On January 27, Glendale’s Davidian and Mariamian Educational Foundation hosted its Annual Appreciation Event, which gathered nearly 200 people, including Mayor of Glendale Ara Najarian; Armenia’s Deputy Consul General in Los Angeles Valery Mkrtumyan; Primate of the U.S. Western Diocese, Archbishop Mushegh Martirosyan’s representative, Father, Priest Khoren Baboshyan; members of the community; members of the Board of Education and the city councils of Glendale, Burbank and Los Angeles; principals and other representatives of American public schools; teachers of the Foundation, as well as parents and other guests, as Director of the Davidian and Mariamian Educational Foundation Ofelia Satoorian reported to Hayern Aysor from Glendale.

The event began with performances of the Armenian and U.S. national anthems, after which President of Davidian and Mariamian Educational Foundation Vahik Satoorian addressed the gathered with a grand opening speech.

The video congratulatory message of RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan was shown during the Appreciation Event.

“During the Appreciation Event, we award the teachers who have stood out with the work that they have done throughout the year. We attach great importance to this event since it inspires our teachers and helps them work with more responsibility. In awarding the teachers, we collaborate with the RA Ministry of Diaspora since it strongly links us Diaspora Armenians to Armenia. Teachers Anna Tadevosyan, Esther Hakobyan and Hilda Sargsyan were awarded with the certificates of the Ministry of Diaspora during the event,” Ofelia Satoorian mentioned.

Awards were also granted to organizations, community structures, as well as remarkable individuals of different fields.

During the Appreciation Event, the Woman of the Year title was granted to RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan for her efforts for the strengthening of Armenia-Diaspora relations and for her notable contributions to preservation of the Armenian identity and to providing the young generation of Armenians of the Diaspora with an Armenian education and upbringing.

Balboa Elementary School (the principal is Dr. Sona Arakelyan) received an award in the Best School of the Year category. Balboa Elementary School is Glendale’s largest public school. Most of the students of the school also attend Armenian language lessons offered by the Davidian and Mariamian Educational Foundation.

Former Vice-President of the Davidian and Mariamian Educational Foundation Vartan Gharpetian also received an award.

The event included performances by singer Marat Hayrapetyan and canon player Liana Martirosyan, followed by performances of songs and dances and reciting of poetry by the students of the Foundation.

The event ended with a performance of the anthem of the Davidian and Mariamian Educational Foundation by the Foundation’s teachers.

Gevorg Chichyan