One of the world’s most renowned Armenian scholars, Prof. Richard Hovannisian, will be bestowed with the Narekatsi Medal in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a historian, teacher, and defender of the Armenian cause at  a March 16 banquet organized by The Friends of the UCLA Armenian Studies Program. 

The highly anticipated community event will take place on Saturday, March 16, at the Armenian Society of Los Angeles Hall, in Glendale, California. 

 Dignitaries and community leaders participating in the event will include, among others, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese; a representative of Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy; Armen Hovannisian, vice-chair of the Armenian Bar Association; Alice Petrossian, former president of the Association of California School Administrators, chief academic officer-deputy superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District, assistant superintendent of the Glendale Unified School District, and currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission for Women; several representatives of the Armenian Educational Foundation; and Ara Khachatourian, editor of the English edition of Asbarez. 

The banquet will kick off with a reception and book exhibit, beginning at 6 p.m. in the foyer of the dining hall. The exhibit will feature Prof. Hovannisian’s many publications, including The Republic of Armenia series and the proceedings of the landmark “Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces” project. 

The main program will start at 7 p.m., when banquet co-chairs Ani Aivazian and Hilda Fidanian will introduce the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies, Alice Petrossian. 

Later in the program, a short video documentary on the life and achievements of Prof. Hovannisian will be shown, and congratulatory remarks by Professor David Myers, chairperson of the UCLA History Department, will be conveyed. 

One of the highlights of the event will be an onstage interview between the honoree and Ara Khachatourian. Subsequently there will be an artistic interlude, featuring a violin performance by Mari Haig, with piano accompaniment. 

After Speros Vryonis, UCLA professor emeritus of history, introduces Prof. Hovannisian, the Narekatsi Medal will be presented to the honoree, who will then deliver his acceptance remarks. 

At press time, a limited number of tickets to the banquet were still available, the Friends of the UCLA Armenian Language and Culture Studies said. Tickets ($125 for general admission, $70 for students with current ID) can be purchased by calling (323) 668-2609 or (818) 249-3330.