March 24, 2009 - 23:38 AMT
Dr. Sonya Mkryan named a "Woman of the Year" in California
On Saturday Representative Adam Schiff honored Dr. Sonya Mkryan for her commitment and service to Altadena by naming her a "Woman of the Year" in California's 29th Congressional District.

"Sonya's life story is a testament to the tenacity and generosity of the human spirit, and her steadfast dedication and selfless service are an invaluable addition to the legacy of Women's History Month," said Schiff.

As Congressman Adam Schiff's spokesman, Mr Sean Oblack told PanARMENIAN.Net, every March, during Women's History Month, Rep. Schiff honors one outstanding woman from each of the communities in the 29th Congressional District.

Sonya Mkryan was born in Sanjak, the French mandate of Syria, and emigrated at age ten to Soviet Armenia with her parents and three siblings. By the time she traveled from Armenia to the United States with her husband and three children in 1979, she had obtained a PhD in Technical Studies and worked for two decades as a scientist and researcher at the Armenian Academy of Sciences.

A woman of multiple talents, Sonya is also an artist and a writer. Aside from scientific articles published in the Russian, she has published six books of poetry and short stories: five in Armenian and the sixth in English. She is a member of the Armenian Writers Union of California and is an honorable member of the International Society of Poets.