Armenian culture finds a home at Fresno State

For Fresno State’s Armenian Student Organization (ASO), preserving the generations of culture and tradition before them can be fun social events centered around building community. ASO has hosted events such as cooking nights, holiday parties and hikes. Through these activities, ASO helps college students make their heritage part of their college experience.

“ASO aims to connect Armenian students together,” said Emily Sahakian, ASO vice president. “At Fresno State, it can be hard to meet other Armenians, so this club is the perfect opportunity to meet new people.”

College is often a time of self discovery and exploration. Cultural organizations can give students an opportunity to explore their heritage while connecting with people who share similar backgrounds. 

“It matters for college students to have spaces where they can explore their cultural identities because college is a time for self-discovery and personal growth,” Sahakian said. “These spaces can help students learn more about their backgrounds and traditions while connecting with others who have similar experiences.” 

For Jordan Mazmanian, ASO president, making those connections also means finding new ways to incorporate Armenian culture into the club’s activities.

“ASO’s mission is to not only spread Armenian awareness but also make Armenians feel welcome within our Armenian community at Fresno State,” Mazmanian said. “This year, ASO is trying to focus more on making our events more cultural to keep our Armenian heritage alive.”

One way the club shares Armenian culture with its members is through food. On Oct. 3, the club hosted its first cooking night. Members’ parents and grandparents taught the group how to prepare traditional Armenian dishes such as sarma, manti and pilaf.

The event brought generations together through a shared experience, giving younger students the opportunity to learn recipes directly from older generations. Rather than simply discussing Armenian heritage, students could participate in it firsthand.

“We want our activities to revolve around Armenian culture and teach students something new they may not have known before,” Sahakian said.

For Matthew Krikorian, ASO treasurer, preserving that connection also means remaining involved in the broader Armenian community.

“Being Armenian, to me, means being engaged in our community and involved in the churches associated with it,” Krikorian said. “Armenians tend to stick together as a community, and for me, it’s very important to be a part of it.”

While family and church traditions remain important, ASO is finding ways to carry that sense of community into students’ everyday college experiences. Mazmanian said the club is adapting its approach to appeal to younger generations, using social media to reach students and encouraging them to connect with each other.

“Older generations may have preserved the Armenian culture through church, family traditions, or passing down stories, but ASO is trying to preserve the Armenian culture through the younger generation by posting on social media and by creating new cultural events such as cooking and Armenian dancing,” Mazmanian said. “As generations change, we need to adapt how our events are to make them more enjoyable to the younger generation.”

That approach extends beyond events specifically designed to teach Armenian traditions. ASO also hosts holiday parties that give students a chance to socialize. 

Although these events may not center on cultural education, they create opportunities for students to meet, build friendships and become part of the community. For a generation accustomed to connecting through screens, gathering in person offers another way to form relationships and create shared memories.

“Even if the Halloween party and Friendsgiving, for example, are not solely educational events, students will always be exposed to Armenian culture in one way or another, and it’s just a great chance to meet new people,” Sahakian said.

Cultural preservation does not always require a formal lesson or a traditional ceremony. For Mazmanian, one of the most memorable examples was the club’s Halloween party last year. The evening included dinner, karaoke and an impromptu swim.

“We ate dinner, hung out with each other, did karaoke, and some people even ended up jumping in the pool,” Mazmanian said. “Nothing about the party went how the board expected it to, but that was what made it so much fun!”

ASO also welcomes students who are not Armenian, giving them an opportunity to experience the culture while connecting with people from different backgrounds.

“These events bring all sorts of students together,” Krikorian said. “Being in ASO doesn’t directly mean that we share a cultural background. This organization prioritizes connecting, regardless of cultural background, but it does teach everyone what our culture is like.”

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