Armenian Sisters’ Academy Celebrates 30th Anniversary in Style

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By Lalig Musserian

BOSTON — “I watch the growth of spirit in the children who come to my class,” wrote William Saroyan in “The Human Comedy.”

There were no more appropriate words to describe the sentiment of the teachers and the guests gathered on February 11, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston to cele- brate the 30th anniversary of the Armenian Sisters’ Academy (ASA) of Lexington. The event raised close to $90,000 for the school.

There were more than 200 guests and digni- taries at the black-tie-optional event, including Ambassador Rouben and Lilit Shougarian, Very Rev. Raphael Andonian from the Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church in Belmont and Rev. Arakel Aljalians from St. James Armenian Church of Watertown.

Boston-based Armenian artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian was also in attendance. Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, who has three children at the school, served as master of ceremonies for the evening. Guests included alumni, the parents of alumni, parents of current students, teachers, staff and friends and supporters of the school from across the Boston-area Armenian community.

The evening’s formal program was launched by the singing of the American and Armenian national anthems by Ani Zargarian, lead singer for the Arev Armenian Folk Ensemble and an ASA alumna herself. ASA Principal Sr. Cecile

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Keghiayan began the program by presenting the mission and history of the school, followed by an overview of recent school accomplish- ments and investments by Vice Principal Mayda Melkonian. Melkonian highlighted that the school holds membership in two different accreditation organizations, New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Association of Independent Schools of New England.

Andonian offered words of inspiration to those gathered and a slide show took everyone down memory lane, remembering all those that walked through the school’s doors over the past 30 years. In his keynote presentation, Ambassador Rouben Shougarian conveyed the message that Armenian schools are an asset not only for the families they directly serve, but also for the future of Armenian communities more broadly. He concluded by pointing out the col- lective responsibility of Armenian community for supporting schools such as the Armenian Sisters’ Academy in order to continue the mis- sion they embarked upon so long ago.

The school’s academic success is directly linked to its noteworthy faculty and staff. Accordingly, an important part of the evening’s program included formal recognition of each teacher and staff member for their numerous years of service and dedication to the school.

A live auction raised more money, with guests bidding on several items, including Boston Harbor cruises, lithographs by French- Armenian painter Karzou, a pair of diamond earrings and a painting by Hejinian.

Following dinner and a cake-cutting ceremony, the Ellie Berberian Band from Montreal, Canada, provided multilingual entertainment for the evening, with renditions of old favorites and new songs, enticing guests onto the dance floor.

The Parents Committee, as well as several members of the school’s Advisory Board, worked tirelessly to plan this event. The ASA school administration appreciates all those who worked to make the evening a success.

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