AEBU Celebrates Eighth Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony in Glendale

Seven Armenian-American students recognized for academic achievement and commitment to their community

GLENDALE – The Armenian Educational Benevolent Union (AEBU) held its eighth annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Sunday, August 23, at Phoenicia Restaurant in Glendale, bringing together AEBU supporters, donors, scholarship recipients and their families for an afternoon celebrating education, community service and Armenian values.

Harut Der-Tavitian opened the program by emphasizing that higher education contributes not only to an individual’s personal development but also to the advancement of the community as a whole. He highlighted the vital role benefactors play in supporting talented and promising young people as they expand their knowledge and prepare to serve their communities and nation.

Drawing on his own experience and that of his close friend of 60 years, the late Vatche Babikian, Der-Tavitian recalled that both were able to pursue university educations with the assistance of generous benefactors. He noted that this lasting sense of gratitude inspired Babikian, near the end of his life, to ask his family to designate memorial donations in lieu of flowers to the AEBU Scholarship Fund.

Der-Tavitian then introduced the event’s master of ceremonies, Alison Ghafari.

Ghafari welcomed longtime AEBU supporters, new guests, scholarship recipients and their families, and provided an overview of the organization’s history and mission.

“The Armenian Educational Benevolent Union was founded in 1969 in Beirut, Lebanon,” Ghafari said. “Its primary mission was to provide financial assistance to Armenian students in need, particularly in response to the continuing hardships faced by Armenian communities throughout the world.”

She noted that AEBU has since expanded its programs to include healthcare and social services benefiting Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora.

Since 2019, AEBU has awarded annual scholarships to Armenian-American students pursuing higher education in the United States. In 2021, the program was expanded to include students in Armenia and Lebanon in response to the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the attacks against Artsakh and the Beirut port explosion.

“This year, scholarships are being awarded to students in Armenia and the United States,” Ghafari said. “The committee received an exceptionally large number of impressive applications, making the selection process both exciting and challenging.”

Ghafari added that AEBU’s Yerevan chapter will separately present scholarships to this year’s recipients in Armenia.

Following lunch, brothers Dikran and Shiraz Melikian entertained guests with a musical performance.

Keynote Address by Arsho Melikian

The program continued with keynote speaker Arsho Melikian, an educator with more than 25 years of experience in teaching and educational leadership.

Born in Lebanon, Melikian moved to Los Angeles during her childhood. After graduating from AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, she attended UCLA, where she also pursued a minor in Armenian Studies.

Throughout her career, Melikian has served in a variety of educational and leadership roles and currently serves as director of the Teacher Preparation Program at Toledo High School.

She has also been deeply involved in the Armenian community, serving for many years at St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church’s summer camp and contributing to English-language publications and communications at the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

In her keynote address, Melikian reflected on the central role education has played in preserving Armenian identity throughout history.

“For centuries, the Armenian people have preserved their existence through schools,” Melikian said. “When we had no state, we had schools. That is why we are gathered here today to award scholarships. I commend the Armenian Educational Benevolent Union for its efforts and dedication in supporting our young people’s determination and enthusiasm to pursue higher education.”

Invoking the legacy of Mesrop Mashtots and Koryun, Melikian emphasized that education has long been one of the Armenian people’s most powerful means of survival. She stressed, however, that academic achievement alone is not sufficient.

“History, science and expertise in a chosen profession are certainly valuable, but a human being cannot be measured by education alone,” she said. “Alongside education, it is upbringing and character that complete the individual and, in my view, make that person Armenian.”

Melikian emphasized that parents, teachers and community leaders have a responsibility that extends beyond helping young people attend college.

“Our duty is to transmit to our children the qualities that we value as Armenians — respect, hospitality, honesty and devotion to family,” she said. “If our children receive an excellent education but do not show respect for those around them, then we have left something unfinished”

She concluded by encouraging young Armenians to express their identity through their character and actions.

2026 Scholarship Recipients

At the conclusion of the program, AEBU Scholarship Committee Chairman Vasken Khodanian and committee member Loussine Boyamian presented awards to seven scholarship recipients:

Aram Aprahamian is a senior studying Computer Science at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has a strong interest in high-performance computing and systems-level engineering, particularly in the aerospace and advanced research sectors.

Shaunt Gurgenian is a freshman at UCLA majoring in Molecular Biology, with plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Isabel Kalanjian is a freshman at Azusa Pacific University, where she is studying Nursing and Humanities.

Artin Matossian is a freshman at UC San Diego majoring in Human Biology, with the goal of pursuing a career in dentistry.

Lori Sepetjian is a junior at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, majoring in Biotechnology.

Aren Tigranyan is a freshman at UC Berkeley majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. Born in Armenia, he hopes to use his education to contribute to the country’s scientific and medical development.

Aleen Yadegarian is studying English at UCLA with the goal of pursuing a career in journalism. She has a particular interest in literature, storytelling and poetry.

Through its annual scholarship program, AEBU continues its longstanding mission of investing in Armenian youth, expanding educational opportunities and helping prepare the next generation to contribute to both the Armenian community and society at large.

About the Armenian Educational Benevolent Union

Founded in Beirut in 1969, the Armenian Educational Benevolent Union is dedicated to supporting education, humanitarian assistance and community development. Through scholarships and a range of charitable programs, AEBU serves Armenian communities in the United States, Armenia and throughout the Diaspora.