AGBU Nazar & Artemis Nazarian Break Ground for New AGBU School Exp.

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PRESS RELEASE

Monday, September 17, 2007

Benefactors Nazar & Artemis Nazarian Break Ground for New AGBU School
Expansion

Canoga Park, CA – A festive atmosphere was the mood on Thursday,
September 6, 2007 on the campus of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School. The
day of groundbreaking for the long-awaited toddler facility of the AGBU
Artemis Nazarian Preschool had arrived. On hand were AGBU benefactors
Nazar & Artemis Nazarian, who, upon arrival at the school, were greeted
by school officials and, after concluding a tour of the school
facilities, were led to the grounds of the preschool where preparations
had been completed for the groundbreaking ceremony.

School Board Chairman and AGBU Central Board member Sinan Sinanian
welcomed the guests of honor that included the benefactors, His Eminence
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church, AGBU Southern California District representatives,
School Board members, current and former School PTO members, Booster
Club members, parents, administration, teachers and students from the
Preschool. The official program started with welcoming remarks by School
Principal Hagop Hagopian, who thanked the benefactors for their
generosity in the USA, Lebanon and Armenia, welcomed the guests and
thanked everyone for their dedication to the AGBU in general and the
school in particular. He stressed the fact that the program adopted by
the Preschool is a fully accredited and complete educational program
preparing 3- and 4- year-olds for their elementary education. Hagopian
thanked the Preschool faculty for their dedication and expressed his
gratitude to them. He paid special tribute to former and current PTO
members for undertaking the project and supporting the school in
general.

Preschool Director Tagoush Khodabakhshian took the podium and expressed
the joy of all the students and faculty of the Preschool, for the day
had come to witness the dedication and groundbreaking of the new toddler
facility. On behalf of the entire staff, she thanked the benefactors for
coming forward with their generous donation to turn a dream into
reality.

A specially arranged student choir of the preschool and kindergarten
classes then performed two songs, led by music teacher Marine Kelian.

Sinanian then thanked everyone and the benefactors in particular and
invited Artemis Nazarian to the podium for her remarks. "Nazar came one
day and said to me I am sponsoring the AGBU Preschool in your name as a
birthday gift. I was elated and pleased that a preschool will be named
after me since I have always been close to children and enjoy great
satisfaction seeing them grow in a nurturing environment," said Mrs.
Nazarian. She then told the audience about the realization of their
dream and the enjoyment they get by giving back to the Armenian
community in the Diaspora and in Armenia. She thanked the school for the
opportunity and pledged further support when needed.

His Eminence Archbishop Derderian greeted the benefactors and praised
their generosity, particularly to the Armenian Church and the Holy See
of Etchmiadzin. The Archbishop then led the religious ground-blessing
ceremony accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Yardemian, Vicar General,
and Rev. Fr. Shnork Demirdjian, Pastor. Mr. & Mrs. Nazarian, Sinan
Sinanian and Hagop Hagopian were also on hand for the ceremony.

The groundbreaking ceremony concluded with a reception in the AGBU
School’s Nazarian Center foyer.

VISIT TO THE DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH

Benefactors Nazar and Artemis Nazarian paid a visit to the Diocesan
headquarters in Burbank upon invitation of Archbishop Derderian and were
briefed on the building project of the Mother Cathedral and the various
projects undertaken by the Diocese.

Upon the conclusion of the private reception by the Archbishop, Mr.
Nazarian expressed his joy for the hard work and dedication of the
Primate and the entire staff at the Diocese and wished them well in
their future endeavors.

VISIT TO THE AGBU HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTER IN PASADENA

Friday, September 7, was back to school at the AGBU High School in
Pasadena, and Nazar Nazarian was the guest of honor. At 8:20 am, the
students gathered in the Boyadjian Hall to start the second academic
year. School Principal Hagop Hagopian welcomed the students, parents,
and Mr. Nazarian, in particular, to the school. He introduced the newly
appointed Vice Principal Talin Kargodorian and the new faculty. He
thanked the dedicated efforts of the volunteer building committee for
the new renovations.

Vatche Ghanimian, Student Council President, welcomed the students and
promised a new beginning. His Eminence Archbishop Hovsepian was in
attendance to bless the students and faculty and expressed his joy for
the visit of Nazar Nazarian to the school and the community.

Mr. Nazarian, who is a member of the AGBU Council of Trustees and,
formerly, longtime treasurer of the AGBU Central Board of Directors,
then toured the entire property that includes the AGBU School and Center
and was briefed on the major renovations and projects that have taken
place as well as plans for the near future.

Upon conclusion of his visit, Mr. Nazarian hosted a luncheon in honor of
AGBU leaders and his longtime friends and parted with the following
quote: "I am truly impressed by what I saw during the past two days.
Both the Manoogian-Demirdjian School and Pasadena High School and the
Center are in tiptop shape and the job done is fantastic. I am happy and
content for the work done."

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with an
annual budget of $36 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs, annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians around
the world.

www.agbu.org
www.agbu.org