Garo and Sona Gumusyan Secure the Future of Armenian Veterans at AUA
Garo Gumusyan, principal of GGA Architecture in New York City, and his wife, Sona, have established the Garo and Sona Gumusyan Endowed Scholarship Fund in support of AUA’s “Honoring Those Who Served: Investing in Our Veterans Education,” campaign at AUA. This generous contribution will support veteran students through the endowed scholarship fund, in perpetuity, at AUA. Garo felt a call to action to support this noble campaign tuning into the news on the current situation in Armenia. Garo remembers the Sumgait Pogrom and first Artsakh Battles, and how frightened he was while participating in a protest march with fellow Armenians to the permanent representative of the USSR in NYC. “The veterans’ campaign is an important endeavor for embracing the brave young soldiers as they resume their education,” Garo says. “As current scholarship supporters at AUA, we know the impact that education is having on AUA students, and we look forward to allowing our young heroes who are defending our homeland return to a world-class education at AUA with scholarships from the annual proceeds of this endowment.”
Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Garo attended an all-Armenian school, Mekhitarian, and grew up with a deep appreciation for the Armenian spirit and national values. Garo then attended Roberts College, a prominent secondary school in Turkey founded in 1863 by an American philanthropist. Roberts College is the oldest functioning American school outside the U.S. The institution’s prestigious education has developed an impressive list of notable alumni, both Armenian and non-Armenian, that includes prime ministers, cabinet members, journalists, and artists. “When I learned about the American University of Armenia,” Garo says, “I visualized an institution similar to Roberts College but understandably far superior. A prominent institution of higher education rooted in guiding democratic principles and values, as well as rigorous education standards has enormous potential and far reaching impact in Armenia and beyond. My vision is for AUA to develop the future presidents and scientists for a flourishing Armenia.”
After Roberts College, Garo continued his education at the Fine Arts Academy School of Architecture in Turkey to study architecture, and then McGill University in Canada for his master’s degree in architecture. Garo married his wife Sona in an Armenian church in Watertown, MA. They have two sons: Aram and Saro.
The Garo and Sona Gumusyan Endowed Scholarship in support of the Honoring Those who Served: Investing in our Veterans Education will provide financial assistance and counseling support to veterans attending AUA, making an enormous contribution to influence Armenia’s future through them.