During its 75th anniversary gala event, the Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) awarded its prestigious Educational Visionaries Award to Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend — social entrepreneurs and founders of numerous educational initiatives — recognizing them as individuals with a pioneering vision for the future of education.
They were recognized for their transformative contributions to global education and their pivotal roles in establishing United World College (UWC) Dilijan, the first international boarding school in Armenia. Under their leadership, UWC Dilijan has become a leading hub for intercultural learning and global citizenship, positioning Armenia as a rising presence in the global educational landscape.
The event in Beverly Hills, held under the theme “Because Education Matters,” highlighted AEF’s 75-year history and honored several key figures in the field of education.
Veronika Zonabend attended the event and expressed gratitude for the recognition on behalf of herself and her husband, Ruben Vardanyan, who has been unlawfully held in an Azerbaijani prison for two years on false charges, due to his advocacy and service to Artsakh.
Read also
“Of course, I would have preferred for Ruben and I to be standing here together. It was Ruben’s passion and love for the idea of change in Armenia that first inspired me to do the same,” Zonabend said in her remarks.
AEF donor and international education consultant Alice Petrossian emphasized the profound contributions of Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend to the field of education. She noted that they dreamed of turning Armenia into a global center of educational excellence — and in 2014, they made that dream a reality by founding UWC Dilijan in the small Armenian town of Dilijan, which now hosts more than 220 students from 87 countries and stands as “a true example of what the globe could be in times of peace.”
Alice Petrossian also highlighted several other educational initiatives launched by the couple — including the Skolkovo School of Management in Moscow, the Matena International School, and various scholarship programs provided through their different projects.
“For Armenia, Ruben and Veronika continue to have visions,” Petrossian said. “They believe that education is the key — the means by which we can achieve peace and human kindness around the world.”
Since 1950, the Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) has been committed to providing financial support to students and educational institutions worldwide. AEF initially focused on assisting Armenian schools in the diaspora, particularly in Greece, Syria and Lebanon, before expanding its mission to support Armenian communities in the U.S., and later shifting its focus to Armenia, Artsakh, and Javakhk after Armenia’s independence.
