Scholarships
2025 Winners
Haik Majarian
SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Haik Majarian is an inspiring young leader whose journey from Syria to Canada is a powerful story of resilience, community service, and determination. Born in Syria to Armenian parents, Haik came to Canada as an immigrant in 2015. Since then, he has become a passionate volunteer, a youth role model, and a strong advocate for cultural preservation and newcomer support.
As a student at Burnaby Central Secondary School, Haik excelled academically and athletically. He became a certified lifeguard and swim instructor, motivated by a desire to prevent future tragedies. Furthermore, as skilled soccer player, he has represented Vancouver’s chapter of Homenetmen at the national Canada Games events and played for both club and school teams.
Haik has been deeply involved in the Armenian community through the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada, Armenian Cultural Association of BC, the Armenian Apostolic Church in Richmond, where he has served at the altar since 2017 and his participation in Armenian Sasoon Dance Camp for six years. Beyond his cultural involvement, he volunteers with non-profit organizations such as the Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table and the Lower Mainland Purpose Society to support newcomer and refugee families. Driven by his commitment to health and wellness, Haik chose to study Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, aiming to build a career in the public health sector.
Lara Mnatsakanian
SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Lara Mnatsakanian is a second-year student at Simon Fraser University. She is majoring in Political Science, with the hope of one day attending law school. Throughout her life, Lara has always put her education first. Her love of learning grew quickly from how much she loved to read and write, causing her to take her homework seriously from a young age. In high school, she participated in student mentorship, student council, community volunteering, and was an International Baccalaureate student. Upon graduating, Lara won two additional scholarships through her school district, graduated in the top 10% of her class, and was an honour roll student. She continues to find ways to get involved in university, as she is a volunteer student mentor at SFU. She hopes to continue making positive impacts in the world, a key motivator for her interest in a career in law.
Svetlana Oganova
EDUCATIONAL AWARD WINNER
Svetlana Oganova was born in Yerevan, Armenia, and immigrated to Canada with her family at the age of two. She will begin her studies at the University of British Columbia in Fall 2025, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science alongside Master’s Degree in Management through UBC Sauder’s B+MM dual-degree program.
Her academic interests focus on global affairs, economic policy, and sustainable development, with an emphasis on how political decisions shape resource distribution, trade, and environmental outcomes.
Deeply connected to her Armenian roots, Svetlana attended Sunday School at St. Vartan Armenian Church and participated in Sassoon Camp. She has also volunteered with the Ararat Armenian Community Centre in Vancouver, supporting event planning and community outreach. Beyond her academic and cultural involvement, she trained and competed in women’s artistic gymnastics for over five years, which taught her resilience, discipline, and a strong work ethic.
Svetlana is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in both Canadian and Armenian communities. She strives to become a leader in public policy field and contribute to efforts that address critical issues.
Lala Kazanjian
EDUCATIONAL AWARD WINNER
Lala Kazanjian was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. During her university years, she participated in a contest sponsored by the American Cultural Center in Damascus and was honoured with The Nesteby Award for excellence in the study of American literature.
Following her graduation, she earned a Sworn Translator Diploma from the Syrian Ministry of Justice and began her career as a translator—initially with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and later as a freelancer, until she left the country due to war and unsafe conditions.
In October 2019, Lala resettled in Canada with her family. It did not take her long to recognize that obtaining Canadian educational credentials would be the key to building a meaningful and successful career in her new home. She is currently pursuing studies in Human Resources Management. Her decision is deeply rooted in her Armenian identity and the values passed down through generations. The Armenian people have a long history of resilience—overcoming hardship, rebuilding communities, and supporting one another. In many ways, Human Resources is about doing just that: creating strong, inclusive workplace communities where individuals feel valued, empowered, and connected.
As an Armenian mother, Lala also sees language as a vital thread of cultural preservation. For the past four years, she has been volunteering as a teacher of the Armenian language at H.O.M. Araz Armenian School. She believes that teaching Armenian to the younger generation is essential for maintaining identity and fostering a deep sense of belonging. Through language, we pass on our history, values, and cultural pride—ensuring that Armenian heritage remains vibrant for generations to come.
Adriana Kuchukgozian
EDUCATIONAL AWARD WINNER
Adrianna was born and raised in Langley, British Columbia. From the young age of four, Adrianna began attending Armenian school at both St. Vartan and St. Gregory Armenian Churches. Although she spoke Armenian at home with her family, her time in Armenian school allowed her to expand her vocabulary, deepen her understanding of Armenian culture, and build lasting friendships within the community. During the summers of her youth, Adrianna attended Sassoun Jampar, an Armenian dance camp. Over the course of seven years, she learned traditional Armenian dances and songs, participated in cultural performances, and developed a strong appreciation for the importance of preserving heritage through the arts. Adrianna, is also a member of Homenetmen Vancouver and participated in the 2019 Navasartian Games in Los Angeles, Her involvement in the Armenian community extends to volunteer work as well. Adrianna joined the Junior AYF Badanegan Chapter.
At sixteen, she transitioned into the senior AYF Arshavir Shiragian Vancouver Chapter. For the past three years, she has served in leadership roles as Vice President and Secretary. In these positions, Adrianna has played a key role in organizing cultural events, fundraisers, and youth engagement initiatives aimed at strengthening ties within the Armenian community. She has focused on fostering leadership among young people, mentoring peers in project planning and execution. These experiences have allowed her to apply her organizational and communication skills in meaningful ways, encouraging both personal growth and teamwork. Volunteering has offered Adrianna a valuable opportunity to develop as a leader while contributing to causes that are deeply important to her.
Currently, Adrianna is a third-year student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, working toward a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing Management. With a long-standing interest in the real estate sector, she aspires to build a career in both commercial and residential real estate. Her goal is to combine her academic knowledge with hands-on experience to create innovative, community-focused solutions in the real estate market. Looking ahead, Adrianna is eager to apply her passion for business, her leadership experience, and her dedication to continuous growth in a dynamic, fast-paced industry. Whether through entrepreneurship, team collaboration, or community development, she remains committed to making a meaningful impact both professionally and personally.
Tamar Kuchukgozian
EDUCATIONAL AWARD WINNER
Tamar was born and raised in British Columbia and takes pride in her Armenian heritage, which has been a constant source of strength and identity throughout her life. Growing up in a close-knit Armenian family, she learned early on the value of tradition, resilience, and community.
Over the years, she has remained actively involved in the Armenian community, participating in cultural events, volunteering her time, and finding small but meaningful ways to stay connected to her roots. Since her youth, she has been a member of the ARS Araz Armenian School, the Soghomon Tehlirian Badanegan Chapter, the Vancouver Homenetmen Team, as well as Sassoon Dance Camp. Whether helping organize gatherings or supporting Armenian youth initiatives as part of AYF Vancouver, Tamar approaches everything with pride and responsibility.
This fall, she will begin her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, minoring in Sociology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She plans to pursue law school and specialize in family law. Having grown up surrounded by a strong, supportive community, she hopes to give that same sense of care and stability to others through a future career in law.
Jivan Armen
EDUCATIONAL AWARD WINNER
I am 19 years old currently studying cybersecurity at BCIT. I plan to get my diploma and then pursue a degree in digital forensics.