Armenia Fund Opens Largest School Yet

September 14, 2010

Armenia Fund Opens Largest School Yet
Newly built Stepanakert campus can accommodate 560 students
School Principal Aida Grigoryan (L) and Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region
Chairman Ara Aghishian (R) cut the ribbon to the newly built school

Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh – With a jubilant ribbon-cutting ceremony held on September 2 in Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh Repbulic, Armenia Fund marked the opening of the newly constructed School No 11 for 600 students. At 38,000 square feet, the campus is the largest ever built by the Fund and stands apart with its striking architecture. The cost of the construction, around $2.7 million U.S. Dollars, was underwritten jointly by the Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region (through a contribution by Los Angeles based benefactors Mr. Gerald and Mrs. Patricia Turpanjian) and the government of Nagorno Karabakh.
Students, parents, and faculty gather outside for the opening on the first day of school

Dignitaries attending the opening ceremony, which coincided with Artsakh’s Independence Day, included Tigran Sargsyan - Prime Minister of Armenia, Arkadi Ghukasyan – Former President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Vice-President of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Board of Trustees, Araik Harutyunyan - Prime Minister of Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Armen Gevorgyan - Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, Ara Vardanyan - Executive Director of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, Ara Aghishian - Chairman of the Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region and Sarkis Kotanjian - Executive Director of Armenia Fund U.S Western Region.

The school was blessed by the Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan.
The state-of-the-art facility is designed to meet the growing
demands of the student body

“The fact that this school is being opened on Artsakh’s Independence Day is symbolic as we believe that the students of this fine educational institution will shape the future of Artsakh,” said Sargsyan.

The school consists of three buildings connected to each other. It has educational and administrative wings, a playground as well as a full size gymnasium fitted with locker rooms and showers.

“I want to express my profound gratitude to philanthropists Mr. Gerald and Mrs. Patricia Turpanjian of Los Angeles. Their generous gift makes sure that these children have a better future – a future they deserve as children of their proud parents who fought hard for Artsakh’s freedom,” said Aghishian.

In addition to its 25 classrooms, the three-story school features state of the art science and computer labs, a library, an arts and crafts classroom. The school also houses a first aid clinic for emergencies; all three buildings are fitted with a modern fire alarm and video surveillance systems. The school is heated by an autonomous boiler house that uses natural gas.
Dignitaries and guests from Armenia and Artsakh at the school's opening

“This is your school; it was built for you. It is through the knowledge you acquire within these walls that the future of our homeland will be forged,” said Vardanyan addressing the students gathered at the opening ceremony.

On August 29, during a working visit to Artsakh, President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, accompanied by the President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Bako Sahakyan, and Executive Director of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, Ara Vardanyan toured the new school.

Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Since 1991, Armenia Fund has rendered more than $200 million in development aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698

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ph: (818) 243-6222 • fax: (818) 243-7222 • toll free: (800)888-8897
e-mail: info@armeniafund.org • www.ArmeniaFund.org

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