SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — The 35th anniversary gala banquet of the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School took place on March 26, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library here, with nearly 500 attendees. The event was organized by the Canoga Park School’s Parent-Teacher Organization. The evening’s motto was “The Past and the Present; Then and Now.”
The school’s alumni were highlighted throughout the program and numerous awards were presented to the school and its principal, including the AGBU President’s Award. During the program, which was emceed by Peter Musurlian, a special honor was paid to the school’s principal, Hagop Hagopian, who is retiring. A surprise presentation took him, and his entire family who was in attendance, by surprise. Sinan Sinanian, vice president of AGBU and member of the school’s board of trustees, expressed his deep appreciation for Hagopian’s devoted service over the years and presented him with a symbolic gift. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), as well as Eileen Keusseyan, chair of the Parent-Teacher Organization, both spoke warmly about the school reaching this milestone under Hagopian’s leadership.
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of theWestern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, honored Hagopian for his 30 years of educational service with a certificate of blessing and appreciation. Mentioned in the certificate was the fact that Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, had bestowed the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob medal upon Hagopian in 2001. The certificate further read: “The popular saying says, ‘Educating a child is educating a nation.’ We highly appreciate the uncompromising services of the veteran principal and educator Hagop Hagopian. Today, the Manoogian-Demirdjian is steadfastly and courageously continuing its mission as an educational institution serving the community and the nation, while preserving the Armenian language.”
The AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School began in 1976 as St. Peter-AGBU Day School with an enrollment of 19 pupils and a staff of three teachers. Since then, it has grown into an accredited, state-of-the-art college-preparatory academy with close to 800 students, nearly 100 highly qualified educators, and a dedicated support staff.
