Florence Elaine Hamparson photo via Fresno State

A late Fresno educator’s estate gift of nearly $1 million to programs at Fresno State follows up a similar-sized gift from last year.

The Lyles College of Engineering and the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State have both been named the recipients of $450,000 from the Elaine Hamparson Trust — a gift that was finalized in late 2022, according to a Fresno State news release.

The gift presented to the Lyles College has been earmarked to establish the Florence Elaine Hamparson Lyles College Quasi Endowed Fund, a discretionary fund created to benefit the college.

Dean of the Lyles College Dr. Ram Nunna has chosen to use a portion of the funds to support a Lyles College scholarship available as part of the Lyles College of Engineering Honors Program.

The remaining portion of the donation will support the construction of the Engineering Student Center at the Engineering East building. When completed, the space will serve as a hub for collaboration and tech-facilitated teamwork throughout all disciplines at the Lyles College.

“This timely gift will impact thousands of students each year,” Nunna said. “Our honor program attracts highly talented students from across our region to our college, and this gift will allow us to grow the program.”

The Armenian Studies Program, under the leadership of Barlow Der Mugrdechian, has earmarked its portion of the donation to support the Florence Elaine Hamparson Armenian Memorial Quasi Endowed Fund, which will aim to support the program’s participation in research, publications, program outreach and conferences.

“The Armenian Studies Program represents the students and the community,” Der Mugrdechian said. “I believe that gifts such as the Hamparson Endowment will encourage others to participate in the success of the program.”

The program actively published numerous works throughout the year including 20 books from “The Armenian Series,” as well as four editions of the “Hye Sharzhoom” newspaper annually.

“The Elaine Hamparson Trust gift for Armenian Studies will bolster the students’ excellence in research, outreach, and conference participation,” said Dr. Honora Chapman, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State. “We are excited to see their new projects come to fruition that are made possible with these new funds, and we are truly grateful for this support.”

Hamparson, a Fresno State alumna, retired from teaching in 1995. She died in 2021 at age 85. The Elaine Hamparson Trust also gifted $1 million to the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School in Fresno late last year.

Hamparson was born in Everett, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, in 1935. Her father, George Hamparson, was a business owner in Boston, but due to challenging circumstances, he moved his family to Fresno to start a new life. Once in Fresno, he founded the Palmolive Dry Cleaners at the corner of Palm and Olive Avenues.