Rising Leaders Armenia: An Initiative to Inspire the Future
2 min read
YEREVAN, Armenia — As a result of the successful collaboration between the American University of Armenia (AUA) Career Services/Student Affairs and Armenia International Airports (AIA), six students from different AUA graduate programs were granted scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year.
AIA’s Rising Leaders Armenia initiative aims to contribute to Armenia’s future through financial assistance to university graduate students so they may continue their education and become leaders in their communities and the country.
The inaugural AIA award ceremony of the Rising Leaders Armenia scholarships was attended by Dean of the College of Business and Economics Dr. Vache Gabrielyan, Director of Students Affairs Mariam Mikhaylova, and Manager of Career Services Stella Kostanyan. The event culminated with handing out the awards to the selected awardees who will have the unique opportunity to develop key leadership skills and advance their careers to become tomorrow’s change makers.
The AIA awards were in recognition of the students’ demonstrated efforts in their studies and an encouragement of their individual pursuits, on personal as well as professional levels. Attending the ceremony were representatives from various universities and government, family members of the award recipients, and the AIA leadership.
Overall, ten students from graduate degree programs of the following seven Armenian universities were among the awardees of scholarships covering tuition for the 2023-24 academic year (with the possibility of renewal):
- American University of Armenia
- Armenian State University of Economics
- French University in Armenia (UFAR)
- National Polytechnic University
- Russian-Armenian University
- Yerevan State University (YSU)
- National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia
Six of the ten selected awardees were from AUA, with two others from UFAR and two from YSU. Moreover, one of the two winners from YSU is a graduate of AUA B.S. in Computer Science program.
These brilliant students have been selected from among over 100 applicants who had submitted powerful letters of interest that contained the most inspiring stories, including their motivations for receiving the scholarships, prior examples of their leadership, and how they believed these experiences would help them become future leaders:
Tiruhi Harutyunyan (LL.M. ’25)
Hrach Harutyunyan (MBA ’25)
Arin Avanoosian Hajiabadi (MSCIS ’25)
Mariam Yevdokimova (MSCIS ’25)
Raisa Rose Jakmakian (MPH ’25)
Sona Azatyan (MAHRSJ ’25)
The winners have expressed their utmost appreciation for this invaluable AIA support and the opportunity it avails. “Before setting a goal, I always know there’s a way of achieving it; this time, it was through the help of the skies. Thank you Rising Leaders of Armenia and AUA for securing my safe flight,” stated Avanoosian.
AUA is thankful to Corporacion America Airports and AIA for such a motivational initiative, and also for organizing such an inspiring and networking event. Rising Leaders Armenia sets the right example of true leaders who model what these graduates will also do for the development and growth of Armenia.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
