The Faces and Names Behind Junior Seminar

Every year, AYF members from throughout the eastern United States anxiously await the arrival of Memorial Day like no other three-day weekend of the year. One might guess this is because the holiday offers an opportunity to honor those who have fallen for their country or because it unofficially signals the beginning of summer.

But the more precise reason is that it serves as a rare occasion to gather over 350 AYF Juniors in one place for a one-of-a-kind educational and social experience. That place is Camp Lutherlyn in Prospect, Pa., and that experience is AYF Junior Seminar.

Since 1971, Seminar has been providing an avenue for Armenian youth to get acquainted with their roots and raise their awareness, while having fun and making life-long friendships in the process. Participants attend a series of eight in-depth lectures and a host of social and athletic activities.

Over the years, Seminar has grown larger and larger, and has become a staple feature of the AYF’s activities. Yet, like most other endeavors, its success is due to the collective effort and behind-the-scenes organizing of a dedicated group of AYF members.

I’m speaking, of course, about the Junior Seminar Committee (JSC). This year’s team of six dedicated and passionate AYF members has already begun preparing what is slated to be an even more memorable seminar than last year’s 75th anniversary special.

We took time out to spotlight these hardworking JSC members and find out what motivates them to volunteer so much of their time into organizing this seminal gathering.

Toros Asadourian
Toros Asadourian

Name: Toros Asadourian
Age: 24
Chapter: New York “Hyortik”
Years in AYF: 3
School: St. Joseph’s University
“I am a full-time student at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. I work full-time in IT and am serving for the first time on JSC. This is my third year at Seminar. My other AYF experience includes being a counselor at Camp Haiastan this past summer. I’m a veteran of the United States Navy Submarine Force and have served aboard the USS Virginia (SSN 774) as a Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class. I’m excited to be at Seminar again. There is nothing more important than the AYF juniors!”

Tsoler Avedissian
Tsoler Avedissian

Name: Tsoler Avedissian
Chapter: Greater Boston “Nejdeh”
Age: 23
Years in AYF: 13
School: Northeastern University
“I’m serving a second term (depending on how it all goes, it’ll be deemed ‘term’ or ‘sentence’) on the JSC. I’m from Boston and have been part of the “Nejdeh” AYF Chapter since the age of 10. I’ve been attending Seminar since the age of 13. I loved the JSC atmosphere last year, and I’m more than happy to be working with the same people to make it an even more successful event this year. Right before driving up to middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania, I’ll be graduating with a PharmD from Northeastern University…but who needs degrees when you’ve got the AYF to fill up all your time!”

Ani Damatian
Ani Damatian

Name: Ani Damatian
Age: 20
Chapter: Greater Boston “Nejdeh”
Years in AYF: 11
School: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
“This is my first year on the JSC and I am very excited to be in it! I currently attend Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, where I am studying to earn a PharmD degree. I think each AYF event is unique in its own way, but Junior Seminar is a special one because the kids come so excited and eager to see their friends, learn more about their culture, and have a fun time. I hope the kids enjoy what is planned for them this year, and they go home with memories to last a lifetime and stories to share about all they learned and were able to do throughout the weekend!”

Shant Aghajanian
Shant Aghajanian

Name: Shant Aghajanian
Age: 24
Chapter: Philadelphia “Sebouh”
Years in AYF: 14
Profession: Electrical and computer engineer
“I hope to make this year’s Junior Seminar very memorable for the youth. When the kids leave Seminar, I want them to leave thinking that they had a great time, when actually they left learning a whole lot. I hope the kids can leave making lifelong friends like I did when I was a camper at their age.”

 

 

Angela Deese
Angela Deese

Name: Angela Deese
Age: 25
Chapter: Philadelphia “Sebouh”
Years in AYF: 15 years
Profession: Chemical engineer
“I return this year to serve on the JSC. I’m originally from Richmond, Va., where I was a part of the Richmond “Roupen” AYF Chapter. I’m a past Camp Haiastan camper and counselor (including dish rag!), chapter executive, and Central Junior Council member. I graduated from Drexel University in 2006 with a B.S. in chemical engineering. Junior Seminar is my favorite AYF event of the whole year, and this will be my 13th year attending! Nothing beats Junior Seminar!
 

Chris Arabian
Chris Arabian

Name: Chris Arabian
Chapter: Washington, D.C. “Ani”
“I’m very excited to be back on the JSC for this year’s Seminar, which is the highlight of the year. I’m from Washington, D.C. and am a member of the “Ani” AYF Chapter. This will be my fifth year attending Junior Seminar and hope there will be more to come. There is nothing more special throughout the year than Seminar because all chapters throughout the East Coast come together and are formed as one. There is nothing better than seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces and seeing the impact the weekend had on their everyday life. Can’t wait to see you all there!

As can be seen, the 2009 AYF Junior Seminar promises to be a weekend that should simply not be missed. Download your application today by visiting www.ayf.org and be sure to submit it by the April 17 deadline.

For more information, go to www.ayf.org or email seminar@ayf.org.

Serouj Aprahamian

Serouj Aprahamian

Serouj Aprahamian has always been actively involved in the Armenian community. From 2007-2009, he served as the Capital Gateway Program Director for the Armenian National Committee of America in DC, while obtaining a Master's in International Relations from American University. He also served for three years as the Executive Director of the AYF Western Region and has contributed regularly to the Armenian Weekly, Haytoug, and Asbarez. He is currently a correspondent of the Armenian Weekly in Yerevan.

1 Comment

  1. Kudos to the AYF Junior Seminar Committee for a year of hard work to make the this unique AYF event a success. I remember, many moons ago, as an AYF Junior from the San Francisco AYF Rosdom Chapter, being part of a West Coast delegation travelling to Camp Lutherlyn for Junior Seminar. It was the most fun I had ever had listening to eight lectures in one weekend! Now, decades later, seeing my juniors in Washington DC excited to go to Junior Seminar – I continue to marvel at the great work successive Junior Seminar Committees do.

    Thanks, Armenian Weekly, for spotlighting the dedicated youth leaders who will help make this year’s Junior Seminar a memorable time for a new generation of AYFers.

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