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Professor Peter Cowe surprised by an Armenian passport which was presented to him by consular aide Hagop Hovannisian from the Armenian consulate in Los Angeles, CA. Left to right, 2006 Papazian award winner, Peter Cowe, AGBU SCDC Chairman, Vahe Imasdounian, Consular aide from the Armenian Consulate in Los Angeles, CA, Hagop Hovanessian, and SCDC member and emcee, Haig Messerlian.
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Professor Peter Cowe Presented with 2006 Garbis Papazian Award
| Date: |
6/20/2007 |
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| Contact: |
AGBU Press Office |
| Phone: |
212.319.6383 |
| Fax: |
212.319.6507 |
| Email: |
press@agbu.org |
On March 4, 2007, close to 400 people gathered at the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Alex Manoogian Center in Pasadena for the traditional annual Lenten Luncheon organized by the AGBU Alex Manoogian Center Ladies Committee. The event provided a forum to announce and honor the winner of the 2006 AGBU Garbis Papazian Award.
The annual AGBU Garbis Papazian Award was established in 1988 through a special fund with the AGBU, to support and encourage non-Armenian scholars, who, through their scholarly research and publications, contribute to the propagation of Armenian causes, heritage, literature, language and history.
Following a special AGBU Centennial video presentation, Haig Messerlian, AGBU Southern California District Committee (SCDC) member and emcee, gave his welcoming remarks. He then introduced Professor Peter Cowe, winner of the 2006 Award, and read a letter of congratulations from AGBU President Berge Setrakian.
Cowe, a highly respected scholar, researcher, teacher and author, was being recognized for his important contributions to Armenology as Narekatzi Professor of Armenian Studies, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at UCLA, and for his previously held positions in Armenology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Columbia University in New York.
AGBU SCDC chairperson Vahe Imasdounian and Messerlian presented Dr. Cowe with the 2006 AGBU Garbis Papazian Award on behalf of the AGBU Central Board of Directors, which placed him among the ranks of distinguished past recipients such as Baroness Caroline Cox of England; French jurist Francois Rigaux; Genocide scholar Hans-Lukas Keiser; human rights advocate Tessa Hofmann; Austrian art historian Helmut Buschhausen; German theologian Hermann Goltz; and Iranian poet and translator Ahmat Nourizade.
"I am very honored to receive this award bearing the name of the well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist Garbis Papazian, who is continuing a laudable Armenian tradition of appreciating learning and actively supporting it. I am sorry that Mr. Papazian is unable to be with us today so that I could express this directly to him, but I hope to have an opportunity to do so during a trip planned to Vienna in the summer to access materials in the Vienna Mkhitarist library en route to Armenia," said Cowe.
Also partaking in the luncheon were California State Assembly member Paul Krekorian, Mayor of Pasadena Bill Bogaard, Glendale City Council members Rafi Manoukian and Ara Najarian, and Glendale School Board candidate Nayiri Nahabedian. Several of Professor Cowe's colleagues from the University of California at Los Angeles as well as Professor Kevork Bardakjian from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, joined the AGBU in recognizing his achievements.
On behalf of the Armenian Consul General in Los Angeles Armen Liloyan, consular aide Hagop Hovannisian presented Cowe with a unique, enviable gift--an Armenian passport.
City of Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, who was re-elected to his third term two days after the luncheon, had taken some time away from his busy campaign to congratulate Dr. Cowe and commend the AGBU for its work in the community. "When I'm part of the events of the great Armenian community, I think of the history, tradition, dedication, determination and teamwork that make this community so strong and vital," said Bogaard. "This is an important event in the City of Pasadena, and makes me proud as mayor of this great city. It would not be the same community without your work and participation. You are welcome, well known and appreciated, and I thank you very much."
Musical entertainment was provided throughout the luncheon, and included performances by violinist Megujan Margarian, 13-year-old pianist Hovsep Boghossian, and Elise Tashjian, who performed several popular Armenian songs with Levon Abrahamian accompanying her on the piano.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 35 countries.
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