Recently I received the latest and mostly likely the last copy of the Armenian Evangelical College (AEC) History Club’s periodical “Ani”, which may very well be the only Armenian high school student history publication of such longevity. It has been published in its original cover design since it came about in 1965, at the 50th anniversary of the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. It was the year I graduated from the high school. The attached is my translation of an article Dr. Zaven Messerlian wrote about the periodical "Ani" in that latest issue.
“Ani” is the publication of the Armenian Evangelical College History Club. Its founder and the advisor has been Dr. Zaven Messerlian, who also was the founder and the advisor of the history club from October 1964 to June 2017.
The first issue of the “Ani” Periodical appeared in February 1965 and the second issue of the first year appeared in June 1965. Henceforth it was published once a year.
Herewith we note the student editor of the year and the month the periodical was published.
|
1st
Year
|
February
|
1965
|
Vahe H. Apelian
|
|
June
|
1965
|
Vahe H. Apelian
|
|
|
2nd
Year
|
May
|
1966
|
Vehanoush Tekian
|
|
3rd
Year
|
December
|
1967
|
Artoun Hamalian
|
|
4th
Year
|
March
|
1969
|
Sona Hamalian
|
|
5th
Year
|
March
|
1970
|
Ara Tekian
|
|
6th
Year
|
March
|
1971
|
Ara Tekian
|
|
7th
Year
|
March
|
1972
|
Vache Minassian
|
|
8th
Year
|
April
|
1973
|
Vache Minassian
|
|
9th
Year
|
April
|
1974
|
Viken Gulvartian
|
|
10th
Year
|
May
|
1975
|
Viken Gulvartian
|
|
11th
Year
|
May
|
1978
|
Hagop Sulahian
|
|
12th
Year
|
May
|
1980
|
Khatchig Dedeyan
|
|
13th
Year
|
June
|
1981
|
Khatchig Dedeyan
|
|
14th
Year
|
April
|
1982
|
Nerva Fereshetian
|
|
15th
Year
|
June
|
1983
|
Hrair Koutnouyan
|
|
16th
Year
|
June
|
1985
|
Hilda Kuredjian
|
|
17th
Year
|
June
|
1986
|
Heghnar Zeitlian
|
|
18th
Year
|
June
|
1987
|
Zaven Kouyoumdjian
|
|
19th
Year
|
June
|
1988
|
Lenda Soghomonian
|
|
20th
Year
|
May
|
1990
|
Maria Sekilian
|
|
21st
Year
|
June
|
1991
|
Yoland Nalbandian
|
|
22nd
Year
|
June
|
1992
|
Maya Hosri
|
|
23rd
Year
|
May
|
1994
|
Yeghig Torossian
|
|
24th
Year
|
June
|
1995
|
Yeghig Torossian
|
|
25th
Year
|
June
|
1996
|
Rita Lao
|
|
26th
Year
|
June
|
1997
|
Elda Degirmenjian
|
|
27th
Year
|
May
|
1998
|
Shaghig Doulian |
After 1999, “Ani” Periodical did not have student editors. Henceforth the advisor of the history club Dr. Zaven Messerlian edited the writings of the 11th grade Armenian history students focusing on a subject. Herewith is the listing of the year, the month “Ani” henceforth was published and the subject matter of the year’s issue.
|
28th
Year
|
May
|
1999
|
Artsakh
|
|
29th
Year
|
June
|
2001
|
Armenian contributions
to civilization
|
|
30th
Year
|
June
|
2002
|
Armenian Kingdoms
|
|
31st
year
|
June
|
2003
|
Important Armenian historical
milestones
|
|
32nd
Year
|
June
|
2004
|
Armenian history
subjects
|
|
33rd
Year
|
June
|
2005
|
Armenian history
subjects
|
|
34th
Year
|
June
|
2006
|
Celebrated Armenian
historical figures
|
|
35th
Year
|
June
|
2007
|
Armenian Diaspora
communities
|
|
36th
Year
|
June
|
2008
|
Famous battles in
Armenian history
|
|
37th
Year
|
July
|
2009
|
The Armenian Genocide
|
|
38th
Year
|
June
|
2010
|
Notable Armenian kings
|
|
39th
Year
|
June
|
2011
|
Important treaties in
Armenian history
|
|
40th
Year
|
June
|
2012
|
Armenian cities in
Western Armenia and Cilicia
|
|
41st
Year
|
June
|
2013
|
Celebrated Armenian
women
|
|
42nd
Year
|
July
|
2014
|
Important dates in
Armenian history
|
|
43rd
Year
|
June
|
2015
|
Armenian Genocide
|
|
44th
Year
|
May
|
2016
|
The course of Armenian history
from 2492 B.C. to 2017 A.D.
|
|
45th
Year
|
March
|
2017
|
Brief biographies of
Armenian kings, prime ministers and presidents.
|
When we view the names of the past student editors of “Ani” periodical, we realize that many of them brought noteworthy contributions to Armenian life. We mention those familiar to us in chronological order as the editor of “Ani” periodical.
Dr. Vahe H. Apelian – A pharmaceutical scientist by career, editor of books and the author of three volumes sequel “The Way We Were”.
Vehanous Tekian – A renowned Armenian poetess and author of many books.
Artoun Hamalian – A pedagogue, former principal of schools, presently the director of the Education Department of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).
Sona Hamalian – An activist who has held important civic positions both in Diaspora and in Armenia.
Dr. Ara Tekian – An internationally acclaimed scholar and leader in health professions education and recipient of Ellis Island Award.
Dr. Viken Gulvartian (1956-2016) - A pharmacist by profession and a long time Board Member of AGBU Manougian-Demirjian school. He was instrumental in establishment of a modern Visual Arts Department with its drama, dance, at and music sections.
Hagop Sulahian – An architect and an award-winning artist.
Khatchig Dedeyan – A poet and author of books. For the past many years he is the chancellor at the Armenian Catholicosate of Great House of Cilicia.
Nerses Fereshetian (Kazanjian) – An architect.
Hrair Koutnouyan, MD – A medical doctor.
Hilda Kuredjian Hartounian – The chairwoman of the Tekeyan Cultural Association in New Jersey.
Zaven Kouyoumjian – A well-known Lebanese talk show host, producer, and television personality and author of several books.
Linda Soghomonian Gedinian – A fashion promoter and marketer.
Maria Sekilian – A nurse and a candidate for doctor in nursing.
Yoland Nalbandian – A film director
Maya Hosri – A pedagogue
Yeghig Torossian – The chairman of the West Beirut A.R.F.
Rita Lao (Manjilikian) – A social worker in Lebanon and in Armenia where she currently resides.
Elda Degirmenjian – A pianist and a teacher of piano.
Shaghig Doulian (Titizian) – An employee of a pharmaceutical company.
Dr. Zaven Messerlian, Honorary Principal.
P.S.:
Heghnar Zeitlian - Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh is professor of Art History at the the University of California, Davis. She is an award-winning author.
