Armenian Assembly Honors Longtime Leaders and Staff at Celebration of Service in Boston

l-r: Governor Maura Healey of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Anna Afeyan, Dr. Noubar Afeyan, Armenian Assembly Honorees and Co-Chairs, Senator Edward Markey (D-MA)

Boston, MA - The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) held its Celebration of Service weekend in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 5 and June 6, 2026, honoring Dr. Rouben Adalian, Bryan Ardouny, Anthony Barsamian, Mary Garabadian, Van Z. Krikorian, and Carolyn Mugar with the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of more than 25 years of service each to the Assembly. The weekend brought together Armenian American leaders, supporters, and friends to honor exceptional service and celebrate our shared commitment to the community.

The full program booklet from the Celebration of Service is available here.

The weekend opened on Friday, June 5, with a program at the Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The landmark is dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide, the contributions of Armenian Americans to Boston and the nation, and the diversity and resilience of all immigrant communities that have been welcomed in Massachusetts.

Jim Kalustian and Nicole Babikian Hajjar address community members and guests at Armenian Heritage Park

The program was organized by the Armenian Heritage Foundation, of which the Assembly serves as a foundation board member, with remarks delivered by Foundation Chair Jim Kalustian and Celebration of Service Committee Member and Assembly Terjenian-Thomas intern alumni parent Nicole Babikian Hajjar.

The evening continued with a Sponsors' Reception for Assembly Members, supporters, and guests, where Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) made a special appearance and was joined by French National Assembly Deputy, The Hon. Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet. Assembly Co-Chairs Talin Yacoubian and Oscar Tatosian spoke as well.

l-r: Senator Edward Markey (D-MA), Carolyn G. Mugar, Talin Yacoubian, Dr. Henry Ben Morgenthau IV, The Hon. Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, Talin Yacoubian, Oscar Tatosian

On Saturday evening, Assembly Members, supporters, and guests filled the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter for the Celebration of Service. The program was co-hosted by Dr. Henry Ben Morgenthau IV, great-grandson of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, and Kristina Ayanian, Market Site Reporter for NASDAQ.

Governor of the Commonwealth Maura Healey, the first woman elected Governor in Massachusetts history, and who was the only sitting governor to have called on then-President Biden to end Azerbaijan's blockade of Artsakh, opened the evening with reflections on her close relations with the Massachusetts Armenian community. Assembly Board Co-Chair Talin Yacoubian addressed guests, followed by a world music performance by the Secret Trio – Ara Dinkjian, Ismail Lumanovski and Tamer Pınarbaşı.

Dr. Henry Ben Morgenthau IV and Kristina Ayanian emcee the Armenian Assembly Celebration of Service

Assembly Co-Chairs Oscar Tatosian and Talin Yacoubian presented the Distinguished Service Award to Board honorees Anthony J. Barsamian, Immediate Past Co-Chair; Van Z. Krikorian, Chair Emeritus; and Carolyn G. Mugar, President Emerita. Staff honorees Dr. Rouben Adalian, Director of the Armenian National Institute; Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director; and Mary Garabadian, Archivist, were presented by their fellow honorees in turn. The awards ceremony concluded with remarks by Assembly Life Trustees Anna Afeyan and Dr. Noubar Afeyan, in tribute to the honorees and their valued contributions.

Honorees (l-r): Anthony J. Barsamian, Van Z. Krikorian, Carolyn G. Mugar, Dr. Rouben Adalian, Bryan Ardouny, Mary Garabadian

Video messages were shared by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ambassador Edward Djerejian, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Syria and Israel and as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Following dinner, Tamar O'Brien Barsamian, a 2018 alumna of the Assembly's Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program and a third-year law student at the University of Maine School of Law, offered remarks. The program also featured a tribute to the Assembly's Advocacy Summit Scholarship initiative, which has grown from a pilot class of 20 students in 2024 to 130 scholars in 2026. Susanna Kharatyan, Assembly Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program alumna and three-time Advocacy Summit Scholar, currently pursuing dual master's degrees from Harvard Divinity School and the Fletcher School of Diplomacy at Tufts University, addressed the gathering. Assembly Co-Chair Oscar Tatosian's closing remarks concluded the celebratory evening.

l-r: Tamar O'Brien Barsamian, The Secret Trio, Susanna Kharatyan, Amb. Edward Djerejian, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MA)

The evening festivities continued with traditional Armenian music and dancing with the Mal Barsamian Ensemble — Mal Barsamian, Bruce Gigarjian, and Jason Naroian — joined by Ara Dinkjian. Young Professional attendees joined the Hye House Boston Kickoff Kef, held in partnership with the Armenia Tree Project, for more music and dancing late into the night.

The Mal Barsamian Ensemble and Young Professional attendees

The Assembly thanks the Celebration of Service Committee Members, sponsors, and supporters:

Committee Co-Chairs:

Herman Purutyan

Laura Bilazarian Purutyan

Committee:

Susan Atamian

Nicole Babikian Hajjar

Ara Bagdasarian

Leslie Bagdasarian

Nancy Barsamian

Dr. Seth Bilazarian

Melanie Bilazarian

Dr. Sharon Chekijian

Yervant Chekijian

Aline Christianian

Dr. Mary Davidian

Nina Festekjian

Sam Kapreilian

Lucine Kapreilian

Sabine Keljik

Annie Kiladjian

Jirair Kiladjian

Margaret Kiladjian

Sheriff Peter Koutoujian

Margaret Mgrublian

Julia Mirak Kew

Lu Ann Ohanian

M. Bruce Ohanian

Gail Talanian O’Reilly

Haig Sarkissian

Dr. Gevorg Yaghjyan

Sylvie Zakarian

Platinum Sponsors:

Anonymous

Asbed & Margaret Zakarian Foundation

Gold Sponsors:

Anonymous (4)

Noubar and Anna Afeyan

Raffi and Nina Festekjian

Gravestar Foundation

David and Margaret Mgrublian+

John Mirak Foundation – Julia Mirak Kew* and Jennifer Mirak Leach*

Charles Mosesian Family Foundation – Elaine Mosesian

Mugar Family Foundation

Leon and Marion Semonian

M. Bruce and Lu Ann Ohanian

David and Myrna Onanian

Silver Sponsors:

Anthony and Nancy Barsamian+

Yervant Chekijian

Karnig and Karen Durgarian

Global Gold Corporation

Herman Purutyan+ and Laura Bilazarian Purutyan+

Oscar Tatosian

Supporters of the Assembly:

Hermine Adamian+

Lucille Ajemian and Family

Armenian Museum of America

Berge and Arpine Ayvazian

Ara and Leslie Bagdasarian Family

Richard and Pamela Bagdasarian

Annie Balikian

Dr. Seth and Melanie Bilazarian

Jirair Christianian and Aline Semerdjian Christianian*

Edward and Nancy Eskandarian

Dr. Nishan and Mary Goudsouzian

Ararat and Sonya Hacet

Hajjar Family*

Hampar Family Foundation

Stephen Haratunian* and Arda Nazarian Haratunian*

Souren Israelyan

James Kalustian

Lisa Kalustian

Sam and Lucine Kapreilian

James D. Kaufman

Dr. Berdj and Margaret Kiladjian

Agnes Killabian

Susan Yacoubian Klein

Michele M. Kolligian and Bob Khederian

Knights of Vartan, Robert Avakian, Avak Sbarabed

Ken Kutzer and Donna Partamian-Kutzer

Armen Meguerditchian+ and Sylvie Zakarian Meguerditchian+

Charles Mosesian Family Foundation – Charleen Onanian

Ellen Mugar

Gail Talanian O'Reilly and Richard O'Reilly

Mr. Haig Sarkissian and Dr. Mary Davidian*

Tigran Safaryan

Joyce and Joe Stein

Annie Simonian Totah

Talin Yacoubian and Varuj Babikian

Brian Zaratzian – Omaha Beach Capital

With Gratitude to our Members and Friends Who Support our Mission and Work:

Dick and Deborah Atkian

Anonymous (3)

Anoush'ella Restaurant, Boston

Arman Bedonian

Tina Bilazarian in Memory of Seth Bilazarian

Haik Der Manuelian

Matthew and Anahit Der Manuelian

Romen Der Manuelian

Gloria Deukmejian

Dr. Heratch and Sonya Doumanian

Michael and Marie Haratunian

Marguerite Hougasian

Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church

Vahan and Noone Janjigian

Peter and Carole Karabashian

H.J. Karakachian

Murat Kasparian

Jirair and Annie Kiladjian

Edward and Sabine Keljik

Armen Kourkounian

Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and Elizabeth Cerda

Stephen Mekenian* and Lily Davidian Mekenian*

Richard Mikaelian

Sandra J. Shahinian

Marc Tarjan

Richard Weil, Jr.

*Armenian Assembly Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program Alum

+Armenian Assembly Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program Parents

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Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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NR # 2026-16