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PRESS RELEASE
March 14, 2007
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 0019 ARMENIA
Tel: (37410) 512-522
Fax: (37410) 512-523
Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
In Memoriam: AUA Remembers Mr. Sarkis Acopian
A memorial ceremony commemorating the life of the great friend and supporter
of the American University of Armenia, Mr. Sarkis Acopian (1926-2007), was
held on March 14, 2007, at the University.
Speakers during the ceremony included His Holiness Karekin II, the
Catholicos of all Armenians, AUA President Haroutune Armenian, Dr.Martin
Adamyan, author of "A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia," and Mr. Karen
Aghababyan, Coordinator of the Environmental and Conservation Research
Center at AUA.
Dr. Haroutune Armenian began the memorial with a talk in which he described
Mr. Sarkis Acopian as a person deeply concerned about environmental
conservation and environmental education and as an initiator of many
important industrial and scientific projects, a benefactor of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, and as a generous supporter of a variety of development
activities in the United States and Armenia. "Mr. Acopian's goal, which he
obtained so brilliantly, was to achieve the highest international standards
in all his work. He was an ingenious person, entrepreneurial, hard working,
diligent, and a man with the highest levels of integrity. His standards
were so impeccable that we can use his profile as a model for our students
at AUA to encourage them to emulate his approach to life. He was a model of
strong moral and ethical principles and it was a great pleasure to know such
a man," continued Dr. Armenian.
Karen Aghababyan, remembered Mr. Sarkis Acopian with a slide presentation
that covered the major activities of Mr. Acopian's life with a special focus
on his generous contributions in Armenia in a variety of areas from
environmental protection to the building of new churches.
His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of all Armenians delivered the
eulogy in remembrance of Mr. Acopian, a person devoted to the Armenian
Church and the community at large for a very long time. "We praise with our
respect and gratitude the highly devoted Armenian son, Sarkis Acopian. We
have today the opportunity to live through once again those beautiful
moments and times which we enjoyed with happiness together with Mr. Acopian
and to share his ideals and his very humane and God loving devotion to his
motherland."
Mr. Sarkis Acopian made numerous donations to national and international
causes including the environmental education program at the American
University of Armenia and the Florida Institute of Technology. Other major
philanthropic endeavors included the Nature Conservancy Acopian Bog Turtle
Preserve, and the St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Charlotte, North
Carolina, built in memory of his beloved mother, Dr. Arax Acopian. Other
important donations have included gifts to the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, the Embassy of Armenia in Ottawa Canada, the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America, the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, the Armenian
Assembly of America, the Children's Home of Easton and the building of two
churches in Armenia, St. Hakop and St. Mesrob. His great sense of gratitude
to his adopted country played a major part in his being the largest
individual donor to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. He
received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Medal, and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Muhlenberg College.
________________________________________ _______________________________
The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered as a
non-profit organization in the United States and the American University
of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia. The American University of Armenia (AUA)
is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, USAID and private donors, AUA offers
instruction leading to the Master's degree in eight graduate programs. For
more information about AUA visit www.aua.am <http://www.aua.am/> .
March 14, 2007
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 0019 ARMENIA
Tel: (37410) 512-522
Fax: (37410) 512-523
Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
In Memoriam: AUA Remembers Mr. Sarkis Acopian
A memorial ceremony commemorating the life of the great friend and supporter
of the American University of Armenia, Mr. Sarkis Acopian (1926-2007), was
held on March 14, 2007, at the University.
Speakers during the ceremony included His Holiness Karekin II, the
Catholicos of all Armenians, AUA President Haroutune Armenian, Dr.Martin
Adamyan, author of "A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia," and Mr. Karen
Aghababyan, Coordinator of the Environmental and Conservation Research
Center at AUA.
Dr. Haroutune Armenian began the memorial with a talk in which he described
Mr. Sarkis Acopian as a person deeply concerned about environmental
conservation and environmental education and as an initiator of many
important industrial and scientific projects, a benefactor of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, and as a generous supporter of a variety of development
activities in the United States and Armenia. "Mr. Acopian's goal, which he
obtained so brilliantly, was to achieve the highest international standards
in all his work. He was an ingenious person, entrepreneurial, hard working,
diligent, and a man with the highest levels of integrity. His standards
were so impeccable that we can use his profile as a model for our students
at AUA to encourage them to emulate his approach to life. He was a model of
strong moral and ethical principles and it was a great pleasure to know such
a man," continued Dr. Armenian.
Karen Aghababyan, remembered Mr. Sarkis Acopian with a slide presentation
that covered the major activities of Mr. Acopian's life with a special focus
on his generous contributions in Armenia in a variety of areas from
environmental protection to the building of new churches.
His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of all Armenians delivered the
eulogy in remembrance of Mr. Acopian, a person devoted to the Armenian
Church and the community at large for a very long time. "We praise with our
respect and gratitude the highly devoted Armenian son, Sarkis Acopian. We
have today the opportunity to live through once again those beautiful
moments and times which we enjoyed with happiness together with Mr. Acopian
and to share his ideals and his very humane and God loving devotion to his
motherland."
Mr. Sarkis Acopian made numerous donations to national and international
causes including the environmental education program at the American
University of Armenia and the Florida Institute of Technology. Other major
philanthropic endeavors included the Nature Conservancy Acopian Bog Turtle
Preserve, and the St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Charlotte, North
Carolina, built in memory of his beloved mother, Dr. Arax Acopian. Other
important donations have included gifts to the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, the Embassy of Armenia in Ottawa Canada, the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America, the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, the Armenian
Assembly of America, the Children's Home of Easton and the building of two
churches in Armenia, St. Hakop and St. Mesrob. His great sense of gratitude
to his adopted country played a major part in his being the largest
individual donor to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. He
received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Medal, and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Muhlenberg College.
________________________________________ _______________________________
The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered as a
non-profit organization in the United States and the American University
of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia. The American University of Armenia (AUA)
is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, USAID and private donors, AUA offers
instruction leading to the Master's degree in eight graduate programs. For
more information about AUA visit www.aua.am <http://www.aua.am/> .