Friends of UCLA Armenian Language and Culture Studies
Contact: Ani Aivazian
Tel: 818-621-8116
Email: [email protected]
Richard Hovannisian receives Narekatsi Medal
Banquet and award ceremony marked by delightful surprises
Los Angeles, March 23, 2013 – On the evening of Saturday, March 16,
Professor Richard Hovannisian was honored with the Narekatsi Medal of
Achievement, conferred on him by the Friends of UCLA Armenian Language
and Culture Studies. The award presentation took place during the
Friends’ 11th annual banquet, held at the Armenian Society of Los
Angeles Hall, in Glendale, California.
Over 300 guests, representing a cross section of the Armenian community,
attended the jubilant event, which celebrated the life and
accomplishments of Richard Hovannisian as a teacher, historian, author,
and human-rights activist.
The banquet featured a rich and multifaceted program. Remarks delivered
by a distinguished roster of speakers, comprising scholars and community
leaders, were interspersed with the screening of two short documentaries
as well as musical performances. In addition, the honoree and guests
were treated to a number of wonderful surprises, all of which made the
celebration all the more memorable.
Dignitaries and prominent community members in attendance included
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian; the Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian,
representing Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian; several representatives
of the Armenian Educational Foundation, among them the current
president, Hermineh Pakhanians; and Ara Khachatourian, editor of the
English edition of Asbarez.
The event kicked off with a cocktail reception and book exhibit in the
hall’s foyer, where numerous works penned by Richard Hovannisian were
on display.
As dinner started, welcome remarks were delivered by Banquet co-chairs
Ani Aivazian and Hilda Fidanian. Their addresses were followed by the
opening remarks of Alice Petrossian, the evening’s Mistress of
Ceremonies, and Dr. Hasmig Baran, president of the Friends of UCLA
Armenian Language and Culture Studies. The speakers reflected on the
Friends’ longstanding tradition of honoring extraordinary Armenian
individuals with the Narekatsi Medal, and underscored the pan-Armenian
significance of Professor Hovannisian’s manifold accomplishments.
Many of those accomplishments were touched upon in a video documentary,
titled My Professor Hovannisian Moment, which was shown while guests
enjoyed dinner. The humorous, highly engaging documentary, produced by
Ara Soghomonian, featured a fast-paced succession of testimonials by
former students of the honoree.
Next to take the podium was the evening’s keynote speaker, Professor
S. Peter Cowe, head of UCLA’s Narekatsi Chair in Armenian Studies. In
a riveting speech that contextualized the evolution of Armenian history
as a field of study in American academia, initially against the
backdrops of superpower politics and intracommunity partisanship, Cowe
described Hovannisian’s crucial role in not only the establishment of
Armenian Studies as an academic discipline in the US, but its growth as
a dynamic, globally relevant hub for scholarly discourse and political
action alike.
`=46rom the outset, Richard Hovannisian understood that the challenge
before him was not for the fainthearted, but for those fortified with
the proper formation, intellectual conviction, stamina, and discernment
to perceive where the real struggle lies and not to be sidetracked by
minutiae,’ Cowe said.
`Moreover, Hovannisian knew the challenge could not be settled by one
individual, however gifted, but by the creation of new institutions.
Much of his activity reflects this point of view: his research
publications, his desire to mentor a new generation of scholars, his
concern for collegiality and the creation of a professional society, his
awareness of how essential it was for such an incipient field to enter
the mainstream by producing textbooks, and, finally, his realization
that for Armenian Studies to establish itself and thrive required
university positions to be endowed to ensure they, too, would become
institutions and endure in perpetuity – as we have just witnessed in
the generational transition of the AEF chair at UCLA from Hovannisian to
Aslanian. This also highlights Hovannisian’s leadership qualities, as
well as the farsightedness of the donors who recognized the impact their
action would have and the dividends it would continue to reap long after
the chair’s foundation.’
Cowe’s address was followed by the screening of a second video
documentary, A Tribute to Professor Richard Hovannisian, produced by the
honoree’s daughter, Ani Hovannisian-Kevorkian. Featuring rare footage
of Hovannisian’s diverse scholarly and political activities through
several decades, the video encapsulated his life story while
illustrating his far-reaching activism in the fight against Genocide
denial.
The second half of the banquet’s program had no shortage of colorful
moments, often registering a powerful emotional resonance. It featured a
congratulatory message from Professor David Myers of UCLA; violin
performances by Mari Haig; a poignant speech by Armen Hovannisian, the
honoree’s son, who recounted personal reminiscences as he presented
`Hovannisian the Man;’ and a fascinating onstage interview between
Richard Hovannisian and Ara Khachatourian, editor of the English edition
of Asbarez.
One of the evening’s most delightful surprises came in the form of a
lively family tribute, as Hovannisian’s two young granddaughters took
the stage, nearly stealing the show. The girls spoke lovingly of their
illustrious grandfather, sprinkling their talk with humorous comments
and touching recollections.
As the banquet’s culminating segment drew close, Professor Emeritus
Speros Vryonis, Jr. of UCLA introduced the honoree. In his remarks,
Vryonis touched on certain political aspects and power struggles
inherent in American academia, and praised Richard Hovannisian for his
central role in the evolution and burgeoning of the Armenian Studies
program at UCLA despite enormous challenges.
At this, and to the standing ovation of the audience, Richard
Hovannisian was invited to the stage, where Dr. Hasmig Baran, flanked by
members of the Friends’ Board members, formally presented the
Narekatsi Medal to the honoree.
In addition to conferring the medal on Hovannisian, the Friends’ Board
members had no less than three surprises for the honoree. First, he was
presented with a dossier of congratulatory letters from academic
colleagues in Armenia. Second, he was given a dossier of letters from
former students; on hand for this presentation were the honoree’s
formers students, Professors Vahram Shemmassian (CSUN), Levon Marashlian
(GCC), Dr. Garabet Moumdjian, and Dr. George Kooshian. And third, he was
presented with a large photograph of himself signed by current UCLA
students. The latter presentation was made by Armenian Studies graduate
student Ara Soghomonian. Also on stage were Soghomonian’s
contemporaries in the Armenian Studies Program Shushan Karapetian, Danny
Fittante, Xi Yang, and Ceyda Tinmaz; Sona Tajiryan from the History
Program; Lilit Keshishian from Comparative Literature; and Anoush Suni
from Anthropology.
The presentations were followed by an impassioned acceptance speech.
After thanking the Armenian community, and the Friends in particular,
for honoring him with the Narekatsi Medal, Hovannisian praised them for
their steadfast support of the Armenian Studies Program at UCLA. He
concluded his remarks by reiterating his abiding hope that a new cadre
of students and scholars will continue to build on the successes of the
program, through teaching, research, and political activism.
The program drew to a close with a toast to the honoree. Once again
taking the stage, Professor Cowe delivered a charming finishing touch,
to the joy and amazement of the guests: he invited them to retrieve and
open the bottle of cognac tucked discreetly within the centerpiece of
each table, and drink to Hovannisian’s health. Everyone obliged.
Cowe also announced two major milestones pertaining to the Armenian
Studies program at UCLA: as a result of a joint application to the Dream
Fund by the UCLA Department of Music and the Naraketsi Chair, he stated,
Vatsche Barsoumian has been engaged as a visiting professor in Armenian
Music and will be teaching courses over the next two years; and
recently, Cowe continued, a Research Program in Armenian Archaeology and
Ethnography was established as a permanent component of the Cotsen
Institute in Archaeology at UCLA, and Prof. Grigor Areshian has been