AUA Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Sona Hamalian Conference Room
YEREVAN, Armenia — On June 27, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Sona Hamalian conference room (413M), named in memory of the first director of the Extension program at AUA.
Since the day AUA opened its doors in 1991, Hamalian served as the administrator and right-hand assistant to Dr. Mihran Agbabian, AUA’s co-founder and first president. In 1992, she became the director of the AUA Extension program, now called Open Education. Following her untimely death, Hamalian’s twin sister Sossy and her husband Dr. Vicken Aharonian, both AUA Pillars, memorialized her legacy by naming the 413M conference room in the AUA Main Building in her honor.
The ceremony was attended by the immediate family of the Aharonians and Hamalians, close friends and relatives, as well as AUA community members who had known and worked with Hamalian in the past.
Dr. Karin Markides, Dr. Vicken Aharonian, and Sossy Hamalian at the ribbon-cutting ceremony
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests were directed to a reception held at the Faculty Center. In her welcoming speech, AUA President Dr. Karin Markides addressed the guests to commemorate Hamalian’s life and forever honor her memory through the 413M Sona Hamalian conference room.
“Sona Hamalian was a well-respected and devoted member of the AUA community, whose memory will live on through the widely used Sona Hamalian conference room, which serves as a meeting point for discussions, interviews, and team meetings to collaborate, recruit the best faculty and staff, and work towards the flourishing future of the University. She would have been very proud to see all the accomplishments AUA continues to have,” said Dr. Markides.
AUA’s co-founder and former president Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian reflected on the past, on the University’s inception and Hamalian’s crucial role in its development.
“Dr. Mihran Agbabian hired Sona around July of 1991. He was familiar with her work ethic and skills. Sona did an impossible job in setting up offices, classrooms, library textbooks, the registrar’s office, housing for faculty members, and more. It was all possible due to her dedication and commitment to the University,” remarked Dr. Der Kiureghian.
Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian addressing guests at the ceremony
Following his speech, Dr. Der Kiureghian shared a short passage from Sona Hamalian’s report on the Extension program. The very last paragraph of the report contained the following message:
When asked “What is your vision for the 90s,” I respond humorously. “I am not a visionary. I am a dreamer and I have fantasies”. We are excited for our next 1000 years (afterall, for a nation 4000 years old, this kind of exaggeration is permissible). The technological advancements of recent years are revolutionizing education, and we are looking forward to providing the highest quality of instruction in the formats that best serve Armenia’s educational goals.
Dr. Vicken Aharonian, brother-in-law to Sona Hamalian, said a few words on the inspiration behind naming the conference room in her honor and addressed the University staff, faculty, and guests expressing gratitude for their support and efforts in developing Armenia.
“We wanted to honor her memory. Nobody will live forever, but it is good to create something that will, and I hope that this conference room will serve AUA, where her name will endure forever,” he said. “We are truly grateful to the University, which we have been supporting for many years. AUA is the future of this country. I wish you the best. Thank you very much.”
For more information on naming opportunities at AUA, visit: https://philanthropy.aua.am/naming-opportunities/