High School Valedictorian in Fresno Facing Deportation

[jundp 191]

By Vanessa Colón / The Fresno Bee06/01/08 22:25:54

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Arthur Mkoyan's 4.0 grade-point average has made him a valedictorian at Bullard High School in Fresno and qualified him to enter one of the state's top universities.

But while his classmates look forward to dorm food and college courses this fall, Arthur Mkoyan may not make it.

He is being deported.

Arthur, 17, and his mother have been ordered out of the country. By late June, they may be headed to Armenia.

Arthur hasn't seen Armenia since he was 2, and he doesn't want to return. The thin, rather shy teenager doesn't speak Armenian and barely understands the language when it's spoken to him.

"Hopefully, I can somehow stay here and continue my studies here," he said. "It would be hard if I go back."

The family fled from the old Soviet Union and has been seeking asylum since 1992. The appeals ran out this year.

He and his mother, who did not want to be identified for fear of losing her job and income she needs, were given an extension to June 20 so Arthur could join his class at the ceremony, said Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"Our goal is to enforce these court orders for deportations," Kice said. But "if they come to us and they fully intend to respect the court order, we will work with them."

Mark Silverman, director of immigration policy at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, said Arthur Mkoyan's case illustrates why Congress should have passed the Dream Act. The act would have allowed students who excelled in school and stayed out of trouble to become permanent residents and attend college or enlist in the military

"There's something very wrong with the immigration laws when our government is deporting our best students," Silverman said.

Rick Oltman, national media director of the Santa Barbara-based Californians for Population Stabilization, sees it differently.

The Dream Act "would take away seats from American students, legal immigrants and foreign students legally here on visas," said Oltman, whose group favors limiting immigration. "There always seem to be some excuse why the law should not be enforced. Everybody should obey the law."

Arthur's father, Ruben Mkoian, ran a general store and worked as a police officer in the then-Soviet Republic of Armenia, where he was threatened by independence supporters as the Soviet Union was breaking up, Arthur's mother said. His store was broken into and the family home was burned down, she said.

Seeking a safer life, Mkoian left for Fresno in December 1991 and soon applied for political asylum. Mkoian, who spells his name differently from his son, chose Fresno because he had a close friend here.

Arthur and his mother spent three years in Russia before joining Mkoian in Fresno in 1995.

Mkoian worked for a carpet business and later as a truck driver. But winning asylum turned out to be difficult. Asylum seekers must prove they would suffer severe persecution if they return to their country.

Mkoian's asylum application, which included his family, ultimately was rejected. He appealed the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which ruled against him in January.

Immigration officers picked up Mkoian, now 46, in April at his Fresno home, according to his family. He is now in a detention center in Arizona.

The officers left behind Arthur, his 12-year-old brother, who is a U.S.-born citizen, and their mother. Arthur and his mother now face deportation; the family plans to take the younger brother as well if forced to leave the country.

Arthur said he thinks it's unfair that he has to return to a country he hasn't seen since he was 2.

He already has been accepted to the University of California at Davis, where he planned to major in chemistry. He would like to become a dentist or a pharmacist.

Bullard High School Principal Glenn Starkweather said he wasn't aware of Arthur's situation but said he had a good academic record. Arthur has just over a 4.0 grade-point average, making him a valedictorian.

"He's obviously a very strong student. I'm proud of him," Starkweather said.

With deportation on the horizon, Silverman said, Arthur has limited options.

Once he is back in Armenia, Arthur could return to the United States on a student visa. Or he could ask a member of Congress to introduce a private bill on his behalf to grant him legal residency, Silverman said.

Arthur contacted Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein for help weeks ago. Feinstein has introduced private bills in the past in an effort to grant legal status to individuals.

Feinstein's office is looking into Arthur's case, said Claire Bowyer, Feinstein's deputy press secretary.

Private bills are rarely introduced and often don't pass, according to Feinstein's office. Once a bill is introduced, deportation is halted. If it passes, the applicant receives a green card. In some cases, the bill allows a parent to obtain legal residency along with the child.

"Arthur Mkoyan represents another reason why Congress needs to pass the Dream Act," Feinstein said in a prepared statement. "It is in our nation's interest to provide talented students the incentive to take this path toward being responsible and law-abiding members of our society."

Arthur hasn't told any of his classmates that he must leave the country. He hopes that somehow he will be able to stay. But the deportation order has added stress to his final weeks of high school.

"I can't really concentrate on my studies. It's hard to focus, [but] I'm still keeping my grade-point average high," Arthur said.

[palilover 1]

that's a sad story. If I understand correctly, they were legally here and trying to claim political asylum. Why should it take so long for our government to allow people to live with political asylum here (approving their case). I actually feel bad for people who try to be refugees here as it takes them so long. There really are people who have bad situations in thier home country and need a way out and if they are trying to legally come here, I think we need to work on processing their cases. It takes 3 years or more just to get a visa to become a refugee here. So what are people in thos situations to do, hope they don't die day by day while they wait on their visa?

If these people were here legally trying to get asylum, I think the government should consider their case. Otherwise, I hope this guy has a shot at getting a student visa here to study after he is deported:( (not a likely chance though with a deportation on your record no?)

[jundp 191]

I'm not sure what his chances are. But it's a sad story indeed.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Valedictorian?

Hmm...Honestly, I think school administrators looks at the numbers rather than the course subjects. Some students take on harder course than others while each course weighs the same as the other. For example, an A in algebra is not the same as an A in calculus. I don't believe in valedictorians, it's a way to get attention to people to support the school.

I almost made it to valedictorian in high school. The valedictorian took introductory honors courses, while I had the more in-depth honor courses, with AP attached. I got B and A in them, and she got all A in those intro courses. Because they weigh the same as the AP courses in GPA calculations, I didn't get recognized. Dam them!

[Fandango 1,440]

Valedictorian?

Hmm...Honestly, I think school administrators looks at the numbers rather than the course subjects. Some students take on harder course than others while each course weighs the same as the other. For example, an A in algebra is not the same as an A in calculus. I don't believe in valedictorians, it's a way to get attention to people to support the school.

I almost made it to valedictorian in high school. The valedictorian took introductory honors courses, while I had the more in-depth honor courses, with AP attached. I got B and A in them, and she got all A in those intro courses. Because they weigh the same as the AP courses in GPA calculations, I didn't get recognized. Dam them!

Honors courses should be on a 5.0 scale, not 4.0. Which is why there are GPAs over 4.0. So your story doesn't quite make sense.

And the story about this boy is just wrong. Follow the system and get screwed!

[Sister Fracas 5]

Valedictorian?

Hmm...Honestly, I think school administrators looks at the numbers rather than the course subjects. Some students take on harder course than others while each course weighs the same as the other. For example, an A in algebra is not the same as an A in calculus. I don't believe in valedictorians, it's a way to get attention to people to support the school.

I almost made it to valedictorian in high school. The valedictorian took introductory honors courses, while I had the more in-depth honor courses, with AP attached. I got B and A in them, and she got all A in those intro courses. Because they weigh the same as the AP courses in GPA calculations, I didn't get recognized. Dam them!

so you stopped believing in valedictorians when you lost out then?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Valedictorian?

Hmm...Honestly, I think school administrators looks at the numbers rather than the course subjects. Some students take on harder course than others while each course weighs the same as the other. For example, an A in algebra is not the same as an A in calculus. I don't believe in valedictorians, it's a way to get attention to people to support the school.

I almost made it to valedictorian in high school. The valedictorian took introductory honors courses, while I had the more in-depth honor courses, with AP attached. I got B and A in them, and she got all A in those intro courses. Because they weigh the same as the AP courses in GPA calculations, I didn't get recognized. Dam them!

It happens.

[jundp 191]

Valedictorian?

Hmm...Honestly, I think school administrators looks at the numbers rather than the course subjects. Some students take on harder course than others while each course weighs the same as the other. For example, an A in algebra is not the same as an A in calculus. I don't believe in valedictorians, it's a way to get attention to people to support the school.

I almost made it to valedictorian in high school. The valedictorian took introductory honors courses, while I had the more in-depth honor courses, with AP attached. I got B and A in them, and she got all A in those intro courses. Because they weigh the same as the AP courses in GPA calculations, I didn't get recognized. Dam them!

At my school the types of classes have specific point values assigned to them. Therefore, a student in all honors classes who may have a couple of B's thrown in has a higher standing than a student who takes all intro level or college prep level earning all A's. Also cumulative grade point and standardized test scores are considered when ranking. The weighting of different levels of classes is NOT the same at every school, clearly, but has become much more uniform for schools that are accredited college prep nation wide. In fact, I believe there is a standard now that is followed across the board for nationally accredited cp schools, but I'm not positive.

[palilover 1]

My high school had AP courses but they I do not believe had a higher point standing. Actually we had several people with a full 4.0 average. I cannot even tell you who was valedicgtorian, too long ago. But I do agree though that the one who does take harder classes should have a higher standing than one who does only what is required of him. But then again,, maybe things have totally changed since I graduated 12 years ago. (did I just say that out loud?

[Niels Bohr 72]

Valedictorian?

Hmm...Honestly, I think school administrators looks at the numbers rather than the course subjects. Some students take on harder course than others while each course weighs the same as the other. For example, an A in algebra is not the same as an A in calculus. I don't believe in valedictorians, it's a way to get attention to people to support the school.

I almost made it to valedictorian in high school. The valedictorian took introductory honors courses, while I had the more in-depth honor courses, with AP attached. I got B and A in them, and she got all A in those intro courses. Because they weigh the same as the AP courses in GPA calculations, I didn't get recognized. Dam them!

Honors courses should be on a 5.0 scale, not 4.0. Which is why there are GPAs over 4.0. So your story doesn't quite make sense.

And the story about this boy is just wrong. Follow the system and get screwed!

Introduction courses also has honors section. It does make sense. Maybe I excluded that supposedly it doesn't seem to show in my statement because I did assumed everyone knew.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Valedictorian?

Hmm...Honestly, I think school administrators looks at the numbers rather than the course subjects. Some students take on harder course than others while each course weighs the same as the other. For example, an A in algebra is not the same as an A in calculus. I don't believe in valedictorians, it's a way to get attention to people to support the school.

I almost made it to valedictorian in high school. The valedictorian took introductory honors courses, while I had the more in-depth honor courses, with AP attached. I got B and A in them, and she got all A in those intro courses. Because they weigh the same as the AP courses in GPA calculations, I didn't get recognized. Dam them!

so you stopped believing in valedictorians when you lost out then?

Yes. I stopped having faith in the school system. I dedicated so much of my time trying to be an overachiever only to learn I didn't get to valedictorian. My effort was far greater than that rich girl who had a father as a banker. I had parents who speaks no English, and gets paid minimum hourly wage. How sick is that?

I'm not mad because that was the past. My life as an Engineer is far reaching than just a minor disappointment in my life. However, that valedictorian received a full scholarship to the state school, but, she decided to drop out college. Weird. Maybe being valedictorian is just a phase.

My point is that some school systems are unfair as far as the level of education is concerned. It does un-motivate students to become less challenged.

[Fandango 1,440]

Haven't any of you heard of GPAs that are over 4.0? That's cos the kid was in honor courses.

My cumulative when I graduated was over 4.0 because I was on a 5 point scale cos of being in the AP program

Edited June 4, 2008 by Happy Bunny

[Jack and Barbara 0]

GPAs in high school are a bit overrated. Yes, they do determine what kinds of universities you are in the running for (unless you are from a prestigious family and then it might not matter), but ultimately the GPA doesn't always reflect how smart a person is.

[thetreble 19]

Agreed. It really isn't a big deal and NEITHER is being valedictorian. There are so many intelligent and bright kids out there who don't get to be valedictorian. Also, I know in Canada, at least through my school years, it is not solely based on your grade point average. We do not work on the GPA system any way, we work on percentages and letter grades. My high school valedictorian was not the top of our class but did a ton of extra curricular activities. Plus, she was a really sweet girl that we all liked and voted for. I knew I was not going to be valedictorian but it did not make me achieve any less. It wasn't even on my mind!

Any way, my point being, those things in life really do not matter. I hope they work out some arrangement with this kid. He sounds like a winner.

[sara..... 371]

GPAs in high school are a bit overrated. Yes, they do determine what kinds of universities you are in the running for (unless you are from a prestigious family and then it might not matter), but ultimately the GPA doesn't always reflect how smart a person is.

I know ........my younger brother is so intelligent u cant believe it but he has been failing math all year why? because he can look at a problem then knows the answer and nine times out of ten it is correct but he can not put on paper how he got to the answer so he gets a failing mark on his grade........someone suggested that maybe his mind works so fast he himself does not know how he knows the answer..........anyways just my two cents worth.....oh yes one more think he exceeded the requirement in all the math exams given by the state for algebra calculus and something else it drives my mom nuts how did u exceed what is required by the state and still fail math???? this problem flows over to when he has to write anything as well his mind works faster than he can write.......if he is allowed to do his work on word program on the computer he can give u a very detailed and excellent report but hand writing it no