People Making News

The Davidian & Mariamian Educational Foundation named Dr. Richard Sheehan, superintendent of the Glendale Unified School District, as Person of the Year. The award was given as a result of Dr. Sheehan’s leadership and contribution to the Armenian American community. The event took place on Dec. 11 at Impression Banquet Hall. School board President Nayiri Nahabedian, board members, assistant superintendents and other civic leaders and dignitaries were in attendance at the ceremony.

In addition to awarding the superintendent, R. D. White Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School and Toll Middle School received the Program of the Year award from the foundation. The schools were honored for their contributions to the Armenian community for having dual immersion Armenian and heritage programs. Principals of the respective schools and many of the dual immersion teachers were in attendance. Students representing the schools performed at the event.

The schools were awarded plaques that will be displayed at each facility and eventually at the district office.

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Hofstra University’s Dance Program presented its annual Fall Dance Concert at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse, Nov. 21-24. Emily Marsh of La Cañada was one of the featured dancers in the program. Marsh, 21, is a member of the Hofstra class of 2014, majoring in dance and public relations.

For more information on Hofstra’s Dance Program, visit www.hofstra.edu/drama-dance.

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Madeline Crowley of La Cañada Flintridge recently performed in the annual St. Olaf College Christmas Festival in Northfield, Minn. Crowley is a member of the Cantorei. She is a studio art and environmental studies major. Crowley is the daughter of Philip and Ann Crowley and is a graduate of Westridge School For Girls.

The St. Olaf Christmas Festival is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States.

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Whitney DePaoli of La Crescenta, Lindsay Mayer and Daniel Noonan of La Cañada, Jeffrey Small of Glendale and Daniel Willett of Sunland graduated from Azusa Pacific University on Dec. 14. They joined nearly 800 graduates at the winter commencement ceremonies.

Azusa Pacific University is an evangelical Christian university committed to God First and excellence in higher education.

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Army and Navy Academy’s Annual Winter Concert was held on Monday in the Virginia Atkinson Memorial Chapel. The concert, open to the public, was an opportunity for all of the academy’s bands to perform holiday selections from several religions and cultures.

The concert featured Brandon Um of La Cañada, a musician in the advanced band, Class of 2015.

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Wheaton College Conservatory of Music students Michelle Phillips of La Cañada Flintridge and Adam Wolcott of La Crescenta performed in Wheaton College’s “Before the Marvel” Christmas Festival. To view the 2013 Wheaton College Christmas Festival, along with Christmas Festivals from previous years, visit bit.ly/wcchristmasfest13. The festival will also air on many Moody Radio Network stations.

The Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in Illinois provides students with comprehensive instruction that cultivates creativity, proficiency and achievement in a Christ-centered environment.

For more information, visit wheaton.edu/conservatory.

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The following local students achieved ranking on the Worcester Academy in Massachusetts honor roll and headmaster’s list for the first trimester of the 2013-14 school year. The honor represents the achievements that each student has earned through academic excellence, challenge, and personal growth.

Sewon Park of La Cañada Flintridge, class of 2017, is on the honor list and Serra Park of La Cañada Flintridge, class of 2015 is on the headmaster’s list.

Worcester Academy is a co-ed day and boarding school for grades six to 12 and postgraduates that is committed to innovative teaching and learning, urban leadership, making a global impact, and achieving the honorable everyday.

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Samantha Forsythe from Montrose has graduated from Pacific University with a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.

Founded in 1849, Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., is one of the west’s first chartered institutions of higher education.