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PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch.net
July 6, 2007
___________________
ACYOA VOLUNTEERS IN HOMELAND TO SERVE ARMENIANS IN NEED
On Thursday afternoon, July 5, 2007, participants of the ACYOA Armenia
Service Program (ASP) left for the homeland. The 27 young adults, ages
18-27, will be touring the country and working as counselors and instructors
at Tzitzernak Camp in Vanadzor in the northern part of Armenia.
This year's ASP leader is the Dn. Artak Khachikyan, deacon-in-charge of the
St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, Ohio. Assisting him on the trip
is ACYOA Central Council member Talin Hitik, an ASP alumna herself and a
parishioner of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, Illinois.
The participants represent eleven parishes in nine states in the Eastern
Diocese. They will have a day-long layover in Prague, where they plan to
spend the day touring the city. The participants will arrive in Yerevan on
Saturday, July 7, to begin their journey of self-discovery and service to
others.
"I was attracted to ASP because a number of my friends who have been to
Armenia were deeply affected by it," said ASP participant Arda Paylan, a
parishioner of the St. James Church of Evanston, Illinois. "They felt a
deep connection to Armenia and I was inspired by their love of the country
and its people. But the most important thing that appealed to me was the
service dimension of the program."
The participants are John Flanagan from Connecticut; Gevorg Azizi and Arda
Paylan from Illinois; Amanda Kavjian from Massachusetts; Karen Dardarian,
Kimberly Karakashian, Brent Palaian, Allison Parks, and Mary Parsigian from
Michigan; Lauren Ashbahian and Alissa Bonjuklian from New Jersey; Olivia
Derderian, Paul Der Ohannesian, Michael Givelekian, Emily Krolian, Callan
Schanz and Christina Sirabian from New York; Christina and Zachary Kowalski
from Ohio; Jim Keshgegian, Garen Nigon, Paul Sookiasian and Danielle Uber
from Pennsylvania; Sasoon Hovsepian, Aleen and Jack Klachian from Texas, and
Syona Marout.
Many of the participants are following in the footsteps of friends and
family whose life found their own ASP trips life-changing experiences.
"My father (Dn. Albert Keshgegian) was an ASP participant back in 1972, so
I've been hearing about Etchmiadzin, Yerevan and Mount Ararat all my life,"
said 2007 ASP participant Jim Keshgegian, a parishioner at the Holy Trinity
Church of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. "I can't wait to finally experience
these sites for myself. I'm hoping to learn more about my family, our
people and who I am during this trip as well as strengthen my faith."
The ASP trip is organized annually by the ACYOA. In recent years, record
number of young people have signed up to selflessly serve others in Armenia.
"The ASP is one of the best things we do," said Nancy Basmajian, ACYOA
Executive Secretary, who coordinates the ASP trip. "I'm always amazed at
how the young people who participate are profoundly transformed by the
experience of living and working in the homeland. I always look forward to
their enthusiasm when they return!"
-- 7/6/07
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese's website, www.armenianchurch.net.
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Participants in the 2007 Armenia Service Program (ASP)
trip to Armenia gather in New York City's JFK airport ready to depart on
Thursday, July 5, 2007.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): ASP group leader Dn. Artak Khachikyan, deacon-in-charge
of the St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, Ohio, with some of the
participants.
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch.net
July 6, 2007
___________________
ACYOA VOLUNTEERS IN HOMELAND TO SERVE ARMENIANS IN NEED
On Thursday afternoon, July 5, 2007, participants of the ACYOA Armenia
Service Program (ASP) left for the homeland. The 27 young adults, ages
18-27, will be touring the country and working as counselors and instructors
at Tzitzernak Camp in Vanadzor in the northern part of Armenia.
This year's ASP leader is the Dn. Artak Khachikyan, deacon-in-charge of the
St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, Ohio. Assisting him on the trip
is ACYOA Central Council member Talin Hitik, an ASP alumna herself and a
parishioner of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, Illinois.
The participants represent eleven parishes in nine states in the Eastern
Diocese. They will have a day-long layover in Prague, where they plan to
spend the day touring the city. The participants will arrive in Yerevan on
Saturday, July 7, to begin their journey of self-discovery and service to
others.
"I was attracted to ASP because a number of my friends who have been to
Armenia were deeply affected by it," said ASP participant Arda Paylan, a
parishioner of the St. James Church of Evanston, Illinois. "They felt a
deep connection to Armenia and I was inspired by their love of the country
and its people. But the most important thing that appealed to me was the
service dimension of the program."
The participants are John Flanagan from Connecticut; Gevorg Azizi and Arda
Paylan from Illinois; Amanda Kavjian from Massachusetts; Karen Dardarian,
Kimberly Karakashian, Brent Palaian, Allison Parks, and Mary Parsigian from
Michigan; Lauren Ashbahian and Alissa Bonjuklian from New Jersey; Olivia
Derderian, Paul Der Ohannesian, Michael Givelekian, Emily Krolian, Callan
Schanz and Christina Sirabian from New York; Christina and Zachary Kowalski
from Ohio; Jim Keshgegian, Garen Nigon, Paul Sookiasian and Danielle Uber
from Pennsylvania; Sasoon Hovsepian, Aleen and Jack Klachian from Texas, and
Syona Marout.
Many of the participants are following in the footsteps of friends and
family whose life found their own ASP trips life-changing experiences.
"My father (Dn. Albert Keshgegian) was an ASP participant back in 1972, so
I've been hearing about Etchmiadzin, Yerevan and Mount Ararat all my life,"
said 2007 ASP participant Jim Keshgegian, a parishioner at the Holy Trinity
Church of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. "I can't wait to finally experience
these sites for myself. I'm hoping to learn more about my family, our
people and who I am during this trip as well as strengthen my faith."
The ASP trip is organized annually by the ACYOA. In recent years, record
number of young people have signed up to selflessly serve others in Armenia.
"The ASP is one of the best things we do," said Nancy Basmajian, ACYOA
Executive Secretary, who coordinates the ASP trip. "I'm always amazed at
how the young people who participate are profoundly transformed by the
experience of living and working in the homeland. I always look forward to
their enthusiasm when they return!"
-- 7/6/07
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese's website, www.armenianchurch.net.
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Participants in the 2007 Armenia Service Program (ASP)
trip to Armenia gather in New York City's JFK airport ready to depart on
Thursday, July 5, 2007.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): ASP group leader Dn. Artak Khachikyan, deacon-in-charge
of the St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, Ohio, with some of the
participants.