Kabayan Family on campus grounds (Holy Martyrs archive photo)
ENCINO- On Saturday, May 7 more than 300 supporters of the Ferrahian Schools (A.R.S. Pilavjian Preschool, Marie Cabayan Elementary, and Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School) gathered in the school’s Avedissian Hall to celebrate the accomplishments, academic excellence, and continued success of the first Armenian school in the United States.
The annual fundraising banquet was coined The Golden Apple Gala in reference to a special year that has been dedicated as The Year of the Teacher and was organized by the collaborative efforts of the School Board, the Parent Support Committee, the Armens, and the Ferrahian Alumni Association.
The 300 guests including parents, alumni, community leaders, and friends of Ferrahian, in addition to the newly appointed Encino campus principal, Mrs. Sossi Shanlian, were all mesmerized by the magical transformation of the Avedissian Hall- the ordinary gym turned into a mystically lit, elegant venue.
Master of Ceremonies- School Education Board chair Dr. Paul Nargizian welcomed the guests and invited Ferrahian’s School Board chairman Serop Beylerian to address those in attendance. Mr. Beylerian noted the importance of remembering the institution’s visionaries like Mr. Mateos Ferrahian and Mr. Gabriel Injejikian, while thanking the hundreds of faculty members, teachers, board members, parents and the alumni for their devotion and belief.
Principal John Kossakian also provided a message regarding the successes of the school, including this year’s 81% four year college acceptance rate of the senior class and praised the girls varsity basketball team for winning the first ever CIF southern section division 5A championship- a first for all Armenian schools.
With generous donations of $50,000 by Dr. Vatche & Mrs. Shoushig Cabayan, $13,000 by Mr. Vahe & Mrs. Veronique Karapetian, and $10,000 by George Ignatius Foundation, this incredibly successful night superseded all expectations by raising over a quarter of a million dollars, and more importantly further strengthened that which makes our community a special one; our tie to one another, our cultural roots, and our schools.
To the world you may be just a teacher, but to Ferrahian you are a Hero.
Source: Asbarez
Link: Ferrahian’s Golden Apple Gala is a Great Success
