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An allotment of Armenian books and cultural artifacts linked to the country's history and diaspora following the 1915 genocide will debut at UCLA in the first permanent research program of its kind at any major American university dedicated to Armenian archaeology and ethnography. The collection was given to UCLA with a $2-million gift from Zaruhy Sara Chitjian to establish a research program that will serve as a major resource for scholars around the world on Armenia's cultural heritage, stakeholders announced this week.

GLENDALE -- Dietrich Riley will be playing his college football home games not far from where he terrorized opponents at St. Francis High after he announed his intent to play for UCLA in the fall on Wednesday, National Signing Day. During an interview on ESPNU's live broadcast from the ESPN Studios in downtown Los Angeles, Riley, the 10th-ranked safety and 108th overall-ranked high school prospect, paused for effect before pulling out and donning...

A scheduled arraignment for a Hoover High standout and former UCLA water polo accused of rape ended anticlimactically Thursday with no charges being filed, though prosecutors said that may yet change. Hakop Jack Kaplanyan, a redshirt freshman, was suspended from UCLA after his arrest earlier this month.  "All we can say is the matter is under review for filing consideration," said Shiara Davila-Morales, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. Kaplanyan, who is at home in Glendale and out on $200,000 bail, said the future of the case is uncertain.

Jim Riggio GLENDALE-- Seniors Pete Vagenas and Nick Paneno were hoping their college soccer careers would extend one match further Friday night. But that dream ended just short of the their goal as the UCLA men's soccer team was defeated by Indiana University, 3-2, in four overtimes in the NCAA national semifinal Friday night at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Vagenas, who graduated from St. Francis High, and Paneno, who graduated from La Canada, both started for the Bruins.

Hamlet Nalbandyan GLENDALE -- The speculations were always there, and St. Francis High quarterback John Sciarra finally made it official Thursday. Sciarra has verbally committed to play football for UCLA, the same school that his father, John, and current coach Jim Bonds played for. Bonds played for the Bruins from 1988 to 1991. Sciarra's father starred at UCLA through 1972-1976. He led the Bruins to the 1976 Rose Bowl victory. Both were quarterbacks.

Hamlet Nalbandyan Michelle Greco (Crescenta Valley, 1998) redshirt senior guard, UCLA women's basketball: For the fourth time this season, the former Falcon standout was named UCLABruins.com Student-Athlete of the week, running her career total to six. Greco, who leads the Pacific-10 Conference in scoring with a 19.3 points-per-game clip, had a phenomenal week, averaging 25.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.5 steals in two games. Unfortunately for her, the rest of the Bruins struggled, losing both games.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan As John Merrick walked behind a scattered group of onlookers Wednesday, he heard some information that put his mind at ease. UCLA men's golf Coach O.D. Vincent paced the 17th fairway with the junior, who was in the last group of the day, and told him that he led by at least five strokes. Vincent also had a little advice for Merrick. -- Team Rd 4 Total 1. UCLA 358 1,439 2. Arizona 362 1,466 3. Arizona State 356 1,475 4. Stanford 369 1,478 5. Washington 370 1,484 6. Oregon State 378 1,503 7. Oregon 376 1,504 8. California 364 1,505 9. USC 373 1,515 10. Washington State 376 1,519 -- -- Name Rd 4 Total 1. John Merrick, UCLA 63 276 2. Jim Seki, Stanford 73 286 2. Brady Stockton, ASU 69 286 4. Ricky Barnes, Arizona 69 288 -- -- Name Rd 4 Total 4. Alejandro Canizares, ASU 69 288 6. Cameron MacKenzie, OSU 75 289 6. Peter Tomasulo, Cal 70 289 8. Steve Conway, UCLA 75 290 -- "I told him to finish it in style," the first-year coach said.

An allotment of Armenian books and cultural artifacts linked to the country's history and diaspora following the 1915 genocide will debut at UCLA in the first permanent research program of its kind at any major American university dedicated to Armenian archaeology and ethnography. The collection was given to UCLA with a $2-million gift from Zaruhy Sara Chitjian to establish a research program that will serve as a major resource for scholars around the world on Armenia's cultural heritage, stakeholders announced this week.

Supporters of a UCLA water polo player arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting another student have created a YouTube video proclaiming his innocence. The 76-second video - titled "Hakop Kaplanyan - Innocence 2013" - lauds Kaplanyan's athletic accomplishments, calling him "dedicated, intelligent, honest, optimistic and caring. "   The freshman "is facing a rough obstacle," people in the video say, "being accused of actions that he did not commit. " "Our friend Hakop is trying to prove his innocence," they said.

A scheduled arraignment for a Hoover High standout and former UCLA water polo accused of rape ended anticlimactically Thursday with no charges being filed, though prosecutors said that may yet change. Hakop Jack Kaplanyan, a redshirt freshman, was suspended from UCLA after his arrest earlier this month.  "All we can say is the matter is under review for filing consideration," said Shiara Davila-Morales, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. Kaplanyan, who is at home in Glendale and out on $200,000 bail, said the future of the case is uncertain.

The attorney for a  UCLA  water polo player arrested for allegedly raping a female student says his client wants to appeal a suspension that forbids him from going to the campus. Berc Agopogulu, lawyer for 18-year-old Hakop Jack Kaplanyan, said his client is "completely innocent. " "We believe this matter will be resolved once the investigation is completed," Agopogulu said in a statement. "Needless to say, Mr. K aplanyan and his family are devastated and shocked by the recent developments.

Former All-Area Boys' Water Polo Player of the Year Hakop Kaplanyan was arrested on suspicion of rape, according to a statement released Monday by UCLA. Now a UCLA freshman water polo player, Kaplanyan, 18, was arrested after a female student reported the alleged assault to UCLA campus police, university officials stated. Kaplanyan, who was a redshirt freshman this season for the Bruins, is out on $200,000 bail after being taken to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Inmate Reception Center, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.

The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level. Jenna Orlandini (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2008) senior libero, University of Washington volleyball : For the first time since 2006, the Huskies knocked off two top-five opponents in consecutive matches in No. 4 UCLA and third-ranked USC. Orlandini posted a season-high 22 digs in the five-game win over the Bruins, 22-25, 30-28, 19-25, 28-26, 16-14, Sept....

The price tag for renovations at the Rose Bowl continues to balloon, with officials adding $6 million last week to a construction contract for the already well-over-budget project. The money is needed to cover repairs for botched upgrades installed ahead of the 1994 World Cup games and increased labor costs incurred in the rush to finish seating upgrades before UCLA's football home opener on Sept. 8, officials said. Originally expected to cost $152 million, the project is now budgeted at about $170 million - excluding $14 million in work that has already been deferred because of cost concerns.

Ellen Louise Fuller (nee Lautzenhiser) passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Bradbury, California. Beloved wife of the late Maurice Eugene Fuller, she is survived by son Richard Fuller and daughter Susan (Fuller) Joki, and beloved granddaughter Shannon Fuller. Ellen was born in Los Angeles on January 2, 1921. She graduated from Pasadena Junior College in 1940 and UCLA in 1942. She served in the WAVES during WWII. Ellen was active in PEO, and enjoyed her position as Administrative Assistant for the Institute of Youth Ministries at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.

A new UCLA economic analysis of Japan'sShinkansen bullet train and its impact on the growth of cities along its route calls into question claims by state officials that California's high-speed rail project will create up to 400,000 permanent jobs. Construction of Japan's vaunted bullet train began in the mid-1960s, and it did not generate higher economic growth or additional jobs, according to the study. Written by Jerry Nickelsburg, senior economist with the UCLA Anderson Forecast, the study said there may be other justifications for bullet train service between Los Angeles and San Francisco, but the $68-billion project as an engine of economic growth "will have only a marginal impact at best.