A Sarafian Legacy

In November 2022, the Foundation attended the Topping Off Ceremony for the new Armen Sarafian Building, where the final piece of steel was placed on the building’s frame. 

“My grandfather would be very proud of the new building,” says Alex Sarafian, grandson of Armen. “He worked really hard to get the first building constructed for PCC’s paramedic sciences, and to see this new facility going up in its place to house and honor the sciences, including health sciences—that’s a big part of his legacy at the College.”

In his 11-year tenure as PCC president (1965-1976), Armen Sarafian saw the College’s enrollment double. He was a driving force for the Southern California Consortium for Community College Television; ??he oversaw the establishment of the College’s first EOP&S program to provide academic assistance to minority students; he led students through their grief of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968.

Today, Armen’s son, Norman, serves on the board of the PCC Foundation, and Alex works as a Payroll Administrator for the State of California.

“My grandfather cared deeply for PCC and its students,” says Alex. “It was always his goal to make the College and the community a better place, and to see the final steel beam get placed on the new building was incredibly moving.” 

Expected to open in Fall 2024, the new facility will house labs, classrooms, and offices for the Health Sciences and Natural Sciences divisions.