Shaunt Attarian introduction by Kyle Nessen

A lot of people in the audience might be surprised to hear that I once saw Shaunt, a notorious non-morning person, awake and energetic at 5 A.M. on a chilly February morning. However, this wasn’t any ordinary day for Shaunt. It was Super Tuesday, and Barack Obama, the candidate that Shaunt had worked for weeks to help elect, was in need of his help. Even stranger than the fact that he was up, though, was that he had convinced me and the majority of our friends, people who would normally care more about last night’s Lakers score than the outcome of the Democratic primary, to join him in his endeavor.

The look I saw in Shaunt’s eyes that morning, a look of passion and devotion to a cause he truly believed in, was one I had seen many times before. It is one of Shaunt’s strongest and most distinctive character traits; when he is engrossed by a cause or interest, he gives it his all, and doesn’t look back.

This trait has helped him to excel at many of the activities he has taken a part in through high school. Whether it was interning for Assemblyman Krekorian, chasing the National Merit award, running for the student position on the state school board, or sharing the world stage with its leaders at the G8 in Russia, his drive has served him well and helped him to succeed.

I know that Shaunt’s passion has rubbed off on me and the people around him, and helped us to realize the great things we are all capable of. And I know it will continue to guide him through life, taking him places far and great.