MIRAK FAMILY PLEDGES $200,000 TO ST. STEPHEN’S SCHOOL IN WATERTOWN

Watertown TAB & Press
siness/x1848774642/Mirak-family-pledges-200-000-to -St-Stephen-s-School-in-Watertown
Feb 10 2009
MA

The Mirak Family Foundation has pledged a gift of $200,000 to the
St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School. Following a meeting between
Robert Mirak and Julia Mirak Kew and school principal Houry Boyamian,
the Miraks offered to support the school’s mission to educate a second
generation of Armenian Americans.

The Mirak Family was enthusiastic about the quality of bilingual
education at the school, the low student to teacher ratio, the
quality of the teaching staff, and that since 2003 the school has been
accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England.

Upon accepting the first installment of the five-year gift, Principal
Boyamian said, "we are honored that the Mirak Family has made such
a generous commitment to our school. This leadership gift will help
ensure that generations of Armenian Americans will continue to be
able to access a quality bilingual bicultural education."

Since its establishment in 1984, more than 400 students have been
educated in Armenian language and history and 177 students have
graduated from St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School. Students
in several grades score in the top 10-15 percent nationwide on the
Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills for Language and Math, and graduates
have attended prestigious universities with full scholarships and
gone on to become community leaders.

Dr. Mirak is the son of the late John and Artemis Mirak, who were
survivors of the Armenian Genocide from Arapkir. His book, "Torn
Between Two Lands: Armenians in America, 1890 to World War I" was
published by Harvard University Press. As a scholar and community
leader, he expressed the importance of preserving an Armenian identity
in the diaspora.

"As the son of Genocide survivors, I understand the challenges of
bicultural living and identity in America," said Dr. Mirak. "Our
family is grateful that St. Stephen’s School is investing resources
in educating young people in Armenian language and history."

Dr. Mirak’s granddaughter Christina Kew attends the school, and
daughter Julia, trustee of the Mirak Family Foundation and the Armenian
Cultural Foundation, has commended the staff and school leadership
for providing a nurturing environment and helping her family preserve
their Armenian heritage.

"My sister Jennifer Mirak Leach is also part of our family foundation,
and she is envious that I can send my daughter to St. Stephen’s
School," Kew said. "I can speak for all of us when I say our family
is proud that we can help the school upgrade its existing space, keep
tuition affordable, and enhance the school’s library so students will
have access to cutting edge resources."

The Mirak Family has supported a number of charitable and education
institutions, including Arlington’s hospital, libraries and the
preservation of historic structures, the Armenia Tree Project, and
the Armenian Cultural Foundation in Arlington.

St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, 47 Nichols Ave., is a private
pre-kindergarten through grade five school dedicated to educational
excellence in an environment rich in Armenian culture.