11^th grade students from AGBU Vatche& Tamar Manoukian High School (Pasadena, California) have designed the next Armenian banknote, 200,000, 500,000, and 1 million drams, as their quarterly technology project.

Students first got through an in-class informational meeting; learned about the technical,artistic, and legal aspects of Armenian paper money. Then,they spent two weeks in their computer lab, and designed both sides of the money (Armenian;դիմերես and դարձերես), throughthe many details thatreal Armenian money possesses, including carpet design background, and braille readings. But, first they had to pick a prominent Armenian figure to portray on the banknote.

The teacher who assignsthis project, Mr. Norayr Daduryan, explains the objective of the work as,“To teach our students about the Armenian intellectual heritage, history, and the state structures of the Republic of Armenia, before the 11^th grade annual Armenia trip.”

During their trip this June, the junior class will present their creations to the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), which also houses a museum dedicated to the history of Armenian coins, and banknotes.

In 2014, the junior class of AGBU Vatche& Tamar Manoukian High School met Mr. Oleg Aghasyan, the Board Member of the CBA, and presented their designs in an album. The board member expressed his happiness about the visit, and told the students, “On these banknotes I see many fresh ideas.”