Seniors Graduate with Armenian Studies Minors

Name: Jeffrey David Simonian
Age: 22
Major: Ag Business
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to work for the family business as a produce salesmen.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I see myself as a successful businessman working on starting a family.
What was the most influential part of your college experience?
My friends, professors, and my parents were the greatest influence during my college experience.
How has the Armenian Studies Program affected you?
The Armenian Studies Program has taught me a lot about my heritage. Furthermore the program has made me look at the person I am and the person I want to be.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen?
College brings about abundant amounts of opportunities; take advantage of as many of them as possible.

Name: Ara Mekhitarian
Age: 22
Major: Business,
Information Systems
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation I plan to move to Los Angeles and acquire a position in corporate banking with Wells Fargo.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years I plan to be married and have a family. Career wise, I would like to have obtained an MBA and moved into a senior officer position.
What was the most influential part of your college experience?
In the summer of 2001, I traveled to Armenia along with seventeen other students under the direction of Professor Barlow Mugredechian. I had always wanted to visit my homeland, and actually see in person what I had spent years studying in my Armenian courses. It was great to visit the historic churches and landmarks. This experience I will never forget.
How has the Armenian studies program affected you?
My Armenian studies courses were by far the most enjoyable of my classes. I built strong relationships with my professors and classmates while developing a greater understanding of my culture and heritage. I would like to give a special thanks to Barlow Der Mugrdechian, who in the past five years has been a great mentor.

Name: Eric Mouradian
Age: 22
Major: Business Administration with a certificate in entrepreneurship
What are your plans after graduation?
My current employer, Wells Fargo Bank, has offered me a fulltime position; I plan on accepting the position, working and studying for the GMAT test to get into the MBA program here at Fresno State.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself married while simultaneously advancing with Wells Fargo.
What was the most influential part of your college experience?
The most influential experience was my trip to Armenia. Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian took 18 Armenian students to Armenia to tour the country. I will never forget that experience.
How has the Armenian studies program affected you?
The Armenian Studies Program has taught me a lot about my culture. It has opened my eyes to how we have survived for so long. The most intriguing aspect about the program was the amount of non-Armenians in the classes. This was a great way to educate non-Armenians about our affluent history.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen?
Take your time, and have fun!

Name: Timothy Luke Kuckenbaker
Age: 22
Major: Political Science
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan on enrolling in the Teacher’s Credential Education Program here at Fresno State.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself as an influential history and a student government-leadership teacher, while simultaneously coaching varsity basketball.
What was the most influential part of your college experience?
The courses I took from Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian. If you haven’t taken any courses from him you don’t realize how much he influences you to attend lectures, folding Hye Sharzhoom papers, being on time, not eating in class, oh yea, he will also encourage you to succeed. Thanks Professor Der Mugrdechian. Just as influential was Dr. Dickran Kouymjian. Each conversation I had with him resulted in me growing as a person.
How has the Armenian studies program affected you?
I have gained more knowledge about my Armenian heritage and culture than I could ever envision.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen?
Even if you’re not working on Armenian Studies minor, everyone should consider taking an Armenian Studies course at least once. And lastly don’t forget to turn off your cell phones in class!!

Name: Arpik Paraghamian
Age: 24
Major: Mass Communication and
Journalism, specialization: print media
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation I plan to do the things I didn’t have time for when I was in school, like travel with my husband and spend more time with my family. I will also continue to pursue my writing career.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
There are only two things I really want to do by the age of 30: buy a house and have kids. Whatever life brings after that I will be open to.
What was the most influential part of your college experience?
What influenced my college experience were the few good professors I came to know during the past five years. I learned more from them than I expected.
How has the Armenian studies program affected you?
Armenian students in this area are lucky to have the Armenian Studies Program. Not many universities offer such a program and many Armenians grow up not knowing what they should about the rich culture they come from. Minoring in Armenian Studies is one of the best decisions I could have made.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen?
I would advise incoming freshmen to take advantage of all the services the university has to offer, like the four-year plan, or else they will be here forever.