AUA Raised $800,000 during gala in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, California — On May 18, 2024, at the home of American University of Armenia (AUA) ChangeMakers Vahe and Ruzan Kuzoyan, AUA supporters gathered in Los Angeles. The gala, A Night to Ignite Change: Honoring the Akian Family, recognized the Akian Family for their decades of commitment to AUA and raised close to $800,000 in support of the University’s efforts to advance higher education in Armenia.

Together with his wife, Kuzoyan, who was recently appointed to the AUA Board of Trustees, commented, “We see firsthand the impact AUA has on Armenia’s ability to produce talent based on the alumni hired at ServiceTitan’s Yerevan office. We are big believers in AUA’s mission and want to inspire others.”

Following the national anthems sung by Alene Aroustamian and the invocation prayer by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the emcees, AUA alumni Anna Bakunts (MBA ’11) and Hayk Mamajanyan (LLM ’12), took the stage to speak briefly on the impact their AUA education had on helping them find professional success in their respective careers. They also acknowledged the presence of Karen Israyelyan, consul general of Armenia, who shared about the significance of AUA and the Diaspora’s support in Armenia.

President of AUA, Dr. Bruce Boghosian, then took the stage to provide updates on the University’s recent re-accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The University first received accreditation in 2016, becoming the first institution outside the United States to be accredited by WASC, and recently had its status renewed for a term of ten years, the maximum term offered by the agency. Dr. Boghosian also delved into the importance of the AUA 200 ChangeMakers campaign.

The highlight of the evening was the recognition of the Akian family and their decades-long commitment to AUA. A special video tribute contained a compilation of messages from the University community highlighting the family’s significant contributions and impact they have had on AUA, in Armenia, and within the Armenian Diaspora.

Following the video presentation, Dr. Boghosian presented the inaugural Visionary Philanthropist Award, dedicated to Zaven P. and Sonia Akian. Akian and his family took the stage to accept the honor, with his two daughters each saying a few words. Lori Akian Stephan read a message from her father, commenting on the family’s contributions over the years.

In her turn, Lena Akian highlighted how she and her siblings, Lori and Haig, are now AUA ChangeMakers, inspired by their parents as AUA Pillars and carrying forth the family’s legacy at the University first established by their parents.

The program also included a special panel discussion featuring four AUA ChangeMakers: Sharon Anoush Chekijian, M.D., MPH of Yale University School of Medicine; Vahan Janjigian, Ph.D., chief investment officer at Greenwich Wealth Management, LLC; Christine Soussa, global client director at Equinix; and Lilit Yenokyan, director of engineering at Roku.

Vice President of Development Gaiane Khachatrian thanked the Kuzoyans for opening their home to AUA, addressed the guests and thanked them for attending, acknowledged the event’s sponsors, expressing gratitude for their steadfast support of AUA.

Khachatrian then recognized the co-founders of ServiceTitan, Vahe Kuzoyan and Ara Mahdessian, and thanked the company for establishing an endowed scholarship fund at the University and for the major role they play in creating employment opportunities for youth in Armenia. A video presentation ensued that showed how ServiceTitan, with the opening of its Yerevan office, has hired a bulk of its workforce from AUA and equipped these students and alumni with the tools, confidence, skills, and access to resources that has allowed them to remain in their homeland and forge bright paths for themselves in Armenia.

 

The evening concluded with the recognition of the AUA ChangeMakers and a special call-to-stage of those ChangeMakers in attendance, as well as those who wanted to join the exclusive group.

A silent auction took place throughout the program, as well as musical performances including Armenian artists Vardan Ovsepian, Garik Hovsepyan, Mister X accompanied by Armen Martirosyan, and Christine Pepelyan.