followed by Hrag Hamalian, principal of the Valor Academy
Charter School in Panorama City, California. Hamalian addressed the
topic of "Bullying and Cyber Bullying." In his presentation, he
identified the four principal kinds of bullying: direct, indirect,
passive, and electronic. Bullying may result from name calling, pushing,
kicking or hitting. In addition, it can be carried out by rejecting,
isolating, ridiculing, blackmailing, humiliating or annoying the victim,
or by taking a neutral position in the face of wicked acts. Cyber
bullying, now the most widespread form of this behavior, occurs on the
Internet, mainly through Facebook or Twitter. Control over cyber
bullying is a very complex matter and hard to track. The challenge in
overcoming bullying is met by having constant communication with the
bully and the victim, including parents and teachers, in order to
achieve peace and harmony between the parties.
The third speaker was Los Angeles Police Department Officer Jose
Maldonado, a specialist in drug enforcement and alcohol abuse. In
speaking about drug abuse, he discussed how the use of marijuana often
gets young students started on drugs and that its legalization has led
to abuse. He also stated that the urge or habit of drug use may turn the
individual into a thief or criminal, due to lack of funds to support
their addiction.
The fourth and final speaker was Hagop Hagopian, longtime principal of
MDS, who discussed the topic of parents' involvement in students'
behavior. He emphasized that parents should assist their children during
their homework or any other outdoor or indoor activities, in order to
create a special and closer relationship to comprehend their children's
needs. Parents need to exercise patience when communicating with their
children. They need to follow up, encourage their children to strive
toward their goals, and teach them how to become better individuals.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
www.agbu.org.
From: A. Papazian
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.agbu.org
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 5, 2011
AGBU-AYA San Fernando Valley Chapter's Veterans Committee Hosts Lecture
on Challenges Facing Youth
The AGBU-AYA San Fernando Valley Chapter's Veterans Committee held its
fourth successful educational lecture on the evening of February 25,
2011 in the Agajanian Auditorium of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School
(MDS). The lecture was divided into four topics touching on the problems
and challenges faced by schools and parents in educating and raising
today's youth. MDS Vice-principal Anahid Nalbandian-Pezeshgian, who
served as master of ceremonies, introduced the four guest speakers.
The first speaker was Haig Messerlian, chairman of the newly created
AGBU Western District Committee, who talked about AGBU's educational
mission insofar as it concerns the organization's schools and the
community. He stated that more emphasis should be placed on teaching the
rich history of AGBU and its accomplishments during the 105 years since
its establishment in Egypt. He stressed the importance of becoming a
member of the organization and participating in its scouting, athletic,
social, and cultural activities. The final portion of his talk was a
video presentation of AGBU's major global accomplishments.
Messerlian was followed by Hrag Hamalian, principal of the Valor Academy
Charter School in Panorama City, California. Hamalian addressed the
topic of "Bullying and Cyber Bullying." In his presentation, he
identified the four principal kinds of bullying: direct, indirect,
passive, and electronic. Bullying may result from name calling, pushing,
kicking or hitting. In addition, it can be carried out by rejecting,
isolating, ridiculing, blackmailing, humiliating or annoying the victim,
or by taking a neutral position in the face of wicked acts. Cyber
bullying, now the most widespread form of this behavior, occurs on the
Internet, mainly through Facebook or Twitter. Control over cyber
bullying is a very complex matter and hard to track. The challenge in
overcoming bullying is met by having constant communication with the
bully and the victim, including parents and teachers, in order to
achieve peace and harmony between the parties.
The third speaker was Los Angeles Police Department Officer Jose
Maldonado, a specialist in drug enforcement and alcohol abuse. In
speaking about drug abuse, he discussed how the use of marijuana often
gets young students started on drugs and that its legalization has led
to abuse. He also stated that the urge or habit of drug use may turn the
individual into a thief or criminal, due to lack of funds to support
their addiction.
The fourth and final speaker was Hagop Hagopian, longtime principal of
MDS, who discussed the topic of parents' involvement in students'
behavior. He emphasized that parents should assist their children during
their homework or any other outdoor or indoor activities, in order to
create a special and closer relationship to comprehend their children's
needs. Parents need to exercise patience when communicating with their
children. They need to follow up, encourage their children to strive
toward their goals, and teach them how to become better individuals.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
www.agbu.org.
From: A. Papazian