Ghassemian Establishes Scholarship Endowment with AEF

GLENDALE, Calif.—The Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) recently announced that it has received a generous donation from Dr. Albert Ghassemian of Boston, Mass., to establish a $100,000 endowment fund in honor of his late wife, Ginger. As it will be named, the Dr. Albert & Ginger Melik Ghassemian Educational Fund will specifically establish scholarships to pay for the entire tuition for students attending public universities in Artsakh (Karabagh). The fund will be allocated in two parts: One-half of the scholarships will be awarded to students graduating from high schools in Shushi, and the other half will be awarded to students graduating from high schools in other regions of Artsakh.

Dr. Ghassemian, left, receives honorary doctorate degree from Stepan Dadayan, president of Artsakh State University.
Ghassemian, left, receives honorary doctorate degree from Stepan Dadayan, president of Artsakh State University.

In recent years, Ghassemian has provided additional financial support for various AEF projects, including $200,000 for the renovation of a 4-story dormitory at Artsakh State University and $34,000 toward the renovation of two schools in villages in Artsakh. Ghassemian’s grandparents were born in Artsakh, and he wished to honor their memory by helping students with scholarships and financing renovation projects in that region.

In appreciation of Ghassemian’s generosity, Artsakh State University awarded him an honorary doctorate degree.

Albert Ghassemian has long possessed a passion for learning. He studied medicine at the Melli University of Tehran and continued his higher education at Boston University School of Medicine. He eventually launched his own medical clinic, where he became a renowned cardiologist and served more than 10,000 patients in his medical group. Ghassemian also mentored many young students who demonstrated a sincere desire to continue their education. In addition to his accomplishments in medicine, Ghassemian is fluent in Armenian, Farsi, Russian, Turkish, English, and French.

“As a doctor, Dr. Ghassemian is like a guardian angel,” said one patient, “caring for all his patients like they were members of his own family.” Ghassemian’s sister, Janet Mirzayan, says, “We are all proud of Albert and eternally appreciative of his charitable gifts to the Armenian community. We hope that his gifts of education and medicine will live on forever through the people he has helped.”

“We extend our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Ghassemian for his generous donation and trust in AEF, and we commit to continue providing scholarships in his name and in memory of his wife, Ginger,” said AEF President Al Cabraloff.

AEF currently administers 13 educational endowment funds, totaling over $1.5 million. The proceeds from these funds provide scholarships to students in the United States, Lebanon, Armenia, and Artsakh. Since 2000, AEF has awarded over $1.1 million in scholarships for education.

For more information, contact the AEF office by calling (818) 242-4154 or e-mailing aef@aefweb.org.

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Guest Contributor

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.

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