LOS ANGELES—Members and guests of the Los Angeles Affiliate of the Armenian International Women’s Association gathered for their Hasmik Mgrdichian Scholarship Spring Luncheon. The spectacular event was held on June 8, at Jack and Zarig Youredjian’s private residence. Guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeurves, and an elaborate buffet, graciously hosted by Zarig Youredjian.

Nicole Nishanian, President of AIWA-LA, welcomed the guests and expressed her thanks and appreciation to Zarig Youredjian for opening up her picturesque home, and for her warm and generous hospitality. “We are delighted to present the recipients of the 2019 Hasmik Mgrdichian Scolarship Awards and to recognize their talent, ability, and perseverance to achieve their career goals. We are also honored today to have as our guest speaker, our dear friend and supporter Anita Vogel, who needs no introduction and has had a distinguished career as a noted journalist and newscaster for Fox-TV. Her rise and success in the broadcast industry will justly serve as an inspiration to our young women.”

Margaret Mgrublian, Vice President of AIWA-LA, presented guest speaker Anita Vogel, and reflected on her illustrious career as a news correspondent. Mgrublian proudly pointed out that they were cousins, and that they had enjoyed a longtime friendship. She reviewed Vogel’s journalism career beginning at ABC Network News in Washington, D.C. as Desk Assistant for This Week with David Brinkley, followed by WJET-TV (ABC) in Eric, PA; KCRA-TV (NBC) in Sacramento and WTLC-TV (NBC) in Jacksonville, FL. Vogel joined Fox-News in 2001 and currently serves as a Los Angeles based correspondent covering famous news stories. Mgrublian reported on the many awards Vogel has received through the years, including the Golden Mike Award for best broadcasting news coverage by a network; the Edwin R. Murrow Award; Regional Emmy Award for best newscaster; the Pennsylvania Association Broadcasters Award for best documentary; and the recipient of a RIAS Fellowship Award in 2006, a German-American Journalism Exchange Program, spending two weeks in Germany representing Fox News Channel.

Anita Vogel captivated the guests with her remarks on her career. She focused on the years she spent pursuing her career and the many rejections she received from news stations throughout the United States. Her determination, diligence and tenacity were finally rewarded with her position at ABC Network News as Desk Assistant for This Week with David Brinkley, which was followed by associations with other network news in Pennsylvania, Sacramento and Florida. Vogel’s association with Fox-TV News began in 2001 when she applied to Fox-TV News for a position, only to discover that she was being interviewed to serve as a Los Angeles based correspondent covering famous news stories. Vogel’s eighteen-year association with Fox-TV News continues and, in her own words, she is ready with her suitcase in hand, to journey and report on the news wherever it is happening.

The highlight of the afternoon’s program was the presentation by Lily Balian, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, of the recipients of the 2019 Hasmik Mgrdichian Scholarship Awards. Balian introduced and presented five of the six recipients receiving $5,000 scholarships. In her remarks, Balian stated that the committee had the difficult task of selecting the recipients from the huge amount of applications that were received. Balian introduced the following five recipients who were present:

1. Nora Galoustian is currently attending UC Berkeley where she is majoring in Molecular and Cell Neurobiology, and minoring in Disciplinary Human Rights. After completing her Bachelor’s degree, she will be applying to Medical School to become a practicing physician.
2. Meghmik Harabedian currently attends CSU Fullerton where she is majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Upon graduation, she plans on attending Loma Linda University where she hopes to receive a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in order to become a certified Speech-Language Pathologist.
3. Tara Rose Kessedjian, presently a sophomore at UC Berkeley as a Physics Major, has a goal of attaining a degree in Physics, specializing in Astrophysics and to later continue to graduate school to again a Masters Degree in Astrophysics, and eventually a Doctorate.
4. Julie Poladian, currently a graduate student at UCLA in her second and final year, is majoring in the Teacher Education Program and will graduate with a Masters in Education. As a resident, she will be a full-time elementary school teacher in the L.A. United School District while continuing to work on her Master’s Inquiry Project.
5. Grace Raphaella Vertanessian, currently a sophomore at UCLA, is majoring in Economics with a focus on finance and international economics. She is also minoring in French, concentrating on writing and speaking skills, as well as business culture.

Tatevik Kechiyants, who was not present, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics from YSLU, Armenia. She is currently a graduate student in her first year at the LLM program at USC Gould School of Law, specializing in American Law, Arbitration and Mediation.

The five recipients who were present enthralled the guests with their words of thanks and appreciation for receiving the awards.

In her closing remarks, Nicole Neshanian, President of AIWA-LA, thanked everyone for being present and stated that the proceeds from this event would benefit the Women’s Shelter Program in Armenia. Nishanian also thanked Zarig Yaredjian for her generous donation to the Women’s Shelter Program.

For further information regarding AIWA-LA, please call (213) 479-4526 or send an email.

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