Bill Cumbelich, Sara Kachadoorian Cumbelich, Gaiane Khachatryan, Aline Barsoumian, Nelly Der Kiureghian, Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian and Dr. Larry Pitts
BY TALEEN BABAYAN
PIEDMONT, Calif.—The Diaspora and the homeland were connected through the journey of an American University of Armenia student and her scholarship sponsors during an emotional evening centering around the University’s efforts at the home of Bill Cumberlich and Sara Kachadoorian Cumbelich in the San Francisco Bay Area, on Thursday, August 16.
Born and raised in the rural region of Syunik in southern Armenia, senior Lilia Mamikonyan (CS ’19) shared her reflections on how AUA impacted her life and expressed her gratitude to her donors, Ara and Laura Dirtadian, who were present at the event. A rising senior studying computer science, Mamikonyan has already secured a job in Armenia following graduation, and thanked the couple for helping her achieve her dreams. Mamikonyan was the first recipient of the scholarship the Dirtadian’s established in honor of their grandparents, Elia Kahvedjian and Arakel Dirtadian, both of whom were Armenian Genocide survivors.
Ara Dirtadian, Lilia Mamikonyan and Laura Dirtadian
“I cannot imagine where I would be now without you and your family’s support and motivation,â€
