South Florida Armenian Community Embraces the New Armenian Students’

PRESS RELEASE
South Florida Armenian Students’ Association
c/o 3990 Laurelwood Lane
Delray Beach, FL 33445
Tel: 561-716-6155
E-mail: [email protected]
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South Florida Armenian Community Embraces the
New Armenian Students’ Association

Unexpected record turnout stuns cookout organizers

Deerfield Beach, Fla. ~@” A little over 100 people from Miami to as
far north as Orlando turned out Saturday afternoon for the South
Florida ASA’s first function of the year, Cookout 2005, at Quiet
Waters Park. While the organization’s name is “Armenian
Students’…”, there was a definite family atmosphere; high
school and university students brought their siblings and families to
enjoy a day of Armenian food, fun and water recreational activities
at the event.

S.FL ASA President Michael Toumayan expressed his gratitude on behalf
of the executive committee to those in attendance. “Your presence not
only means a lot to us, but most importantly, it is a moral
support,” said Toumayan. The event also provided an opportunity
for members of the community to view the progress being made by the
six-member executive committee, who initiated the South Florida
branch of the organization that envisions in uniting the Armenian
student population in South Florida and representing their voices and
concerns in the community decision-making.

The picnic included appearances by influential leaders of the South
Florida Armenian community. Among the attendees were Bedo
Der-Bedrossian, Chairman of St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church;
Vicken Bedoyan, Chairman of Homenetmen of South Florida; Karina
Arzoumanova, President of Florida Atlantic University Pre-Law
Association; Taniel Koushakjian, President of Florida Atlantic
University Armenian Student Association; Carol Norigian, Board of
Trustee member of National ASA; and past ASA Board President, Edward
Eranosian, and Rev. Archpriest Vazken Bekiarian, Pastor of St.
Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church, who blessed the table. Recording
Secretary Adelin Alexanian states, “the blessing of our hard work
by a representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church is a great deal
for me not just as a member of the Armenian community but as an
Armenian Orthodox Christian.”

The cookout also attracted people who were fairly new to the Armenian
environment. Christina Berian Pelosky, a Ph.D. candidate from Lynn
University in Boca Raton, unexpectedly came across the picnic through
researching various websites for her dissertation on the inclusion of
the Armenian Genocide in higher education. Liz Telfeyan who is of
Armenian and Jewish ancestry, for the first time, attended her first
Armenian event and voluntarily helped out by serving food. Armen
Mkoyan who moved from Armenia two years ago and drove three hours
from Central Florida, has had difficulty finding young college-aged
Armenians like himself in Orlando. “I came to this event because I
wanted to meet people who share common Armenian values,” he says.

Taniel Koushakjian, who is the Corresponding Secretary, agreed,
“social events like this are a good way for young Armenians to
network with each other.”

The executive committee greatly appreciates all the men and women who
put time and energy in helping make the event a successful and
memorable one. “We also could not have done this without the
generous financial and moral support of the Central Executive
Committee and Board of Trustees of the National Armenian
Students’ Association,” said Vice-President Roupen Joubi.
Treasurer Arsho Kantarjian reported that, “incredible profit was
made as a result of raffle donations by the Alexanian, Ashjian, and
Toumayan families, of which we are grateful for.”

After innumerable questions of our next planned event, Advisor Alex
Aghyarian responded, “we don’t know yet, but let me tell you
that it will be bigger, better and even more youthful. This I promise
you!”

The South Florida Armenian Students’ Association (ASA) is focused
on educational pursuits by Armenians in Florida and the raising of
their intellectual standards, develop fellowship among them,
cultivate in them the spirit of service in the public interest, and
acquainting the entire American community with Armenian culture. To
learn more about the Armenian Students’ Association, please visit

http://www.asainc.org
www.asainc.org.