Northridge,Calif. – California State University, Northridge chemistry professor Gagik Melikyan is the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award recipient.
The annual Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards publicly recognize specific educators by spotlighting their impact on the lives of students. The awards celebrate the teaching profession, the important role of teachers in society and seeks to inspire others to pursue this profession.
“To be a teacher is the most exciting, most demanding and most rewarding profession,” said Melikyan. “I enjoy challenging my students, making them believe in themselves, creating life-changing opportunities and putting them on the path to a prosperous future. Every new day is as exciting as the first day on the job as an educator.”
“I have known Gagik for close to 10 years as dean of the college,” said Dean of Science and Math, Jerry Stinner. “I have tremendous respect for Gagik and consider him to be one of the finest scholars and mentors in the college. He is a first-rate scientist, with a remarkable publication record, and is incredibly dedicated to training students in his laboratory.”
Nominated by students they once taught, the award recipients reflect the power one teacher has to inspire others and transform lives, according to Kennedy Center officials.
Melikyan was nominated by Christopher Wild, a student who earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from CSUN, and is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas Galveston.
“He is one of those students who will make CSUN proud as their alma mater,” said Melikyan of Wild.
“Dr. Melikyan is my professional role model and was the catalyzing figure of my academic and professional development while at CSUN,” Wild said. “He continues to play a prominent role to this day.”
Wild noted that Melikyan’s “high level of knowledge is apparent just after one lecture. He demands excellence while being very fair. In his research lab, Dr. Melikyan trained me himself. As an incoming Ph.D. student in medicinal chemistry, I was able to hit the ground running. I was so well trained that I was immediately able to conduct research independently.”
Another one of Melikyan’s colleagues, Steve Oppenheimer, a biology professor at CSUN, noted Melikyan’s talents when he said, “Gagik is a fantastic teacher, research scientist and author. His enthusiasm and clarity in the classroom are distinguished. His award-winning book on exposing problems with hundreds of thousands of chemicals (Guilty Until Proven Innocent), is a truly important contribution to public health and welfare. It is a classic and should be read by everyone.”
Melikyan is quick to point out that CSUN has been one of the main reasons for his success.
“Over the last two decades, CSUN has provided such a large amount of support, encouragement, understanding and appreciation that I could hardly receive in any other setting,” said Melikyan. “And the current accomplishments, both in the classroom and research laboratory, could not be possible without continuous assistance and help provided by the university, college and departmental levels.”
On the award, Melikyan said “of course, it is a great honor coming from such a reputable institution. I consider it to be an appreciation of my decades-long commitment to provide quality professional training to my students, both in the classroom and most importantly in the research laboratory.”
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards were created in 2010 in honor of Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday and were initiated and funded through the generous support of Freddie and Myrna Gershon.
On March 22, Stephen Sondheim‘s birthday, a select number of these teachers received The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award, and a money grant in appreciation for their contributions to the field of teaching. Awardees will also be showcased, along with the people they inspired, on The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards website.
“The award will support my quest to educate the general public on health-related issues, as well as ongoing professional activities as an educator, writer and public advocate,” said Melikyan.
Wild knows first hand the importance of that education. “The greatest lessons he taught me, was that to be successful you must have confidence. And confidence comes from preparation which requires hard work.”
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
Angeli Francois, a College of the Canyons English adjunct instructor, has received a 2023 Hayward Award for ‘Excellence in Education’ from the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges for her dedication and commitment to serving and empowering students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
More than 1 billion Muslims around the world are preparing for Ramadan, and fasting which takes during the holiday is recognized as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will meet in open session for a joint business meeting with the Associated Student Government Wednesday, March 22, at 3:30 p.m., in the University Center, Room 301 on the Valencia campus of College of the Canyons.
California Institute of the Arts alum Jeff Rowe (Film/Video 2011) makes his feature directorial debut with "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," also co-directed by fellow CalArtian Kyler Spears (Film/Video 2013).
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed 12 new deaths throughout L.A. County, 767 new cases countywide and 15 new cases in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a closed session special meeting Tuesday, March 28, beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by the council's regular open public meeting at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the First Floor of City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Angeli Francois, a College of the Canyons English adjunct instructor, has received a 2023 Hayward Award for ‘Excellence in Education’ from the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges for her dedication and commitment to serving and empowering students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced the 14th annual State of the County is scheduled for Wednesday, May 31 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Valencia, 24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia, CA 91355.
Guests are invited to search for a golden egg decal placed on any of the Outlets at Tejon, 5701 Outlets at Tejon Parkway, Arvin, CA 93203. retail windows. The Golden Egg Scavenger Hunt will be held April 4-8.
A free, timely and important LifeForward workshop, “Be the Boss of Your Money – Make it Work for You!” hosted by Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley, will be held Saturday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Tucked between the River Village neighborhood at Duane R. Harte Park is one of the most unique and hidden amenities in Santa Clarita. Home to the city of Santa Clarita’s Trail Tales, this serene location offers families and visitors a beautiful spot to take a leisurely walk along the paseos while enjoying the shade of the massive oak trees and reading a children’s story displayed on podiums dotted along the path.
The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation has announced that California-based Vallarta Supermarkets will relocate its corporate headquarters from Pacoima to the Santa Clarita Valley in late 2023.
Officials at Placerita Canyon State Park and Nature Center have closed the popular Canyon Trail, one of the park's longest trails, indefinitely due to damage from recent storms.
Playing for the third time in five days, the CSUN women's tennis team extended its longest winning streak since 2015 to nine as the Matadors defeated Chaminade 7-0. CSUN's nine-dual winning streak is tied for the fifth-longest in school history with the 2006 and 2015 teams.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday no new deaths and 22 new cases in the Santa Clarita Valley, with 12 additional deaths and 537 new cases countywide.
Circle of Hope Inc., a non-profit organization in Santa Clarita dedicated to providing emotional, financial, and educational support to individuals and families affected by cancer, is thrilled to announce their upcoming Hoedown For Hope Music Festival and BBQ fundraising event.
Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles has openings at its all-girl summer camps and are enrolling now for camps that take place June through August. Openings are at day camps in Inglewood and Claremont, and overnight camps in Frazier Park.
Beginning Monday, March 27, crews will start the construction of median modifications, paving, grinding and overlay operations along Plum Canyon Road, between Bouquet Canyon Road and Skyline Ranch Road.
On March 21, 2023, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion adopting a plan for the County Probation Department’s halls and camps, specifically as it relates to establishing Secure Youth Treatment Facilities following the transfer of juvenile serious offenders from state to county custody.
Tweet This
Facebook
Digg This
Bookmark
Stumble
RSS
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
0 Comments
You can be the first one to leave a comment.