AGBU’s American Century
A hundred years of expansion, community development, and contribution
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May 28, 2015
AGBU Alex Manoogian School in Montréal Celebrates its 45th Anniversary
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On May 2, 2015, over 500 guests celebrated the 45th anniversary of the AGBU Alex Manoogian School in Montréal. -
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AGBU President Berge Setrakian congratulates the AGBU Montréal Marching Band on their performance of the Canadian, Armenian, Nagorno-Karabakh and AGBU anthems. -
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In his remarks, Setrakian congratulated the Montréal Armenian community for strengthening Armenian identity and helping Armenian culture flourish in the younger generations.
The celebration raised $300,000 in support of the school
On May 2, 2015, the Armenian community of Montréal marked the 45th anniversary of the AGBU Alex Manoogian School. The event was attended by AGBU President Berge Setrakian, Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan and over 500 guests, including Primate of the Diocese of Canada Bishop Abgar Hovakimian, Armenian Ambassador to Canada Armen Yeganian, Vice President of the City of Montréal’s Executive Committee Harout Chitilian, AGBU Central Board member Lena Sarkissian, current and former teachers, and alumni from each graduating class. The celebration raised a total of $300,000, $200,000 of which was donated by grand benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Arden and Christine Dervishian.
The evening’s program included performances by notable school alumni, among them soprano Sasha Djihanian and musician Arden Arapyan, and testimonials by alumni who consider their alma mater an integral part of their success. “The school has played a major role in who I am and who I have become in my life,” said Harry Dikranian, member of the school’s first graduating class in 1979. “Today I am a lawyer with the prestigious firm Sternthal Katznelson Montigny. But far more importantly, it was here that I met my wife Norma Alepian whom I am proud to say is a graduate of the class of 1984. Norma today is a certified accountant with Deloitte Canada, one of the biggest audit and accounting firms in Canada.”
The evening concluded with remarks by AGBU President Setrakian, who congratulated the Montréal Armenian community on strengthening Armenian identity and helping Armenian culture flourish in the younger generation: “I’m happy to see so many young alumni here tonight. This means that the torch had been successfully passed to the new generation, who will now take on the leadership of the community,” said Setrakian.
In her speech, Minister Hakobyan also praised the AGBU Alex Manoogian School and highlighted its importance in providing the younger generation with an Armenian education. On the occasion, Hakobyan granted the Gold Medal of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia to the chairman and vice chairman of the school’s board of trustees, Armen Bechakjian and Aram Yacoubian, respectively, in honor of their work in preserving Armenian identity in the diaspora.
“Tonight’s celebration shows that students of the AGBU Alex Manoogian School have the drive and motivation that can only come from people raised in a nurturing and stimulating environment. The school is a living member of the Canadian Armenian community. Like its current students and alumni, it is an example of creativity, resilience, empathy and leadership,” said Chahé Tanachian, chairman of AGBU Montréal and principal of AGBU Alex Manoogian School.
For more information on the AGBU Alex Manoogian School, please visit http://web.alexmanoogian.qc.ca/wordpress/web/
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