Dr. Mihran Agbabian and George R. Phillips, Esq. have been selected as their honorees by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) and Haigazian University, at a Celebratory banquet taking place at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Saturday, November 15, 2014 paying tribute to these individuals who have had a great impact on both institutions. The program will feature celebrated lyric soprano Kallen Esperian and the evening’s MC Harry Nadjarian. The event is scheduled for 6 pm.
Dr. Agbabian is recognized worldwide in the field of earthquake engineering, is Founding President Emeritus of the American University of Armenia, a former Dean of USC’s School of Engineering, and a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Mr. Phillips has served as Vice President of the AMAA, was named the Charlotte & Elise Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School Man of the Year, and has served as a Trustee for the Ignatius Foundation.
Both honorees have served as board members of the AMAA and have, for decades, been devoted supporters of both the AMAA and Haigazian University as well as numerous sister organizations. The spouses of the guests of honor, Elizabeth Agbabian and Suzie Phillips, were founding members of the Haigazian University Women’s Auxiliary of Los Angeles and the AMAA Child and Orphan Care Committee which they have championed to this day.
Greetings from the AMAA will be conveyed by its newly-installed Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian and from the Haigazian University by its President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian from Beirut, Lebanon. The banquet is being co-chaired by Joyce Abdulian and Ken Kevorkian.
The Armenian Missionary Association of America, based in Paramus, New Jersey, was founded in 1918 “to serve the spiritual and physical needs of Armenian people everywhere, both at home and overseas.” The organization has recently opened a West Coast Office in Glendale under the leadership of Levon Filian, the West Coast Executive Director.
Haigazian University, one of the top-ranking institutions of higher learning in the Middle East, is held in high esteem for many Armenians and has yielded many productive citizens in communities worldwide.
Banquet information may be obtained from contacts Grace Kurkjian 714-773-9075, [email protected] and Sandra Kalemkiarian, 626-355-4004, [email protected].
