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Mike and Evelina Sarian to Assume Honorary Presidency of Navasartian Games


Mike and Evelina Sarian Honorary Presidents of 47th Navasartian Festival & Games graphic

Dr. Mike and Evelina Sarian, who were named Honorary Presidents of the 47th Navasartian Games & Festival, will assume the position during a special ceremony on Saturday, June 29 at the Victory Ball, which will be held at the Beverly Hilton.

The Sarian Family originates from the Palou region of Western Armenia. Having settled in Adana, the family’s patriarch, Martiros Sarian, worked in construction and started a family. However, with the advent of the Armenian Genocide, the family was exiled to Der Zor, losing all their possessions. After the end of World War I, they returned to Adana. However, due to Kemalist persecutions, in 1922 the Sarian Family again migrated from their ancestral home, once more leaving behind all their possessions, to reach the shores of Lebanon, an unfamiliar country with an unfamiliar language. They initially lived in tents, but ultimately settled in Bourj Hammoud.

Mike Martiros Sarian was born into a patriotic family atmosphere in Beirut, Lebanon. He received his primary education at the AGBU Levon G. Nazarian School, continuing on to the AGBU Hovagimian-Manoukian Secondary School. To avoid the violence and carnage of the Lebanese Civil War, the Sarian Family relocated to the United States in 1978, settling in Los Angeles, CA. Mike Sarian pursued his higher education, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, from the California State University, Los Angeles. He then began working in the accounting department of a local hospital, while completing his education. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of La Verne, College of Business and Public Management, and later, a doctorate in Public Health.

As a result of his diligence and capabilities, Mike Sarian has achieved remarkable success professionally. Starting in a financial officer position, he was recognized as a successful and skilled individual in his field. He rose to leadership positions in the hospital, ultimately becoming the Chief Executive Officer in the 1990s. Starting with twelve hospitals just half a decade ago, Mike Sarian currently oversees forty-four hospitals in fourteen states.

Professional demands resulted in Mike moving to Pennsylvania, where he managed a large network of hospitals for four years. He subsequently returned to California, focusing his attention on building a family with his wife Susan. The birth of their daughter, Kristen, spread immense joy throughout the Sarian Family. However, tragedy struck as Susan passed away following a brief illness. As a conscientious and exemplary Armenian parent, Mike raised Kristen, instilling in her the Christian faith, high family values, and pride in her Armenian heritage. Growing up in the Armenian community, Kristen joined Homenetmen athletics to pursue basketball, develop an upstanding character, and cultivate her mind, body, and soul.

In conjunction with his profession, Mike Sarian has served as an executive board member of the California Hospital Association, which manages around five hundred hospitals in California. Mike has lent his expertise to the association’s programs to address state health issues.

Mike Sarian is also a member of several university advisory boards and boards of trustees. In addition, he takes part in significant humanitarian activities.

Mike rediscovered the warmth of life when he met and then married Evelina.

Evelina Boghosian was born in Yerevan, Armenia. She was fascinated by fashion from the age of nine, when she took part in her first fashion show.

Evelina received her primary and secondary education in her birthplace. She then obtained a marketing certificate from the Business Institute of Armenia. Subsequently, Evelina earned a degree in design from the ATEX Fashion College in Armenia. In 1998, she moved to the United States to specialize in design, earning a degree in fashion design from Otis College of Art and Design in 2001. Evelina’s love for knowledge and the pursuit of excellence led her to continue her higher education. She soon earned two master’s degrees in management and an MBA from Woodbury University in Burbank, CA.

Evelina has received numerous awards for her work: the Rudi Gernreich Award in Los Angeles, CA; the Onward Koshiyama Award in Tokyo, Japan; and the Samsung Award in Seoul, South Korea. Her works have been shown in various art exhibitions. She has been a part of Los Angeles Fashion Week on a number of occasions and her designs have been sold in renowned stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman. Evelina has taught at Otis College, Fremont University, the Art Institute, and Idyllwild Arts Academy. She is a progressive entrepreneur managing various companies, including Gravel Floral. Evelina is blessed with two children, Anastasia and Leo, who are part of Homenetmen athletics. Anastasia excels in tennis, while Leo is skilled in soccer and athletics. They have been raised to embody the Homenetmen mantra of “a healthy body, an active mind, and a noble soul.”

As a patriotic couple, the Sarians have always shared their successes with the Armenian Church, organizations, and unions. Supporting charitable and national-union initiatives has been at the core of the Sarian Family ‘s life. They have contributed to Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian community in Aleppo, Syria on various occasions. Homenetmen wishes the Sarians success in their personal and charitable endeavors.

As the largest Armenian athletics and scouting organization in the world, Homenetmen holds a singular position for the Sarian Family. Homenetmen is where its young members become immersed in patriotism, camaraderie, discipline, and sportsmanship. It is through Homenetmen and the extensive life experiences that it provides that generation live the motto “Elevate yourself and others with you.” The Sarian Family expresses its deep gratitude to Homenetmen’s large volunteer army. It is through their dedication and efforts that the Navasartian Games & Festival, as well as all the Homenetmen programs that serve the Armenian-American community are realized.

As national benefactors, Dr. Mike and Mrs. Evelina Sarian, with their daughter, Kristen, who actively participates in Homenetmen programs, believe wholeheartedly in Homenetmen’s mission, its noble goals, and service to the Armenian-American community. They are honored to add a chapter to organization’s glorious and illustrious history by accepting the honorary presidency of the Navasartian Games.

The entire Homenetmen family warmly congratulates the Sarian Family and expresses gratitude for their conscientious approach, patriotic spirt and dedication. As model Armenian-Americans and Homenetmen supporters, the organization highly appreciate their commitment to the nurturing of generation after generation of upstanding citizens, compassionate souls, moral beings and, in general, exemplary people.

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