AUA’s Alumni Reunion 2025 was a heartfelt celebration of community, gratitude, and AUA’s lasting impact. The event brought together generations of graduates whose shared commitment continues to define and uplift their alma mater under the theme “Legacy in Action: Strengthening AUA Together.”
The theme, deeply intertwined with AUA’s history and mission, resonated powerfully among attendees. It served as both a reminder of the AUA’s founding vision and a call to action for alumni to keep shaping its future.
Anahit Ordyan, AUA’s Assistant Vice President and one of its first graduates, saw the whole AUA journey in this theme.“Legacy in Action means creating a lasting positive impact on our beloved institution and the homeland,” she explained. “It is with great pride, to continue in the footsteps of the founders and contribute to the institution’s ongoing development through financial support and participation in important university projects like student mentorship programs, among others.”
Ordyan’s class, AUA’s pioneer graduating cohort, has long set the tone for alumni engagement. In 2013, they initiated the Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund, raising $24,000, surpassing their original goal of $20,000. Thirty-three students have now benefited from the alumni-formed scholarships. “Of course, it gives me and my friends a great sense of satisfaction to see that the initiative has become a lasting tradition,” she said.
Her message to younger alumni is simple: to remain engaged, give back and uphold the community’s values. “You are a member of a great AUA community in which we all share similar values and standards for excellence,” she said.
Margarit Hovhannisyan, Associate Director of Alumni Relations, highlighted the importance of strong relations with alumni. “Our goal is to ensure that alumni, an integral part of the AUA community, stay connected with their alma mater and carry forward the vision the founders had in mind,” she said.
Every year, the Alumni Reunion and its accompanying activities breathe new life into that vision.
“Each year, around the Alumni Reunion, this spirit comes to life as alumni unite to support the Alumni Endowment Scholarship Fund,” Hovhannisyan explained. “It’s an alumni-founded initiative that supports outstanding students with financial need.”
But the impact goes beyond philanthropy. Throughout the year, the Alumni Office organizes networking events that foster relationships between graduates, faculty and university leadership. “These gatherings allow them to learn about AUA’s latest developments, explore new facilities, and share their feedback directly with the University,” Hovhannisyan noted. “They are also opportunities to highlight alumni success often through collaborations with alumni-founded businesses that sponsor events, creating a mutually beneficial partnership.”
This year’s theme resonates with Alina Vardanyan (BAEC ’21 ) as an alumna and a team member of the AUA Office of Alumni Relations. “I am proud to be part of AUA’s alumni legacy and to contribute to strengthening the University by dedicating my professional efforts to maintaining and nurturing the bond between AUA and its graduates.”
She added that the highlight of the evening for many was the recognition of Armen Gharibyan as the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, a moment that, for Alina, perfectly captured the essence of AUA’s legacy of excellence, innovation and service.
The Alumni Reunion 2025 was a reflection of a growing legacy that continues to evolve through its people, carrying the university’s legacy forward, one action at a time.
