Siamanto Academy Concludes Successful Year

RIDGEFIELD, N.J.—After a hiatus of several years, the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC), a joint venture of the Armenian Prelacy and the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), launched the Siamanto Academy last September. In its new format, the Academy offers classes on Armenian history, culture, and current issues on every second Saturday of the month to students in 8^th-12^th grades in a 2-year program.

Classes were held at the hall of Sts.Vartanantz church in Ridgefield during the academic year 2014-15.

The last session of the year was held on Sat., June 14. Parents and members of ANEC were present, as well as ARS Eastern Regional chairperson Talin Daghlian.

ANEC executive director Dr. Vartan Matiossian, one of the teachers of the Academy, together with ANEC chairman Haroutune Misserlian, introduced the class. This time, students became teachers and teachers became students. The eight students made PowerPoint presentations on subjects of their choice from Armenian history and culture; their presentations included historical figures like Tigran the Great and David Bek, Armenian identity, intellectuals who were victim of the genocide, genocide survivors, the relations between Armenia and Ethiopia, and Karabagh. They were made either in Armenian or in English, and were very well received by the audience.

The Siamanto Academy will resume its activities in September. For more information about the Academy or on registration, contact ANEC by calling (212) 689-7810 or e-mailing anec@armenianprelacy.org.