AUA GRADUATION: 20 years of Advancement

20 years of Advancement was the fitting theme as the American University of Armenia (AUA) celebrated its 20 th graduation and commencement ceremonies on June 23, 2012.

The Class of 2012 added another 170 graduate alumni, bringing the total number to 2,300 graduates, holding various degrees: Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Master of Law, Master of Political Science and International Affairs, Master of Science in Computer and Information Science, Master of Industrial Engineering and Systems Management, and Master of Business Administration.

Festivities began on Saturday, June 23 with its annual Commencement exercises.  Parents and spouses of the graduates, many distinguished guests from the government, foreign embassies, local and international organizations attend the ceremony. After His Grace Bishop Gevorg Saroyan’s invocation, AUA President Bruce Boghosian welcomed the graduating class. In his address president Boghosian noted. “The founding of the American University of Armenia was a bold move that planned for the development of a brand new university at a difficult time in Armenia’s history… As the third President of AUA I hope to continue the pursuit of academic excellence, to provide educational opportunities for all who wish to pursue them, and to provide Armenia with graduates who will serve their country with knowledge and dignity.”

After Interim Provost Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, Taisei Professor of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, and AUA Trustee, of the University, read greetings on behalf of the University of California.

Commencement addresses were delivered by Mr. Ralph Yirikian, General Manager, VivaCell-MTS and Dr. Dennis Leavens, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, United Arab Emirates University.   Valedictorians Ms. Edita Gzoyan and Mr. Hayk Mamajanyan spoke on behalf of the Class 2012. The graduates concluded the exercises by throwing their caps in the air. Warm words of congratulations were exchanged during an open reception.

The graduation ceremony was followed by the traditional Alumni Dinner, which brought together 300 graduates, faculty and staff to celebrate American University of Armenia’s Class of 2012.