Scholarship Newsletter 2017
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AEF Scholarship Program Newsletter BECAUSE EDUCATION MATTERS February 2017 For the past 10 years, the Armenian Because education matters, AEF In addition, AEF has budgeted Educational Foundation (AEF) scholarship recipients are inspired $10,000 annually for the next four has actively invested in the future and able to pursue higher learning years to provide scholarships for of Armenia by providing the gift in designated fields which have the Syrian-Armenian refugee students of education to undergraduate greatest impact on the growth and attending public universities in and graduate students enrolled development of our homeland. Armenia. This academic year (2016- at public, state universities, in 2017), AEF awarded scholarships Armenia and Artsakh. Over the past 10 years, the number to 23 Syrian-Armenian students of scholarship recipients has covering 30% of their tuition. Through the generous donation of grown steadily from 21 to 193 AGBU and Gulbenkian funds sponsors at $1,000 a year per student, (annually) more than 450 bright, covered the remaining 70% of these coupled with their commitment capable students being given students’ tuition expenses. to the power of higher education, the opportunity to pursue their students are awarded scholarships educational goals and contribute to which fully fund the tuition cost securing Armenia’s tomorrow. 193* of their respective university for either 4 years (undergraduate) or 2 years (graduate). 128 77 52 34 30 23 21 21 22 Number of scholarships awarded annually awarded scholarships of Number 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 AEF covers 30% of the tuition for 23 Syrian-Armenian students 1 Armenian Educational Foundation The Selection Process on a matrix. Students earning the highest value are invited for an interview, then ranked again to determine the most worthy recipients. For example, in 2016, after the 1,100 applicants were filtered through the matrix, a total of 325 essays were read from which 225 applicants were invited to an interview. Once the scholarship recipient is selected, AEF wire transfers the tuition directly to the university on behalf of Scholarship sponsor Linda Simonian of La Canada, CA, the student. Then each recipient is (third from left) joins Scholarship Committee on oral interview panel closely monitored and must maintain high academic standing in order to Each year, the AEF Scholarship • Financial need continue in the program. Committee in Yerevan sets out • Academic performance on the difficult task of selecting • Family composition Consistently, this model has proven to be highly effective in culling the most worthy students from Armenia • Village/region of residence potentially successful students. In fact, and Artsakh, who will receive (border villages given priority) • Parents who served in the in 2016, 17 of our AEF scholarship a scholarship to fully fund recipients excelled so notably that they Artsakh war their university tuition. were awarded a tuition-free education • Military service by the Armenian government and • Volunteer work n 2016, from an applicant exited from our roster. These freed-up I • Essay pool of 1,100 students, the scholarships were, in turn, awarded to • Interview deserving students on the waiting list. Scholarship Committee assumed the challenge of With great scrutiny, objectivity and We invite sponsors to Armenia in the reviewing, screening and utmost transparency, the committee summer to take an active part in the selecting 124 new recipients carefully checks each application selection process and get acquainted using the following criteria: and assigns a numerical value based with the students more closely. gender of sponsored students students majoring in science & humanities 27% 31% 73% 69% 2 Armenian Educational Foundation Because Education Matters Scholarship Committee Members, Armenia The AEF Board is fortunate to have 10 highly qualified professionals from Armenia and the diaspora to implement the scholarship program. Armine Haroyan, Scholarship Director, is herself a 2007-2011 AEF scholarship recipient. Regularly, the Scholarship Committee collaborates with the AEF Board and sponsors to designate practical, current majors and fields of study which will impact the future prosperity of Armenia. AEF is sincerely grateful to the following members of the Scholarship Committee for volunteering their time and working diligently to ensure that the selection process is objective, fair and transparent. Seda Davidian – AEF Scholarship Committee Chair, Armenia; Lucineh Kassarjian - Graduated from Yerevan State Linguistics graduated from Tehran, Melli University majoring in Law. Attorney for University & San Francisco Academy of Arts in Computer Arts/New 18+ years specializing in banking systems. Head editor of Alik newspaper Media Department. Taught at KZV Armenian School (San Francisco). in Tehran; Iranian representative to international congresses. Currently Country Director of Armenia Tree Project. Ani Baboomian - Graduated with honors from Yerevan State Academy Nvard V. Manasyan - Graduated from State Engineering University of Fine Arts & University College London (BA & MA). Coordinator at of Armenia; holds MA’s from South Africa and University of Cincinnati. Tumo Center For Creative Technologies. Currently program manager of Member of TEMPUS Higher Education Reform Experts since 2009. World Impact Hub Yerevan, a social innovation organization. Bank Communications specialist. Currently researching education policy and gender issues. Nerses Gevorkian - Holds PhD from Armenian State University of Madlene Minassian - Graduated from UCLA in Public and Global Economics; Fulbright scholar; UNESCO Chair in Education Planning Health (BA/MA). Served as Head of Communications for Cafesjian and Management, George Mason University’s Institute for Conflict Center for the Arts. Currently Head of Consumption for PicsArt; Adjunct Analysis and Resolution in Arlington, Virginia. Adviser to RA Minister of Instructor at American University of Armenia; Board member of ARPA, Education and Science. Awesome Foundation, Pro-Paws, TED-x Yerevan. Armine Haroyan – Graduated from Yerevan State University in Mimi Zarookian - Graduated from California State University, Journalism (BA & MA). Worked as journalist, editor, head of University PR Northridge (BA/MA). Holds a California Clear Life Teaching Credential. division. Currently serves as the AEF Executive Director and Coordinator Educator for 30+ years (LAUSD/BUSD); Adjunct Instructor at American of AEF Scholarship Program in Armenia. University of Armenia. Board member of Orran NGO. Artur Harutunyan – Graduated from Armenian State Pedagogical Arina Zohrabian – Graduated from McGill University, Toronto, University majoring in Math. Life-long educator; Principal of Pokr Vedi in Commerce; holds a Certificate in International Human Resources School since 1999; participated in Artsakh war. Awarded honorary Practices from Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Served recognition by RA Minister of Education and Science, 2007. as Regional Director for Education Programs and Country Director for IREX Armenia. Currently, Director of Admissions at the American University of Armenia. As the year closes, we reflect back to some of the high points of the year and try to identify the one or two things that went well so that we can hopefully do more of them in the coming years. We both agree, one of our high points of 2016 was visiting Armenia and meeting with our AEF scholarship students. We were humbled and struck by their focus, their dedication to their families, their affinity for soldiers on the front lines and their deep love of the country. When we left our meeting, we were comforted, excited and so very proud that the next generation was as strong as or stronger than either of us. We were and are just as grateful that we can support them in a small way to help them complete their education and get them one step closer to achieving their dreams. John and Gayane Pridjian, sponsors of five student scholarships 3 Armenian Educational Foundation 2016 AEF Graduates in the Workforce 2% 4% 1% 20% From a combined total of 86 graduates in 2015 and 2016 73% Aghvan Apoyan Anush Arakelyan Graduate of Goris State Graduate of National University, Armenian Polytechnic University of Language & Literature. Armenia, IT. Mobile developer 63 are employed Teacher in Fizuli, Artsakh. at PicsArt. 17 are continuing in postgraduate programs Sponsor; Sheila Papayans Sponsor; Alex & Medea Kalognomos 3 are mothers 2 are unemployed 1 is in military service 100% have remained in Armenia Hasmik Hakobyan Graduate of Armenian State Nare Aghamalyan University of Economics Graduate of Armenian State (Gyumri). Regional University of Economics, program coordinator at Marketing. Marketing Jinishyan Memorial Fund. specialist at AGBA Bank. Sponsor; Arthur & Aida Sponsor; Ohan Varjabedian Mangassarian Nune Mirabyan Sirush Harutyunyan Graduate of Gavar State Graduate of Armenian State University, Armenian Language Pedagogical University, & Literature. PR specialist at speech therapy. Speech Gavar State University. therapist at school #179․ Sponsor; Mimi Zarookian Sponsor; Shant Petrossian Malvina Evinyan Lusine Saribekyan Graduate of Yerevan State Graduate of Gavar State University, Pharmacy. Junior University, IT. Sales and researcher at Nalbandyan service specialist at Beeline Institute of Chemical Physics. Telecommunication. Sponsor; Arin Davtyan Sponsor; Varant & Sevan Markarian 4 Armenian Educational Foundation