Turpanjian Family Foundation Establishes Scholarship and Big Brother/Sister Program at AUA

Oakland, CA –The Turpanjian Family Foundation generously pledged $1,000,000 over 10 years to the American University of Armenia (AUA) in April 2004 to implement an innovative Big Brother-Big Sister orphan mentorship program, and to provide educational scholarships to support qualified undergraduate and graduate Armenian students who are at an economic and social disadvantage. On August 13, 2004, the American University of Armenia received its first installment of $100,000 from the Turpanjian Family Foundation and AUA has begun program implementation.

One of the key components of the Turpanjian Family Foundation Scholarship Program is to empower its graduates to make long-term contributions to Armenia’s political, social and economic development. To this end, scholarships will be awarded to eligible undergraduate and graduate students in Armenia’s universities, including the AUA, whose major areas of study are determined to be of critical need and strategic importance for the development of Armenia. AUA has already sent out public announcements in Armenia’s media to recruit eligible students.

Additionally, for the first time in Armenia, AUA will introduce a ‘Big Brother-Big Sister’ mentorship program for orphans. AUA alumni and students will be matched with orphans, as ‘big brothers’ or ‘big sisters’, to establish one-on-one lifelong friendships and mentoring relationships and to help with their social and intellectual development. This mutually beneficial connection will not only assist the orphan with lifelong guidance and counseling, but also instill within AUA alumni and students the values of helping others less fortunate and the benefits of participating in community service.

“Supporting a scholarship program in Armenia is a wonderful way to support the local state institutions of higher education and individual students who have the potential to attend AUA and make valuable contributions to Armenian society,” stated AUA President Haroutune Armenian. “The Big Brother/Big Sister component of this program will also help those who are at a socio-economic disadvantage to overcome their circumstances and believe in their potential leadership and entrepreneurial roles in Armenia’s economy.”