Apovian, Kaprielian to Be Honored
NEW MILFORD, N.J.—On March 3, the Hovnanian School will mark its 35th anniversary with a festive anniversary gala celebrating 35 years of excellence in education. The event will take place at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park with an art exhibition and cocktail hour beginning at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing at 7:30 p.m.
Spearheaded by a number of current parents and many alumni, the Gala Committee is comprised of representatives from every aspect of the Hovnanian School family. The committee has been diligently planning the gala for months to assure a celebration worthy of the school’s growth and excellence.
The evening’s two main honorees will be Dr. John Apovian and Hratch Kaprielian, two men with diverse backgrounds who share a common concern for people and the greater community, and have been generous in their support of charitable causes.
Apovian, a child of immigrants, is a well-known and respected physician in New Jersey whose success can be traced to his work ethic, perseverance, and compassion. He has had an illustrious career through his private practice and his association with Hackensack University Medical Center, where his efforts have contributed to the hospital’s growth and well-deserved international reputation. He is recognized by colleagues and patients as a caring and skillful physician. Although technically “retired,” his active schedule includes his duties as director of the Ambulatory Care Clinic at Hackensack University Medical Center, and clinical assistant professor at the New Jersey Medical School. He is married to Ines Chinni from Bologna, Italy, whom he lovingly describes as “the only woman for me.” They have three children.
Kaprielian came to the United States in 1971 where he pursued a career in the jewelry industry and worked his way up to become a successful entrepreneur with interests in various businesses on an international level. He is currently a high-ranking executive of Franck Muller, one of the most respected names in the world of watch making. Kaprielian is well-known in the Armenian American community as a generous supporter of various charitable, educational, and humanitarian organizations, including the Hovnanian School, Armenia Fund USA, and a long list of charities providing aid to the people in Armenia and Artsakh. His daughter is a graduate of the school, and he has continued his generous support so that future generations of Armenian Americans can benefit from the unique educational opportunities offered.
The Hovnanian School was founded in 1976 by a number of individuals, led by Vahakn and Hasmig Hovnanian. Originally known as the Armenian School of New Jersey, it was renamed Hovnanian School in the mid-1980’s in recognition of the immeasurable contributions of the Hovnanian Family. The school’s mission is to build an active community of lifelong learners in a nurturing educational environment where each child feels happy, respected, proud, secure, and loved, and to nurture its students’ understanding of their heritage to develop a positive identity. Under the leadership of Anahid Garmiryan, who has been the principal for more than a decade, the school has received national acclaim and attention for its excellence and innovation.
Dr. Greg Simonian, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, expressed his hope that the community will come together to celebrate this milestone anniversary. He noted that the most recent evaluation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools praised the school for its “outstanding academic program,” and specifically commended the “high percentage of student scholarships and acceptance into prestigious high schools indicative of the scholastic caliber and the guidance of excellent teachers.”
A 35th anniversary booklet is being prepared for the occasion. To support the Hovnanian School through the booklet, or to reserve tickets ($175 per person) to the gala, e-mail 35years@hovnanianschool.org or call the school at (201) 967-5940. All proceeds will benefit the Student Education Fund.
“We look forward to the decades ahead,” said Simonian, “as the Hovnanian School continues on the road first paved by the founders and early supporters, who against all odds, set the foundation for one of the finest schools in the United States.”
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