By Danielle Saroyan Armenian Agenda Associate Editor In Meg Ryan’s directorial debut, she directed and starred in a film called Ithaca, based on Armenian American William Saroyan’s novel titled The Human Comedy. This year at the Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) in Northern California, Meg Ryan will be honored with a Sonoma Salute Award at a tribute event on Thursday, March 31. The event will begin with a screening of Ithaca at 3:30 PM. Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning

By Julissa Zavala (The Collegian) – Fresno State alumnus Dr. Harry Moordigian, Jr., whose legacy of support and generosity was fondly remembered, passed away on Nov. 11 at the age of 76. “This is the ideal type of person that gives back to the university after benefiting from the education,” said Dr. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, coordinator of the Armenian studies program. “I’m sad to see him go, because he was very much present on campus.” Moordigian was the only child of his Arm

(The Fresno Bee) – Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Fresno, Berj Apkarian, is inviting the public to a presentation at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at St. Paul Armenian Church, 3767 N. First St. in Fresno, about a volunteer mission team from the central San Joaquin Valley that traveled to Armenia to help with medical needs in the country. The evening includes refreshments and an exhibition of rugs from Armenia. #Armenia #Fresno #FresnoMedicalMissionTeamtoArmenia

By Taniel Koushakjian (@Taniel_Shant) AAANews Blog On July 23, 2015, Kathryn Tuell, of Kingsburg, CA, penned a ridiculous letter to the editor that was published in the Fresno Bee entitled Armenians should relax, enjoy being Americans. Her argument is that Armenian Americans should “relax” when it comes to the premeditated murder of 1.5 million of our ancestors during World War I. To Tuell, Americans voicing their First Amendment right in the face of genocide denial is simp

(Isaac Brekken/Associated Press) By Taniel Koushakjian AAANews Blog On Wednesday, famed Universityof Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian passed away. He was84. New first broke after son Danny Tarkanian, a former Republican candidateand UNLV basketball player himself, took to twitter. “I will miss him every day of my life,” he said. Jerry Tarkanian was known as coach “Tark the Shark,” a title attributed to the tenacious style of basketball he coached, and

By Taniel Koushakjian AAANews Blog Every summer, the Armenian Assembly of America family grows as the Terjenian-Thomas interns embark on an 8-week adventure in our nation’s capital. While many of our interns are working in their respective fields all over Washington, a select group who have a passion for journalism, communications, and politics have gained experience working in the Assembly’s press department. Gevorg Shahbazyan spends his time working between the Assembly com