ARS Eastern USA Announces Annual Essay Contest Winners

Over 200 students from Armenian schools across the eastern United States recently participated in the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Eastern USA’s annual essay contest.

The essay contest is open to all ARS-sponsored Armenian one-day schools and Armenian every day schools. Students are encouraged to think about topics of importance to the Armenian people and how issues impact their young lives.

This year’s participants were asked to “Name one Armenian American who has achieved success in his or her field (such as the arts, politics, business, health, and science) and has made a positive contribution to the American society.”

Contest rules permit students to write their essay in English or Armenian. Students compete according to their grade and day school or one-day school participation. Essays written in Armenian and English are judged separately, and the writers’ names are never disclosed to the contest judges.

This year’s essay judging committee was made up of five members, who were appointed by the ARS Eastern USA Board of Regional Directors. They were Miriam Mutafian, Anahid Dardarian, Barbara Tutelian, Elo Tanashian, and Sylva Surebian. The committee was led by ARS Eastern USA Board member Varsen Bedrossian.

Participating Armenian one-day schools were the Mourad Saturday School (Providence, R.I.), the St. Stephen’s Saturday School (Watertown, Mass.), the Taniel Varoujan School (Glenview, ll.), the Nareg Saturday School (New Jersey), and he Zavarian Saturday School (Detroit, Mich).

Participating Armenian day schools were the Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Lexington, Mass.), the Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Radnor, Pa.); the Holy Martyr’s School (Bayside, N.Y.), and the St. Stephen’s Elementary School (Watertown, Mass.).

Essay contest winners were awarded gift certificates from the Hairenik Bookstore. Honorable-mention winners were also awarded a certificate for their hard work and participation.

The ARS Eastern USA Board of Regional Directors extends a hearty congratulations to all the participants for devoting time and effort on their essay submissions, and sends its continued gratitude to the principals and teachers for their cooperation in this mutually beneficial educational effort.

Essay Contest Results

Armenian One-Day Schools (Armenian-language submissions)

Grades 4 and 5
1st place: Aghavni Khedilarian, Nareg Saturday School
2nd place: Ani Chorbajian, Nareg Saturday School

Grades 6 and 7
1st place: Karin Chapanian, Nareg Saturday School
2nd place: Ani Khachadrian, St. Stephen’s Saturday School
3rd place: Anoush Calikyan, Mourad School

Grades 8 and 9
1st place: Nareneh Taraksian, Mourad School
2nd place: Katherine Sadaniantz, Mourad School
3rd place: Nareg Megerdichian, Mourad School

Armenian One-Day Schools (English-language submissions)

Grades 3 and 4
1st place: Haig Hovsepian, St Stephens’ Saturday School
2nd place: Aleena Surenian, Taniel Varoujan
3rd place: Natalie Assarian, Taniel Varoujan School
Honorable Mention: Taron Asatryan, Taniel Varoujan School

Grades 5 and 6
1st place: Arman Charkhetian, Nareg School
2nd place: Nareg Bezjian, Zavarian School

Grades 7 and 8
1st place: Talene Sagherian, St. Stephen’s School
2nd place: Anna Margossian
3rd place: Helaneh Nighoghosian, Taniel Varoujan School
Honorable Mention: Mimi Zakarian and Sophia Zakarian, both of the Taniel Varoujan School

Armenian Everyday Schools (Armenian-language submissions)

Grades 4 and 5
1st place: Lori Sahakian, St. Stephen’s School
2nd place: Sarineh Ashjian, St. Stephen’s School
3rd place: Derrick Dervishian, Armenian Sisters Academy (Radnor)
3rd place: Tina Barsoumian, St. Stephen’s Elementary School

Grades 6 and 7
1st place: Gayene Baravyan, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Lexington)
2nd place: Arthur Haroutioun Ipek, Holy Martyrs School
3rd place: Meline Derderian, Armenian Sisters’ School (Radnor)

Grade 8
1st place: Lucy Mesrobian, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Lexington)
2nd place: Garin Mouradian, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Radnor)
3rd place: Antranig Baghdasarian, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Lexington)

Armenian Everyday Schools (English-language submissions)

Grades 3 and 4
1st place: Anthony Rivera, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Lexington)
2nd place: Andrew Donabedian, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Lexington)
3rd place: Sanjana Pari, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Lexington)

Grades 5 and 6
1st place: Emily Selverian, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Radnor)
2nd place: Antranig Kechechian, St. Stephen’s Elementary School
3rd place: Beata Terzian, Holy Martyrs School
3rd place: Melineh Aftandilian, St. Stephen’s Elementary School
Honorable Mention: Ani Hacket, St. Stephen’s Elementary School, and Michael Knudson, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Radnor)

Grades 7 and 8
1st place: Chris Selverian, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Radnor)
2nd place: Lisa Kuttothara, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Radnor)
3rd place: Ani Schug, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Radnor)
Honorable Mention: Kathleen Andonian, Armenian Sisters’ Academy (Radnor)

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