PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Academy of Los Angeles
Mail:
P.O. Box 812
Verdugo City, California 91046
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: (818) 293-0010
Web site:
PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Academy of Los Angeles Inaugural Gala-Banquet
The Armenian Academy of Los Angeles held its Inaugural Gala-Banquet
on April 1, 2005, in support of the launch of an all-new
college-preparatory high school in Los Angeles. Over 350 guests
attended the event at the Deukmejian Hall of the Ararat Home Complex
in Mission Hills.
The cocktail hour, featuring an elaborate exhibition of paintings and
sculptures by Armenian artists was followed by dinner and the main
presentations. After opening remarks by Master of Ceremonies Dr.
Armand Dorian, he invited Mrs. Seta Simonian, chairperson of the
Board of Directors to deliver her address. Mrs. Simonian presented
the vision and need of a top-level high school for the Los Angeles
Armenian community. Stressing the need for academic excellence in an
atmosphere that nurtures the Armenian-American identity of its student
body, she said: “We want to create an institution that best prepared
its students to compete and achieve success in the world outside and
at the same time made its students fully conscious of, attracted to,
and defiantly proud of the world that they came from”.
Following a video presentation that depicted the premise and the
vision of the Academy, Dr. Noubar Afeyan delivered the keynote speech.
Dr. Afeyan, CEO of Flagship Ventures and lecturer at MIT, recounted
how academic achievement has been a beacon on which his successful
career has been built. He emphasized the importance of high level
academic achievement in today’s competitive global environment, and he
highlighted the need to fully appreciate the symbiotic relationship
between the Armenian homeland and the Armenian Diaspora and the
unique role that a highly educated generation would play in the
future development of the Armenian nation. Dr. Afeyan, concluded his
remarks with a philosophical reference to the challenges of such a
major undertaking by saying “those who discourage you in your dreams
are often people who have abandoned their own dreams”.
Three commissioned artistic works – musical, theatrical and dance
presentations – tastefully complemented the evenings program.
The evening and the project were blessed with prayers and words of
appreciation by representatives of Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
and Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.
The Board of Directors and the Planning and Development Committee are
currently embarking on an extensive fundraising campaign. Pledges
and donations to date total nearly $175,000. Those interested in
joining the project or contributing to it may visit its website at
or may call (818)-293-0010.