WOMAN HELPS ARMENIAN CHILDREN AT HOME, ABROAD.

Byline: SIMONE SCHRAMM Community columnist

Lori Sivazlian of Montrose has been recognized by the Arleta branch of the Exceptional Children's Foundation for her work with developmentally disabled Armenian children and their families.

Sivazlian has been with the foundation for 10 years, working with families who primarily speak Armenian or Spanish. She travels to Armenia for a month each summer, helping with children's camp and sports programs. She also has been instrumental in training Armenian students and adults in the development and operation of a Mommy and Me program, modeled after ECF programs.

Through her experience, Sivazlian said she has achieved her life's goals.

The foundation ``gave me the opportunity to do here what I do best and go to Armenia where my heritage is from,'' she said.

Aware of the problems faced by disabled people in Armenia, Lori is also a member of the Los Angeles branch of Pyunic, which is dedicated to creating laws to provide services for the disabled in Armenia. Pyunic means ``phoenix'' in Armenian.

``Lori is, indeed, a very special person to all of those who work with her, both here and abroad,'' said Scott Bowling, the foundation's president and chief executive officer.

The ECF is one of the largest charities in California serving children and adults with developmental disabilities.

``We serve the diversity of the city and the staff that we employ mirrors that diversity,'' Bowling said. ``That kind of prepared her (Lori) to reach out to the Armenian community.''

California State University, Northridge, was one of six universities nationwide to be recognized by the Education Trust for its role in transforming school counseling programs.

Psychology professor Charles Hanson was honored for creating a program that trains counselors to take leadership roles in their schools and to serve as advocates for the academic success of their students.

``Our goal is to close the achievement gap between children of color and poor students and their more privileged peers,'' he said.

Michael Broukhim from The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks was named a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The accompanying scholarship, valued at about $72,000, will pay all expenses for four years of undergraduate study.

Los Angeles Valley College won its first California Community College Forensics Association state championship. Four students won a total of eight individual medals in the speech team competition. They are:

Amy Ennis, three bronze medals in informative, persuasive and prose interpretation; Ana Kasparian, gold medal in informative speaking; Marcie Rodriguez, silver medal in persuasive and bronze in informative speaking; and Josh Serna, gold medal in informative speaking.

Five local students are among 12 finalists in the 15th annual Spotlight Awards for a variety of music and dance categories. They will compete on stage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on April 22. Winners in each category will receive $5,000 and runners-up each will receive $2,000.

The finalists are:

Marsha Graniel, 17, of Burroughs High School in Burbank; Zaya Ishoo, 18, and Aksel Sardaryan, both of Glendale High; and Yumi Man, 17, and Eun Jung Park, 15, both of Crescenta Valley High.

Ryan Marrinan of Calabasas won first place in the 2003 Shakespeare National Essay Competition with his essay, ``Trials and Justice in King Lear.''