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Agbu Armenia Newsletter Issue 27, September - October, 2013

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Agbu Armenia Newsletter Issue 27, September - October, 2013 ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION AGBUAGBU ARMENIAARMENIA NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER Yerevan, Armenia IN THIS ISSUE Issue 27, September - October, 2013 AGBU President Berge Setrakian in Armenia (p. 1) AGBU PRESIDENT BERGE SETRAKIAN AUA Matriculation Ceremony IN ARMENIA 2013 (p. 2-3) On September 4, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Profile: Ani Ghazaryan New AUA Undergraduate (p. 3) Armenians, received Mr. Berge Setrakian, President of the Armenian General Be- nevolent Union (AGBU) at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. A wide range of Tuition Assistance to Syrian- Armenian Students (p. 4) national and religious issues were discussed during the meeting. Razmik Panossian at AGBU Armenia Office (p. 4) AGBU Provides Tractors to Syrian-Armenians (p. 5) Syrian-Armenian Relief Com- mittee’s 1st Anniversary (p. 6) Groong Choir at Komitas Var- dapet Festival (p. 6) Syria in My Memories: Charity Exhibition in Yerevan (p. 7) RA Diaspora Ministry Cele- brates 5th Anniversary (p. 8) Krekor Karaguezian visits AGBU Yerevan Office (p. 8) Izmirlian Medical Center Opens in Yerevan (p. 9) AGBU President Berge Setrakian Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II AGBU Armenian Virtual Col- His Holiness Karekin II and Mr. Setrakian discussed their concerns about the contin- lege (p. 10-12) ued challenging and escalating situation in Syria. Both underscored the critical need A Legacy of Armenian Treas- for all Armenian national organizations and individuals worldwide to provide assis- ures (p. 12) tance to the Syrian-Armenian community. AGBU Yerevan Scouts (p. 13- 14) President Setrakian wished success to the Bishops’ Synod of the Holy Armenian Ap- ostolic Church, scheduled to be held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on Sep- Tarouhi-Hovagimian School Children in Yerevan (p. 14) tember 24-27, emphasizing the important mission of the Bishop’s Synod in the life of the Armenian people. AGBU-AYA Arin Dance Group Awarded (p. 15) They also discussed the educational, social and construction activities of the Mother KCO Charity Concert (p.15) See. The Pontiff of All Armenians expressed his great appreciation to Mr. Setrakian, French Literature Days in Yer- as a benefactor of the Holy See, and all AGBU members for their attention and devo- evan (p. 16) tion to Holy Etchmiadzin. Mr. Setrakian, in turn, expressed his faithfulness and dedication to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and assured His Holiness that AGBU would continue supporting projects of the Arme- nian Apostolic Church and the Holy See. During his visit to Armenia, President Setrakian also met with RA President Serzh Sargsyan, attended the matriculation ceremony of the first undergraduates at the American University of Armenia (AUA) and visited the construction site of the new AGBU building in the center of Yerevan. Mr. Setrakian granted an exclusive interview to CivilNet TV, hosted by Civilitas Foundation Executive Director Salpi Ghazarian. Click here for the full interview or visit www.youtube.com/AGBUvideo. Page 1 AGBU ARMENIA NEWSLETTER ISSUE 27, SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER, 2013 AUA MATRICULATION CEREMONY 300 Students in AUA’s Newly-Launched Undergraduate Program The first-ever Matriculation Ceremony at the American University of Armenia (AUA) on September 5 marked the launch of the new bachelor’s degree program. Students, faculty, staff, and family gathered to formally welcome the first generation of under- graduate students to the AUA community. The new program offers Bachelor’s degrees in Business, English and Communications, and Computational Sciences. The in- coming undergraduate class consists of nearly 300 students from all over the world including Armenia, Belgium, Canada, Geor- gia, Russia, Syria and the United States. The university has received accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and a license from the RA Ministry of Education and Science to offer this four-year program. As AUA Director of Admissions Arina Zohrabian noted, the majority of the freshmen (170) are in the Business Management Department. The Department of English and Communications has 60 freshmen, while Computational Sciences has 50 incoming students. Attending the ceremony were RA Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan, AGBU President Berge Setrakian, AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian, Member of the AUA Foundation Board of Directors Yuri Sargsyan, AUA Provost Dr. Dennis Leav- ens, AUA Vice-President Ashot Ghazaryan, AGBU Central Board Member Vasken Yacoubian, AGBU Armenia Director Arpi Vartanian, AGBU Deputy Director Hovig Eordekian, AUA students, faculty, staff and other guests. Minister Hakobyan offered her welcoming remarks to the Class of 2017, and was followed by AUA President Dr. Bog- hosian, Provost Dr. Leavens, and Dr. Caren Meghreblian on behalf of the AUA Board of Trustees. Students took the AUA Honor Pledge, vowing to maintain AUA’s standards of aca- demic integrity. “The American University of Armenia is one of the best achievements of our independence period. AUA was the first AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian Addresses the Students to start research on Armenian studies. The most important thing with AUA, for me personally, as the Republic of Armenia’s Minister of Diaspora, is the fact that it is built on the financial assistance and support of our Diasporan organizations. And for that very reason, I would like to thank the Armenian General Benevolent Union,” said Minister Hakobyan. Eighteen year-old Hovsep Markarian, majoring in English and Communications, says, “I am very proud to be a member of the first undergraduate class. I know that we are making history. It’s really an honor to be here.” With the influx of students, there are many changes occurring within the institution. AUA President Dr. Boghosian says, “There are more students in our halls and classrooms than ever before. This will help us better fulfill our mission, which is to address the needs of Armenia and the surrounding region for sustainable development, in a setting that values and develops aca- demic excellence, free inquiry, integrity, scholarship, leadership, and service to society. We are pleased by the opportunity to inculcate these values in a larger population with a broader range of ages.” (Continued on page 3) Page 2 AGBU ARMENIA NEWSLETTER ISSUE 27, SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER, 2013 AUA MATRICULATION CEREMONY... (continued from p. 2) Provost Dr. Leavens shares, “I see the vibrancy in the halls, in the faculty and staff. I am teaching an under- graduate class and the students are delightful, just a joy. That joy suffuses the halls everyday. Everyone I speak with has nothing but praise for this young group of students. They have changed the whole atmosphere of AUA.” The launch of the undergraduate program is a momentous occasion for the American University of Armenia, with stu- dents bringing new energy to the campus. As Dr. Boghosian notes, “There are lots of smiles in the hallways these days.” “Today is a great day. I remember the first days of AUA’s establishment and I am happy and proud to see the advance- ment of this institution,” said AGBU President Setrakian. AGBU President Berge Setrakian Interviewed after the Ceremony A reception followed the Matriculation Ceremony. In July 2012, as it entered its third decade of operations, AUA announced its intention to introduce the undergraduate pro- gram as part of an overall policy of expanding its education prorams. The launch of the undergraduate program was the first major step in this direction. Students at the AUA Matriculation Ceremony The fruits of another joint project of AGBU and AUA will soon be seen in Stepanakert. The construction of the AGBU NKR Campus will begin soon in the capital of Artsakh. This new center will house the Artsakh branches of AUA’s Extension Program and TUMO Center for Creative Technologies. American education will reach the students of Artsakh. For videos, please visit AUA Matriculation (ArmNews), AUA Matriculation (H2) or www.youtube.com/AGBUvideo AUA’S NEW PROGRAM WAS JUST WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR Ani Ghazaryan is one of the nearly 300 students in the American University of Arme- nia’s (AUA) first undergraduate class. She comes from Kapan, a small town in Arme- nia’s southern Syunik region, and is majoring in Business. Read on to learn more about her expectations from AUA and her plans for the future. Why did you apply to AUA? In high school, I participated in the FLEX exchange program and moved to the United States, an experience which changed the course of my education and life. When I came back, I was so glad to hear that AUA was launching an undergraduate program. I ap- plied, determined to find something new after coming back from the States. AUA was the best option. What are your expectations for your education at AUA? In American universities, students are given the freedom to choose the subjects they AUA Undergraduate Ani Ghazaryan want to study. There is a need for qualified specialists in the field of business in Arme- nia. My expectation from the AUA Business program is to become a qualified specialist for Armenia. You have already experienced an American education. What opportunities did it give to you? I really liked the sports - I was involved with the swim team. When I moved to the States I did not know how to swim at all, unlike the Americans who swim perfectly. But, I soon learned. As for education, I think that in Armenia students study harder. I think the education at AUA will be a mix of Armenian and American styles. I hope that at AUA the education will be something new, something different. In what activities have you been involved in Armenia? I have gone to different summer camps in different regions of Armenia. I was also a member of Camp GLOW [Girls Leading Our World], first as a participant, then as a senior counselor. I’ve also worked with Peace Corps volunteers.
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