YEREVAN, Armenia — On September 15, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted a celebratory event honoring the winners of the second annual Vahe & Lucie Creative Awards Competition. In addition to recognizing outstanding student talent, the ceremony also offered winners the opportunity to present their creative works to the wider AUA community.
The competition is made possible by the generous support of the Vahe & Lucie Foundation and is led by The Highlander, AUA’s student-run magazine. Entries were evaluated by a committee of AUA faculty and staff, who assessed submissions based on originality, effort, and adherence to category guidelines.
Students submitted their work to one of five categories, each inspired by a prominent Armenian artist: the Martiros Saryan Prize for Best Design (painting, illustration, graphic design); the Charles Aznavour Prize for Best Music; the Yousuf Karsh Prize for Best Photography; the Sergei Parajanov Prize for Best Videography; and the Paruyr Sevak Prize for Best Writing.
Each category included first and second place awards, with prizes ranging from $2,500 to $3,500, allocated toward the recipients’ tuition for the 2025-26 academic year. Students were encouraged to draw inspiration from the life and legacy of the artist behind their respective category. Out of 56 submissions, nine winners were selected across the five categories.
Chair of the Competition Committee Dr. Knar Khachatryan, academic director of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Technology Transfer, opened the event with welcoming remarks, highlighting that students from various degree programs and diverse backgrounds united around a shared passion for the arts as a means of self-expression.
“We received beautiful and creative submissions and enjoyed the process of evaluating each piece. What was wonderful to observe is that applicants to this competition are not only from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, but also from Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics, Zaven P. and Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering, and the Turpanjian College of Health Sciences. This only proves that creativity has no limits,” said Dr. Khachatryan.
Following the opening remarks, each winner had the opportunity to present their work and share insights into their creative process:
Best Writer: Paruyr Sevak Prize
1st Place: Marina Tumanyan (BAEC ’26)
2nd Place: Anna Galoyan (BAEC ’27)
Best Photographer: Yousuf Karsh Prize
1st Place: Anna Grigoryan (BAB ’26)
2nd Place: Hasmik Harutyunyan (BAEC ’26)
Reflecting on her creative journey, Harutyunyan shared: “This competition encouraged me to aim for bigger things I thought were out of my reach. Since we don’t have degree programs in the arts, students rely on opportunities like this to pursue their creative passions. Thank you to the Vahe & Lucie Foundation for making this a reality.”
Best Music: Charles Aznavour Prize
1st Place: Varuj Sabounjian (BSESS ’28)
2nd Place: Ruben Galoyan (BSDS ’26)
“I was familiar with Charles Aznavour’s work and style, but I never knew much about his life,” shared Sabounjian. “He had a very turbulent life, which inspired my composition. This competition helped me appreciate and respect his legacy so much more.”
Best Design: Martiros Saryan Prize
1st Place: Mari Mkrtchyan (BAPG ’26)
2nd Place: Alvard Gevorgyan (MPH ’26)
Best Videographer: Sergei Parajanov Prize
Winner: Meghrie Yaacoubian (BAEC ’26)
The event also featured remarks from Sona Gevorgyan (BAEC ’23), co-founder of The Highlander magazine and AUA adjunct lecturer, who expressed gratitude to the Competition Committee and the donors for their unwavering support of student creativity.
The AUA Media Lab played a key role in the Vahe & Lucie Creative Awards Competition, providing vital resources for students to realize their creative projects in photography and videography.
The celebration concluded with a lively reception, giving attendees a chance to engage with the artists, ask questions about their creative processes, and build connections within the community. AUA extends its deepest thanks to the Vahe & Lucie Foundation for empowering students from all walks of life to explore and share their artistic voices.
All winning pieces can be found in The Highlander magazine here.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
