The Goguikian Foundation organized its third consecutive AL BAYAN Awards Night, a prestigious one-of-a-kind event, during which the Foundation recognizes and awards students of Armenian high schools who have excelled in the Arabic language in the previous academic year. It is worth mentioning that The Goguikian Foundation is the only foundation who has taken such an initiative in the community, and year after year it is receiving more positive feedback and encouragement.
The event took place on Friday November 21, 2014 at 6:30 pm in the auditorium of Haigazian University in the presence of Mrs. Flavie Goguikian, President of Haigazian University Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, foundation Board members, school principals and university and high school faculty members, students and their families, and last but not least the guest of honor, the well-known Lebanese-Armenian journalist and TV talk show host Mrs. Paula Yacoubian.
It was a cozy, full house, one-hour event during which an opening speech was delivered by the foundation’s Executive Director, Mrs. Soheila Hayek. During her speech, Mrs. Hayek drawing on the characteristics of the Armenians which have contributed to their survival and success all over the world after a century of the genocide, stressed the importance of overcoming the fear of mastering the Arabic language by the Lebanese-Armenian youth and explained about the goals of the Foundation. Following that was a speech by Mrs. Yacoubian who congratulated The Goguikain Foundation for all the hard work in support of the Lebanese-Armenian youth, she also addressed a word of recognition towards Mrs. Flavie Goguikian and addressed the founder of the foundation Mr. Michel Goguikain in thanks and gratitude, for taking the initiative of creating The Goguikain Foundation in honor of his late father Ambassador Jean Goguikian, and supporting the Lebanese-Armenian community. She drew on her own life story to explain about the importance of mastering the Arabic language.
Mrs. Yacoubian’s speech was followed by a musical break, during which Mr. Nejteh Bodroumian from Haigazian University’s Music Club sang “Lebnan” one of late Wadih El Safi’s greatest songs.
After that, the Foundation called 39 students from 13 high schools to the stage, and awarded them for excelling in the Arabic language for the academic year 2013-2014. All students received an award and a financial prize courtesy of Creditbank. After the distribution of the Arabic Awards, the winner of last year’s Al-Bayan Essay Competition returned the Al Bayan Trophy to the Foundation, and recited a speech during which she thanked the Foundation for organizing this event, and mentioned how this initiative was helping and encouraging students of Lebanese-Armenian high schools to improve their Arabic language skills.
After that the 3 winners of the essay competition were announced,
First Place: Rodrigue Sepetdjian from Hripsimiantz college
Second Place: Sarine Manougian from Levon and Sophia Hagopian
Third Place: Mirna Sherbetjian from Armenian Evangelical School – Anjar
They each received their awards from Mrs. Flavie Goguikian along with financial rewards by Creditbank. Last but not least the winning school’s principal, Sister Arminé Magarossian, whose school had also won last year, received the Al Bayan trophy to be kept at her school until next year’s event.
