Dr. Nancy Hong. Coordinator of Foreign Language Academies of Glendale (FLAG Schools), accompanied by Miganoush Melkoian, Teacher Specialist of the Armenian Department of FLAG, visited the Western Diocese on Friday, April 19, 2019 and met with the Diocesan Primate. Archbishop Derderian commended Dr. Hong and Mrs. Melkoian for their dedicated service to the Glendale Unified School District and especially to the thousands of Armenian students who receive the highest bilingual education made possible through the Foreign Language Academies of Glendale.

In 2018, through the collaborate efforts of the Western Diocese and the Glendale Unified School District, close to 100 students, teachers and parents had an educational field trip to the Western Diocese which consisted of a guided tour of the Zorayan Museum and the Aga-Sargsyan Library. The students were exposed to the rich Armenian cultural and historic heritage through architecture and cross-stones, unique cultural icons of the Armenian people. The schools also joined hundreds of Armenian students from the greater Los Angeles area in the Children’s Pageant Cultural Program of the Western Diocese in December.

Archbishop Derderian reaffirmed his commitment and full-fledged support to the FLAG program of the Glendale Unified School District and as a token of appreciation, His Eminence presented a $1,500 check from the Abp. Hovnan Derderian Scholarship Fund to the program. The Western Diocese, as the religious, cultural, and educational backbone of the community, feels it incumbent upon itself and part of its overall mission to support such vital programs.

On May 22, as means of solidifying the collaborative bond, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America will host the FLAG program students’ end of the year ceremonial program.