ARS Eastern USA Summer Studies Institute Graduates Enthusiastic “Class of 2003” Students

After a three-year hiatus, the ARS Eastern USA Summer Studies program began anew in June at its new “home” at the University of Connecticut. Now called the ARS Eastern USA Summer Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut, the 2003 program was held from June 8 through June 28 and attended by 10 students.

The 2003 Summer Studies Institute was held on the University’s Storrs campus and for the first time, included three curriculum credits through the University of Connecticut for a newly established course on Armenian History.

Summer Studies Institute Director Dr. Hayg Oshagan was appointed by the ARS Eastern USA Board of Regional Directors to oversee the 2003 Summer Studies program.  Dr. Oshagan recommended staff qualified to teach college and university students and developed the 2003 course curriculum.

Dr. Simon Payaslian was appointed to teach the three-credit course, “Survey of Armenian History.” Other courses and their instructors were: “Armenian Language,” Jirayr Beujekian; “Armenian Cinema,” James Steffen, Emory University; “Armenian Literature,” Dr. Marc Nichanian, Columbia University; “Armenian Music,” Dr. Ohanness Salibian; and “Armenian International Relations,” Khachig DerGhougassian, University of Miami.

“This year’s Summer Studies exceeded everyone’s expectations,” said Director Dr. Hayg Oshagan. “The faculty and I were uniformly pleased with the students, the location, and the program.”

The members of the ARS Summer Studies Class of 2003 were: Karoun Charkoudian, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Masters in Earth Science; Margaret Vaneh Williams, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, majoring in Near East/Legal Studies; Kathryn Ani Williams, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Communications; Noune Tahmassian, University of Rhode Island, Biological Sciences; Teny Lorig Mishigian, Eastern Michigan University, International Studies/Relations; Sosi Mikaelian, Columbia College, Chicago, Interior Architecture; Christopher Basmajian, Lawrence Technological University, Computer Science; Hampik Shahinian, California State University-Northridge, International Business; Talar Terzian, Georgia Perimeter College, Nursing; and Elyssa Karanian, Franklin & Marshall College, English.

Summer Studies opened with a dinner on June 8 and welcoming remarks by Dr. Oshagan. Ungh. Arppie Charkoudian represented the ARS Eastern USA Board of Regional Directors and told the students that they were about to embark on the experience of a lifetime.

In addition to their day-long classes, held Monday through Friday, students enjoyed weekend trips. Students visited New York City for a day and saw the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, and Times Square.  Students also visited Boston, stopping for a tour of the Armenian Library and Museum of America and the Armenian Cultural Foundation.  They later toured Fanneuil Hall.  Students and staff were also hosted by the ARS Springfield “Ararat” Chapter and the ARS Hartford Chapter at their respective community picnics held in June.

To encourage students to attend Summer Studies, the ARS Eastern USA Board of Regional Directors awarded scholarships of $605 each to two members of the Class of 2003 based solely on merit.  The 2003 student recipients were Karoun Charkoudian and Talar Terzian.

ARS Eastern USA chapters also awarded scholarships to encourage the commitment of students attending the 2003 Summer Studies Institute. Students and the awarding chapters were: Teny Mishigian, ARS Detroit “Sybille” Chapter; Christopher Basmajian, ARS Detroit “Tzolig” Chapter; Noune Tahmassian, ARS Providence “Arax” Chapter; and Sosi Mikaelian, ARS Racine “Sosseh” Chapter.

The enthusiasm for the 2003 Summer Studies Institute by Director Oshagan and the Summer Studies staff was shared by students and their parents. Students lived together and learned together, studying their Summer Studies lessons on an outdoor patio at their dorm after dinner into the wee hours of the night. All agreed they worked hard, and all agreed their attendance at Summer Studies was a life-altering experience.

Wrote parent Sandra Saunders to the ARS Eastern USA Board of Directors after her daughters, Margaret and Kathyrn Williams returned home from their three-week Summer Studies experience, “I have meant to write sooner and to thank the ARS for the wonderful Armenian Studies Program that my daughters, Margaret and Kathryn Williams participated in this June at the University of Connecticut. They remained very enthused about what they learned and the relationships they formed. What an excellent program. What great professors! They are writing in Armenian to their Grandmother! They had an exceptional experience to learn of their exceptional heritage. Please accept and convey my deepest appreciation to all involved.”

Student Noune Tahmassian of Cranston, RI wrote to the ARS Eastern USA office to “express my thankfulness for the wonderful experience I had and all the education I received at the program. I learned a great deal of Armenian history, as well as a deeper understanding of the Armenian language. I also gained a greater appreciation for Armenian music, language, and film. I am so happy to have partaken in this program. The past three weeks have really made me feel more Armenian. I now have a much better understanding of the Armenian culture and history. This program has also given me the opportunity to meet more Armenian people. Thank you very much for this enriching experience.”

Summer Studies concluded with a Friday night party on June 27, complete with live Armenian music. Parents who were in the area also attended the farewell party and very generously provided food and beverages. Students made arrangements to meet again soon and stay in touch.

The ARS Eastern USA pays for all program costs, as well as student and staff room and board.  The ARS Eastern USA also pays for students’ trips and books. Students must apply for the program and pay a $350 application fee and their transportation costs to Summer Studies.  They are also responsible for paying tuition to the University of Connecticut for the three-credit course (which cost $605 in 2003).

The ARS Eastern USA thanks Dr. Oshagan, the 2003 Summer Studies staff, students, their families, its ARS chapters which encouraged students to attend the 2003 Summer Studies program, and the ARS Hartford and Springfield Chapters for their unfailing support and hosting of the students and staff.  Many thanks also to Ungh. Arppie Charkoudian, who represented the ARS Eastern USA the program and to Hratch Garapetian of Hartford for providing so many rides for students from Bradley International Airport to the University of Connecticut campus.

Thanks are also due to administrators at the University of Connecticut-Storrs, who worked closely with the ARS Eastern USA Board of Regional Directors to ensure the success of the Summer Studies program, agreed to establish the three-credit “Survey of Armenian History” course, and are supporting the continuance of Summer Studies at the University from year to year.

For more information about the ARS Eastern USA Summer Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut, visit the Summer Studies page on our website at www.arseastus.org.  The Summer Studies page contains the complete Summer Studies application for downloading, information about the program generally, information especially for applying graduate students, and articles and photographs of the 2003 Summer Studies experience.  Interested individuals may also telephone the ARS Eastern USA Regional Office at (617) 926-3801 or e-mail the office at arseastus@aol.com.