AEF to Honor Vahe Hacopian with Distinguished Lifetime Service Award at 75th Anniversary Gala

Vahe Hacopian

The Armenian Educational Foundation will honor Vahe Hacopian at its 75th Anniversary Gala with the Distinguished Lifetime Service Award. The gala, to be held at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel on September 7, 2025, commemorates AEF’s 75-year legacy of service to Armenian education and community development.

Hacopian is an active member of the AEF for 39 years, for an exceptional 39 years Vahe has served on its Board of Directors, primarily as Treasurer, notably including four terms as Board President. He holds the distinction as AEF’s longest-serving board member.

Vahe possesses unparalleled historical knowledge of AEF’S operations and actively volunteers in numerous committees integral to the organization’s daily functions, including the Endowment Committee, Investment Committee, Javakhk Scholarship Committee, Lebanon Scholarship Committee, Audit Committee and the By-Laws Committee.

Vahe’s influence on AEF has been transformative, particularly through his involvement in the expansion of AEF programs and school openings in Armenia. In 1992, alongside fellow AEF Board Members, Vahe participated in the opening of the Grashen Village Kindergarten, the first school built by AEF after the devastating 1988 earthquake. Vahe’s involvement has also been instrumental in the remarkable growth of the AEF’s Armenia Scholarship Program. The initiative, which began in 2007 with 21 students, now supports more than 1,200 Armenian students annually. As demonstration of his dedication to AEF, in his capacity as board member Vahe has traveled to Armenia more than 35 times to represent AEF and promote its mission.

Vahe’s contribution to the Armenian community extends far beyond his long-standing service to AEF. He has been deeply involved with the Armenian Youth Federation, serving within the AYF Juniors, AYF West Coast Council and AYF Seniors. In 1977 he co-founded and chaired the Board of Directors of the St. Mary’s Armenian School (known today as Tufenkian Preschool and Chamlian Armenian School) and served on the Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s Armenian Church during the early growth of the Armenian community in Glendale.

Vahe retired after a distinguished 37-year corporate career at Northrop Grumman, where he served as Director of Programs, managing projects and programs. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from UCLA.