LOS ANGELES—The Armenian Youth Federation Western United States, alongside the Board of Regents of Prelacy Armenian Schools and Pilibos Armenian School, collaborated to host the 2024 Hye Tahd Conference on April 30, with the participation of more than 500 high schools students from Pilibos, Ferrahian, and Mesrobian Armenian Schools.
The goal of the conference was to highlight the role of Armenian youth in strengthening our Hayrenik, featuring speakers across an array of professions as sources of inspiration, and outlining how they have been able to bolster our cause through their individual experiences.
The Hye Tahd Conference included a variety of speakers, of which the keynote speaker was Gev Iskajyan — who opened the conference by touching upon the importance of the youth and new Armenian generation. “Be a voice for the voiceless,” stressed Iskajyan, who later discussed his experiences in Artsakh and ANC Advocacy as his topic for the students.
Other speakers included Haig Aintablian on the “Efficacy of Armenians in Science and Medicine”; Levon Baronian on “How Diasporan-Armenian Young Leaders Can Organize and Assist Armenia”; Ishkhan Boghossian on “Leveraging the Armenian Diaspora for Business Development in Armenia,”; Kevork Hagopjian on “The Role of the Youth in Promoting Current Armenian Affairs Globally”; Suren Hazarian on “Strategic Cybersecurity Initiatives in Armenia: Enhancing National Defense Capabilities”; Khachig Joukhajian on “Breathing Life into the Armenian Language”; Joseph Kaskanian on “Marketing for Impact: Harnessing Your Skills for the Armenian Cause”; Zaven Keuroghlian on “Navigating the Media Landscape”; Dickran Khodanian on the “Role of Media in Advancing the Armenian Cause”; Alec Kotolyan on “AI Developments, Perspective, and Impact on Armenia’; Ara Krikorian on “Armenia’s Geopolitical Reality”; Melkon Melkonian on “The Law and Activism: Navigating the American Legal System to Advance Hye Tahd”; Shant Shekherdimian on “Engage Armenia in Your Health Career”; and Artin Sookiasian on “The Parliamentary System in Armenia.”
“I think that it is of paramount importance to connect our Armenian school students with both the root purpose of Hye Tahd, but also with other prominent Armenian leaders in various fields to empower both work for our nation and local communities,” commended AYF-WUS Central Executive Member Areni Hamparian. “This is all for the benefit of the Homeland.”
The AYF-WUS sincerely thanks all speakers, fellow collaborators, and participants and looks forward to working to materialize the conference the following year.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization. With chapters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the AYF actively strives to advance the social, political, educational, and cultural awareness of all Armenian-American youth.
For more information, visit the AYF-WUS website.
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