Adroushan Andy Armenian Named Las Vegas Citizen of the Month

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas City Council members open each meeting with an opening prayer. During their most recent meeting on April 2, for the first time, an Armenian priest, Very Rev. Fr. Sasoon Zumrookhdian of the Las Vegas St. Geragos Church, was invited to deliver the invocation.

Following the opening prayer, Las Vegas City Mayor Shelley Berkley invited Adroushan Andy Armenian to receive the “Citizen of the Month” award for his dedication to both the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Armenian-American Community.

As he accepted his award, Armenian shared the following remarks: “We all know Las Vegas has a diverse population and is a cosmopolitan city with over 30 languages spoken locally and 30 different ethnic groups who proudly call Las Vegas ‘home.’ My family and I settled in Las Vegas in 2005, however based on research conducted by UNLV History Department, Armenian families have settled throughout Southern Nevada as early as 1911.

“Several Armenian-Americans have played a key role in the growth of Southern Nevada, such as MGM Casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian, whom the UNLV Media School is named after; 20 season UNLV Basketball Coach Jerry Tarkanian and his late wife Lois Tarkanian who was a member of the Las Vegas City Council and Las Vegas School Board; legendary tennis player Andre Agassi and his family; Casino Executive Alex Yemenidjian; the list goes on.

“The month of April is full of tragic memories for Armenian communities around the world, as we remember the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide that took place in 1915, 110 years ago masked by the First World War. This year, the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 5 p.m., at the Sunset Park Armenian Genocide Memorial, which you are all invited to join. 

“In conclusion Madam Mayor, I humbly accept this award on behalf of my family and the Las Vegas Armenian-American community,” Armenian concluded.

 

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1. VIEW GALLERY: Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley presenting Andy Armenian with the 'Citizen of the Month' Award

2. Las Vegas St. Geragos Church's Very Rev. Fr. Sasoon Zumrookhdian delivering the invocation

3. Very Rev. Fr. Zumrookhdian sharing his remarks at Las Vegas City Hall

4. Attendees at the Las Vegas City Council meeting held on April 2

5. Adroushan Andy Armenian offering remarks at Las Vegas City Hall

6. Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley and City Council members presenting Andy Armenian with the award certificate

7. Las Vegas Armenian Clergy, Very Rev. Fr. Zumrookhdian, Rev. Fr. Barkev Balkevorkian and Deacon Gagik Mardirossyan with Mayor Berkley and Andy Armenian

8. Mayor Berkley, Council Members, Armenian Clergy with Andy Armenian and family members

9. Andy Armenian with Hera and Nora Armenian and Arpy Koutnouyan

After a long career working for Procter & Gamble, in 2005 Armenian settled in Las Vegas, joined the family commercial real estate business and became an active member of the Armenian-American community and its initiatives.

As a member of the Saint Garabed Church Board of Trustees, Armenian helped build the first Armenian church in the City of Las Vegas, which was consecrated in 2013. Also, as a member of the Armenian-American Cultural Society of Las Vegas, Armenian paved the way to build the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument at Sunset Park, erected in 2015. It is important to note that late Levon Gulbenkian played an important role in designing and building both structures, as well as the team of volunteers who made these projects a reality.

Since 2008 Armenian has served as City of Las Vegas Commissioner for the Parks and Recreation Commission and served as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Armenian from 2015 to 2023.