Eight Armenians among 2012 Ellis Island medal recipients

Published: Thursday June 07, 2012

View of the Ellis Island. Courtesy image.

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Seven Armenian Americans receive Ellis Island medals

New York - Nancy Arabian; Nishan Goudsouzian, MD; Kevork I. Karajerjian; Dalida Keuroghlian; Papken Megerian; Ohannes A. Nercessian, MD; Alice Petrossian and Joyce Philibosian Stein are among this year's recipients of the Ellis Island awards.

The Medal of Honor award recognizes remarkable Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage.

Both the United States House of Representatives and Senate officially recognize the Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Each year's recipients are read into the Congressional Record.
Past medalists include six presidents, as well as Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government.

To date, over 1,800 American citizens have received Ellis Island Medals of Honor.

Alice Petrossian, Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) president.

Petrossian is recognized for her lifelong commitment to improving the lives of California's students, her focus on diversity and educational equity, and her support for English language learners and students from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

"Alice is extremely deserving of this national recognition," said ACSA Executive Director, Karen Stapf-Walters. "Her unique talents, her educational expertise and her unwavering commitment and service to public schools are inspiring. She is a role model to thousands of school leaders working to recognize and honor diversity and to improve the lives of students."

Petrossian recently retired from Pasadena Unified School District as the Chief Academic Officer/ Deputy Superintendent. Her 42 years of service to public education includes 31 years in Glendale Unified School District with 12 years as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. While in Glendale she held a number of other administrative positions and spent 11 years as a teacher in both Glendale and Hayward, California.

Petrossian was appointed to several state boards and commissions by Governors Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson and Gray Davis. Just to name a few, she served as Chair of the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing, President of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, and Trustee of the California State University System. For her service to the community, Petrossian was honored twice as Legislative Woman of the Year-43rd Assembly District in 1998 by Assemblyman James Rogan (Rep) and in 2008 by Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (Dem). She has presented and key noted at numerous conferences, seminars and banquets. In 2007, Petrossian was recognized by ACSA with its "Most Outstanding Administrator Award" and in 2011, she was elected State President to lead the 15,000 member organization.

Petrossian has continuously volunteered in organizations, especially those involving children's causes. She has served on the Boards of the Glendale Healthy Kids, Glendale Community Foundation, YWCA, PTA and many others. Most recently, she is active in collecting and shipping school supplies and clothing to orphanages and village schools in Armenia as well as providing professional development seminars for educators. For her volunteer work, Petrossian has received numerous prestigious awards and honors by community organizations, including California PTA, YWCA, Glendale Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, LA County Human Relations- John Anson Ford Award, Soroptimist International, Glendale NewsPress, California State University-Hayward, California State University-Los Angeles, USC, Armenian General Benevolent Union-Generation Next, Armenian Professional Society, Armenian Educational Foundation, Armenian National Committee, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce, and many others.

Joyce Philibosian Stein, an ex-officio member of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) Board of Directors.

Co-Chair of the AMAA National Orphan and Child Care Committee, Trustee of the Stephen Philibosian Foundation and ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees for Haigazian University, Joyce Philibosian Stein was honored on May 12 by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO), sponsors of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor was presented to Mrs. Stein on Ellis Island, where 12 million immigrants entered the United States from 1892 to 1954.

Mrs. Stein is the daughter of the late Sirpuhe Philibosian Conte and Stephen Philibosian, a philanthropist, entrepreneur and a co-founder of Haigazian University in Beirut, Lebanon. Both having crossed the Ellis Island threshold, would be amazed to know their daughter was awarded this medal of honor. They were true Americans who in that spirit encouraged the very American pursuits of giving of oneself.

Mrs. Stein was born in New York City and attended Colby/Sawyer College, Southern Methodist University and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds an honorary degree from Haigazian University (LLD). She lived in St. Andrew's Scotland while her husband, Joe, attended St. Mary's College. She now resides with her husband in Indian Wells, CA. In keeping with her father's legacy, Mrs. Stein has wholeheartedly supported the AMAA and Haigazian University in leadership positions. Among her many other contributions to philanthropic causes, she served as a volunteer and major fundraiser for the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and as Chair of the "Daisy Day" Fund, when President Dwight Eisenhower was the Honorary Chairman. She has also served as a member of the Support Committee of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Her husband, Joe, represents AMAA in the United Armenian Fund and is involved in numerous other Armenian organizations and projects. Her daughter, Stephanie Landes, is a current member of the AMAA Board of Directors and her daughter, Tina Segel, is a member of Haigazian University Board of Directors. She also actively serves on the LA Child and Orphan Committee and has sponsored the annual Luncheon and Fashion Show. Mrs. Stein is actively involved in the lives of her six grandchildren.