Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church

Sports/Scholarship Committee

The 36th Annual Sports Banquet was held on Friday evening, May 6, 2005 in the Egavian Cultural Center. A social hour preceded the delicious diner and an exceptionally great program. Approximately 250 parents, relatives and friends were in attendance.

At the banquet, awards were presented to the following individuals:

Outstanding Performance in High School Sports

Artur Bagdasaryan, soccer — North Providence High School
Dara L. Casparian, tennis — Cumberland High School
Nicole Hersey, tennis — Cranston West High School
Marissa Lizotte, track — Cranston West High School
Melanie Kasparian, track — Pilgrim
Emily L. Karagozian, basketball — La Salle Academy
Derek Pascale, hockey — North Kingstown High School
Stephen M. Suvajian, football — Exeter-West Greenwich High School
Steven M. Vartanian, football — St. Raphael Academy

Past Great Armenian Athlete

Anthony Avakian for the sport of track

Rhode Island Armenian Athlete of the Year
co-recipients Charles Yaghoobian Jr. Memorial Awards

Victor A. Serabian, II, football — Cranston West High School
Kristin Demirjian, track — Pilgrim High School

Charles Yaghoobian Jr. Memorial Scholarship Awards presented to:

Andrew Bagdasarian — Providence College
Stephanie Berard — Northeastern University
Crystal Bozigian — Providence College
Lindsay Grant - Stonehill College
Jacqueline Kazarian — Barnard College
Garine Palandjian — Rhode Island College
Victor A. Serabian, II — Syracuse University
Andrea Tateosian — Northeastern University

Both the invocation and benediction were offered by the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian. Guest speaker for the evening was Tom Garrick, University of Rhode Island Women’s Basketball Coach.

Again special thanks are extended to the Ararat Association for it’s continued support; Ara Boghigian for once again donating the banner for the evening; Philip and Andrea Martiesian Doughty for designing and preparing the flyers which were mailed to promote the banquet; Russell Gasparian and Sonya Taraian for their continued support on the Armenian Radio Hour; Myron Kuzirian for taking photographs; Ronald J. Pagliarini of Arrow Florist, Cranston, RI for once again donating all of the flowers; Steven, Paul and Lynne Parnagian for once again donating all of the trophies and plaques awarded; Mary Ann Rossoni of Second Story Graphics for designing the program booklets; Chef Jack Chakoian and his staff for professionally preparing a scrumptious meal; to the various persons/businesses for their generous donations for the evening’s raffle, AAA of Rhode Island, Barmakian Jewelers, The Butcher Shop Café, Caffee-Bonami, Chardonnay’s Restaurant, Delicacies, Fifth Avenue Jewelers, Jason and Lisa Martiesian, Meritage Restaurant, Nabisco Biscuit Company, National Federation of Independent Business, Northern Rhode Island of Chamber of Commerce, Ocean State Job Lot, Garbis and Seta Parseghian, LaSalle Jewelers and Twin Oaks Restaurant; and finally to the members of the Sports/Scholarship Committee for their continued interest and dedication to this program which makes it possible for the youth of this church and our state to be honored and recognized for outstanding scholastic and athletic achievements, we say thank you.

To all those who support us through attendance at the banquet and for their monetary contributions - our sincere thanks and appreciation to those parishioners and friends who are always willing, when asked, to help support this most important work.

In closing, I would like to inform the parishioners that to date we have awarded $100,500.00 in scholarship grants to the young men and women of our community to help further their education. Please remember that the scholarship grants are not based on recognition in sports but are primarily based on academic achievement.

Respectfully submitted,
Terrance S. Martiesian