WATERTOWN — In June, St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School (SSAES) completed its 33rd academic year. The Graduation Ceremonies were held on June 15 for the Kindergarten and preschool students, and June 16 for the elementary classes.
Principal Houry Boyamian spoke about St. Stephens’ 14th annual graduating class trip to Armenia, the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Week and the Science Fair hosted by the school this year. She thanked the faculty, the administrative staff, the PTO, the parent volunteers, the school board and committees, the St. Stephen’s Church board of trustees, and Rev. Fr. Archpriest Antranig Baljian for their contribution to the advancement of the school.
The Kindergarten class graduation was held on June 15 and the graduates were Siran Arakelian, Aiki Arzoumanian, Vatche Balikian, Lila Degermenci, Olivia Dimopoulos, Lori Garabedian, Leanna Iskenderian, Garen Keledjian, Josephine Keumurian, Eva Khalarian, Arda Mahserejian, Fiona Manguikian, Sarina McCarthy, Aline Mikaelian, Arame Minassian, Christian Salibian, Lukas Stamatakis, Anthony Papazian and Gizelle Tarabelsi.
Svetlana Vehapetian was honored with the golden logo of St. Stephen’s for her 15 years of service as a preschool teacher.
During the elementary class graduation on June 16, Lili Barsoumian was awarded Ambassador of Armenia (from the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia) for her 32 years as music teacher at St. Stephens. The fifth-grade graduates were Maral Abrahamian, Serena Antoine, Alina Chaparian, George Chapian, Krikor Iskenderian, Michelle Joubanian, Sarah Joubanian, Antrias Kahvejian, Naera Margios, Talar Markarian, Zepure Merdinian, Andre Monteiro, Aren Panian, Sienna Soghomonian, Bianca Tamburrini, and Gregory Tinkjian.
Awards were handed out to the students in the fifth-grade class. For excellence in Armenian studies, the Prelacy Award was presented to Maral Abrahamian, Krikor Iskenderian, Michelle Joubanian, Antrias Kahvejian, Talar Markarian, Zepure Merdinian, Bianca Tamburrini and Gregory Tinkjian. Alina Chaparian and Sarah Joubanian received the Armenian Relief Society Award. The Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Armenian History was awarded to Aren Panian. The Certificate of Recognition for Interest in Armenian Studies was given to Serena Antoine, George Chapian, Sienna Soghomonian, Naera Margios, and Andre Monteiro.