GLENDALE—The “We Are Gyumri” committee announced that the recipients of the 2022 to 2023 Mina Shirvanian scholarship program have been selected. This academic year the number of scholarship recipients has expanded to include 15 students. Since inception and inclusive of this year’s scholarship recipients, the total number of scholarships awarded has reached 63.
The “We Are Gyumri” Mina Shirvanian scholarship fund is intended for residents of the Shirak Province to pursue their undergraduate education in their native region. With this scholarship, the campaign hopes to inspire local youth to follow their dreams and strengthen their careers. As noted in the scholarship guidelines, all scholarship recipients have committed to volunteering at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC) in Gyumri, Armenia. The youth center, since its opening in 2016, has served as a hub for the youth of Gyumri, where they partake in various year-round activities including English language classes, Armenian national dance, computer classes, intellectual clubs and tutoring, art, piano, and guitar classes, as well as events and exhibitions.
This year’s scholarship recipients are attending the following universities:
- Shirak State University
- Armenian State University of Economics
- Gyumri Branch of Armenian State Academy of Fine Arts
- Gyumri Branch of European University of Armenia
- Gyumri Branch of Armenian State Economic University
The scholarship recipients will be pursuing majors in the following fields:
- English/Russian Translation
- Russian Language and Literature
- English Language and Literature
- Pedagogy
- Accounting
- Journalism
- Fashion
- Law
- Psychology
- Design
- History
The expansion of the scholarship program was made possible due to the generous donation in the amount of $50,000 by the The Shirvanian Family and Mr. & Mrs. Vahik and Alice Petrossian.
The following individuals are ‘We Are Gyumri’ Mina Shirvanian 2022-2023 scholarship recipients:
- Hasmik Sargsyan was born in 2001 in Gyumri. She’s a 4th year student at Shirak State University majoring in English/Russian Translation. In her free time, she likes reading, watching films and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Alvard Gharibyan was born in 2000 in Gyumri. She’s a 4th year student at Shirak State University majoring in Russian Language and Literature. She likes dancing, reading and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Gohar Galoyan was born in 2000 in Gyumri. She is a 4th year student at Shirak State University majoring in English Language and Literature. In her free time, she likes drawing, photography and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Parandzem Piloyan was born in 2001 in Akhuryan village. She’s a 3rd year student at Shirak State University majoring in Pedagogy. In her free time, she likes to draw and helps her mother in the village. Parandzem is a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Syuzanna Karapetyan was born in 2002 in Artik. She’s a 4th year student at Armenian State University of Economics majoring in Accounting. She is a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and serves as a counselor to ARF Juniors. She enjoys playing basketball and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC). Syuzanna has officially become a member of Homenetmen scouts and leads the club in Gyumri.
- Armenuhi Nikoghosyan was born in 2002 in Gyumri. She is a 3rd year student at Shirak State University majoring in English Language and Literature. In her free time, she likes cooking and listening to music. Armenuhi is a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Mary Zhamakochyan was born in 2002 in Gyumri. She’s a 3rd year student and studies English Language and Literature at Shirak State University. In her free time Mary likes watching movies in foreign languages and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Yelena Hovhannisyan was born in 2003 in Kamo village in Shirak region. She’s in her 2nd year and studies Journalism at Shirak State University. Yelena likes writing poems. She writes articles for websites and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Shushanik Avagyan was born in 2002 in Akhuryan village in Shirak region. She’s a 3rd year student at Gyumri Branch of Armenian State Academy of Fine Arts majoring in Fashion Design. Shushanik enjoys drawing and knitting. She is a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Ashot Gevorgyan was born in 2000 in Gyumri. He’s a 2nd year student and studies Law at Gyumri Branch of European University of Armenia. Ashot likes to play football and enjoys reading. He is a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Zhenya Mirimanyan was born in 2002 in Gyumri. She’s a 3rd year student and studies Accounting at Gyumri Branch of Armenian State Economic University. Zhenya likes reading, watching movies and she volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Lusine Karapetyan was born in 2003 in Gyumri. She’s a 2nd year student and studies at Shirak State University majoring in English Language and Literature. In her free time, Lusine likes watching movies and reading books. She is a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Shoghokat Hovsepyan was born in 2002 in Aygabats village in Shirak region. She studies Psychology at Shirak State University. She enjoys watching movies and reading books. Shoghokat is a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Sofi Varosyan was born in 2003 in Gyumri. She’s a 2nd year student and studies at Shirak State University majoring in History. Sofi is a member of Homenetmen Scouts in Gyumri. In her free time, she likes reading books, watching movies and listening to music. She is a volunteer at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
- Hovhannes Hovhannisyan was born in 2001 in Gyumri. He studies at Gyumri Branch of Armenian State Academy of Fine Arts majoring in Design. He participated in the 44-day Artsakh war. In his free time Hovhannes likes drawing, dancing and volunteers at the Shirvanian Youth Center (SYC).
The mission of the “We Are Gyumri” committee is to create a positive and lasting impact on youth in Gyumri, Armenia. The campaign restructured and renovated the Shirvanian Youth Center in Gyumri that had been destroyed during the 1988 Spitak earthquake. A year-round functional program was created at the Center to teach youth in Gyumri everyday skills, to provide them with the essentials they need for a brighter future, and to serve as a bridge between youth in Gyumri and their peers in the Diaspora. As another component of the campaign, the “We Are Gyumri” Mina Shirvanian Scholarship Fund is intended for residents of the Shirak Province to pursue their undergraduate education in their native region. “We are Gyumri” is an ARF Western U.S. Central Committee initiative.
