American University of Armenia Dedicates New Paramaz Avedisian Building

Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian presents the Movses Khorenatsi Medal awarded by Armenia's President Serge Sargsyan to Mr. Edward Avedisian

From left to right; His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian; AUA President Haroutune Armenian opening the ceremonies

From the left to the right: AUA President Haroutune Armenian; Dr. Rory Hume, Chair of the AUA Board of Trustees; AUA President Emeritus Mihran Agbabian; Zvart Onanian and Edward Avedisian

Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian presents the Movses Khorenatsi Medal awarded by Armenia's President Serge Sargsyan to Mr. Jirair Turpanjian

The American University of Armenia dedicated its new building on November 1, 2008, bringing state-of-the-art educational facilities to Armenia and the region. The ceremonies opened with the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II who followed with an inspirational speech on the importance of education.

The Paramaz Avedisian Building adds about 100,000 square feet of space to AUA’s existing facilities, including classrooms and seminar rooms, laboratories and research centers, offices for faculty, suites for AUA’s academic programs, and the new VivaCell Videoconferencing Room. The educational facility was designed by Altoon + Porter Architects of Los Angeles, California, and incorporates several innovative design elements and sophisticated environment-sensitive solutions.

“The new Paramaz Avedisian Building along with the United States accreditation the University received in 2007, provides AUA with the ability to expand educational offerings with new programs and to increase our student body and serve additional Armenian and international students. The University community is grateful to the many donors, large and small, who made our dream a reality,” explained AUA President Haroutune Armenian.

The building was commissioned by Mr. Edward Avedisian in honor of his brother, Paramaz Avedisian, who was joined by more than a dozen family members for the opening ceremonies along with the children of Paramaz Avedisian. Mr. Avedisian served on the AUA Building Committee with President Haroutune Armenian, AUA President Emeritus Mihran Agbabian, and Dr. Garo Missirian.

Republic of Armenia Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian addressed the celebration saying that “the mission of universities is not just to transmit knowledge but also to give people the capacity to learn” because what is learned today is outdated quickly. On behalf of President Serge Sargsyan, the Prime Minister bestowed the Movses Khorenatsi Medal upon Edward Avedisian and Mr. Jirair Turpanjian.

Mr. Turpanjian donated $2.3 million to the construction of the new building and provides major support to the AUA School of Political Science and International Affairs and funds the AUA Turpanjian Rural Development Program and the Turpanjian Scholarships with over 650 student benefiting to date throughout Armenia. The Manoogian Simone Foundation continued its generous support of the American University of Armenia with a donation of $2.5 million to the new building and the Alex and Marie Manoogian Hall is named in honor of Ms. Simone’s distinguished parents. The Armenian General Benevolent Union is a founder of the University.

Other keynote speakers were Dr. Rory Hume who as Chair of the AUA Board of Trustees noted that “the new building is an extraordinary achievement,” Mr. Edward Avedisian who serves on the Board, and AUA President Haroutune Armenian. The dedication was attended by a host of dignitaries including US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, USAID Mission Director Robin Phillips, Republic of Armenia Minister of Education and Science Spartak Seiranian, Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritzyan, Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan, Parliament Committee Chair Ara Babloyan, Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakaryan, Yerevan State University Rector Aram Simonyan, State Medical University Rector Gohar Kyalian, the Ambassadors of several countries and municipal and international representatives.

The Paramaz Avedisian Building dedication was part of a weekend of celebration activities that included commencement ceremonies for the University’s 16th graduating class and a gala dinner banquet attended by more than 400 students, alumni, faculty, Board of Trustee Members, donors and supporters.
Several opportunities to name rooms are still available as is the chance to make a donation to the Paramaz Avedisian Building matching fund drive. For information, see the AUA website at www.aua.am, e-mail donations@auac.net, or call (510) 987 9452.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia is affiliated with the University of California system and obtained accreditation in 2007 from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, one of the seven regional accrediting bodies recognized by the US Department of Education. Through teaching, research and public service, AUA serves Armenia and the region in the transition to a market economy and democratic governance.

Building Blessing ceremony of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians