September is always an exciting and inspiring month for the Armenian Educational Foundation. AEF Board members and sponsors traveled to Armenia in September to meet with scholarship recipients and review the progress of AEF programs.
On September 22, the AEF held its annual scholarship reception at the Meridian Expo Center in Yerevan, bringing together 1,300 students who receive scholarships from the foundation. During the event, 300 of those students were graduates who were awarded completion certificates. In attendance were AEF’s Board President and several board members from the U.S., sponsors, Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, the head of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, and representatives from partner organizations.
“You have proven yourselves deserving of this scholarship, you’re doing amazing work, and we thank you. Each of you is like Mount Ararat. I may not see the mountain through the clouds from my window, but seeing you — over a thousand strong — I can say that each of you is a Mount Ararat,” said Serop Beylerian, President of AEF’s Board of Trustees, while congratulating the students.
Armine Haroyan, Executive Director of AEF in Armenia, reflected on the challenges faced over the past four years and emphasized the importance of the event: “The last time we had such a large gathering was in 2019. After four years of challenges and uncertainties faced by our country, we are here again today, united by our shared belief in education, innovation, progress, and the future of Armenia.”
“As recipients of the Armenian Educational Foundation’s scholarship, you must use your professional skills to contribute to the development of the Republic of Armenia. I am confident that you will carry this responsibility with great pride,” said Arkadi Papoyan, Head of the Ministry of Education’s Department of External Relations and Diaspora, while emphasizing that receiving a scholarship brings responsibility.
Zareh Sinanyan, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, noted, “One of the many patriotic missions of the Armenian Educational Foundation is to serve the youth of Armenia and better prepare them for the future. The young people gathered here are united by one thing: they are the future of our country. The goal is that they become effective, positive members of society — people we can truly rely on.”
“Be strong and make the country strong, so we can all enjoy a prosperous future,” Seda Davidian, Head of AEF’s Yerevan Scholarship Committee, said, as she offered advice to the students.
Several former graduates also shared their experiences and successes.
Vrej Mikaelyan, an engineer who worked on Armenia’s first satellite, “Hayasat-1,” and a recipient of an AEF scholarship, said, ‘Those who support you want to see you accomplish great things. They hope their legacy will continue through your success, because they believe in your ability to achieve great things.”
Another graduate, Diana Haroyan, who has now become a benefactor along with her husband, also shared her story.
The event included beautiful musical performances by both current and former students, creating memorable moments for all in attendance.
Since 2007, the AEF has been providing scholarships to students in Armenia. It began with just 21 students, but by 2023, the number had grown to 1,300. Over the past 17 years, the foundation has supported 5,900 studnets.
