Rev. Dr. Paul Haydostian

On Tuesday, 10th of July, 2007, at 8:00pm, the Armenian Catholic Mesrobian High School celebrated the graduation of its 31 Terminale (12th grade) students. The event took place in the courtyard of the school, under the high patronage of Rev. Dr. Paul Haydostian, President of Haigazian University.

The ceremony started by inviting the graduating students, as well as the Brevet (9th grade) students, one by one, to stage. Following that, the Lebanese and Armenian national anthems as well as Mesrobian High School Hymn were played.

After that, Mr. Gregoire Kaloust, the principal of Mesrobian High School, was invited to stage to address his speech. Mr. Gregoire warmly welcomed all the presents, among them Rev. Dr. Paul Haydostian, Msgr. Vartan Ashkarian, President of Armenian Catholic Schools Principals Committee, as well as other national, political and academic figures, students' parents and Mesrobian friends.

In his speech, Mr. Gregoire Kaloust stated that despite the economical and political tensions, the 2006-2007 academic year was in nothing less than the previous academic years. Starting by the academic performance, he confirmed that the students carried out excellently the official exams and the soon-to-be-published results will prove his point. On the constructional side, Mesrobian High School had its new library, laboratory, auditorium and courtyards, which were built with the help of the dearest benevolent organizations such as the United Armenian Fund, the Lincy Foundation and the Robert Boghossian and Sons Fund. At the end of his speech, he congratulated the graduating students wishing them to obtain higher degrees.

Following Mr. Gregoire' speech, the graduating students performed two singings, one in Armenian and the other one in Arabic.

Following that, in the name of Terminale class, three students Sarine Nemshehirlian, Linda Haddad, and Tina Puskulian shared their thoughts with the audience, in Armenian, Arabic and French, respectively. They expressed mixtures of feelings of happiness and melancholy, of pride and responsibility, of satisfaction and gratefulness.

The artistic program followed the speeches. Some of the Terminale students performed singing and others performed dancing (Salsa).

In addition, Rev. Dr. Paul Haydossian was invited to stage to share his thoughts. He gave a metaphor of the ancient Greek Gymnasium, where men were trained physically and mentally. He emphasized that a human being should exercise affinity in all his/her aspects: physical, mental, moral and spiritual.

In his turn, Msgr. Vartan Ashkarian was invited to give his paternal recommendations. First he congratulated the parents and thanked them for the trust they have shown towards Mesrobian. Then he appraised the efforts of the teachers and the Mesrobian staff. And finally, he congratulated the graduating students and wished them to obtain higher degrees and form Armenian families.

At the end of the ceremony, the certificates were presented to the students by the hands of Rev. Dr. Paul Haydostian, Msgr. Vartan Ashkarian and Mr. Gregoire Kaloust.