Two decades after receiving his degree from the American University of Armenia (AUA), Sargis Galstyan (MBA ’03) has returned to his alma mater to announce the establishment of a named scholarship, set to support one of the University’s current students. Over the years, he has been an active member of AUA’s alumni community in the United States, with his generous initiative marking a significant milestone in his ongoing commitment to giving back to the institution that shaped his academic and professional journey. Sargis has established the Galstyan Family Annual Scholarship, which is aimed at empowering an AUA student to pursue their own path to success, much like he did after benefiting from the quality education offered at his alma mater.
Sargis received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics (CBE) at AUA. The founder of Galstar Realty and Finance, his own accounting and real estate firm based in the U.S., Sargis brings extensive experience in the finance sector. He moved to the U.S. with his family following his graduation from AUA, launching into his career as a financial analyst with Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), a major enterprise at the time, now integrated into Xerox. Following his time at ACS, he spent 11 years with the Walt Disney Company’s Credit and Collections Department, where he held a series of key roles and departed from the global brand as its management support analyst.
Sargis’s AUA education was what prepared him for his professional development. The knowledge and skills he acquired at AUA laid the foundation for his successful career. “I was granted these opportunities thanks to my AUA education,” he noted. The MBA program equipped him with the necessary knowledge of finance and accounting. Sargis recalls his professors with great admiration and appreciation. He found his education at AUA to be more than sufficient for building a successful career. Upon graduating, he felt no need to pursue further studies at another institution or fill any gaps in his knowledge — AUA had equipped him with all the tools necessary to excel professionally.
Sargis found giving back to the AUA community to be the best way to express his gratitude to his alma mater and maintain his connection with the University. Speaking on the concept of giving back, he emphasized, “It is very, very important to me.” Though he strives to attend local alumni events in the U.S. whenever possible, he views financial contributions as his primary means of supporting his alma mater. Helping an AUA student receive a quality education and grow both personally and professionally is a goal he wants to achieve through his donations. “I also received a scholarship, and I was very happy back then.”
Sargis believes that the concept of giving back should be instilled in students when they are still studying. When one achieves a successful career through the knowledge and skills acquired at their university, they should be engaged in giving back to their alma mater so that the next generations of students may benefit from the same or even greater opportunities. Sargis is convinced that the success he has achieved in his life and career was facilitated by his AUA education, and current students should have the chance to follow in the footsteps of successful alumni as they build their own careers.