Each summer since 1995, Junior Achievement of Armenia (JAA) has rewarded its most outstanding students with the opportunity to participate in JAA's Summer Study Abroad program in the United States. This program features participation in an international conference or camp and a visit of Southern California. In 2004, the student participants were Haykuhi Khachatryan, Anna Avetisyan, and Matevos Mheryan – current students or recent graduates of JAA’s economics and civics programs. They were selected based on their academic excellence and English-language proficiency; joining them was JAA Head Administrator Grigori Nazaryan (see biographical data below).

Highlighting their trip was an unforgettable one-week stay in Saskatoon, Canada, where they attended the 34th Annual Canadian National Junior Achievement Conferenece (CANJAC) held at the University of Saskatchewan. Their sojourn in Southern California was highlighted by a private meeting with Metro Goldwyn Mayer CEO Alex Yemenidjian, a luncheon with The Keith Companies CEO Aram Keith,Governor George Deukmejian, and George Mooradian, and an audience with

the Western Diocese Primate, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian (see News & Events for the complete press announcement).

Biographical Data

Anna Avetisyan recently graduated from Nor Hajn Secondary School #2, where she received excellent grades; she hopes to become an economist. She enjoys reading, dancing, and sports. She especially enjoys listening to music – her favorite singer is Eminem. She is actively involved in special projects in her local community. Ms. Avetisyan is 16 years old and one of four children. Her father is a former mayor of the City of Nor Hajn. Currently, he is vice president at the Armenian Electricity Company. Her mother is an economist and works as a technical supervisor at the Sapphire Factory.

Haykuhi Khachatryan is currently enrolled at Yerevan Physmat College where she studies mathematics. She is an active participant in school government. She hopes to continue her education at Yerevan State Economics University in the field of economics. She enjoys music – her favorite singer is Enrique Iglesias. Ms. Khachatryan is 16 years old and is one of two children. Her father is a successful businessman and her mother is a lecturer at Yerevan State Medical University.

Matevos Mheryan is enrolled at Yerevan State University in the Department of Economics. He has been a member of the university’s student council. His career ambition is to become a banker. In his spare time, Mr. Mheryan assists his father in the family business. He also enjoys reading, dancing, and sports. When he listens to music, his favorite singer is Brian Adams. Mr. Mheryan is 20 years old and is one of three children. His father is a successful businessman and his mother is a teacher at a local school.

Grigori Nazaryan is the Head Administrator at Junior Achievement of Armenia’s Yerevan-based home office. He is a graduate of Yerevan State University’s Department of Management and International Relations. He holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the same institution. From 1997-1999, he worked as a sales representative for Kotayk Brewery, an Armenian-French joint venture. He enjoys traveling, listening to music, reading, and sports. He is an avid coin collector and boasts a collection representing more than 70 different countries. Mr. Nazaryan is 28 years old. He is married and has a one-year old daughter.

Summer Study Abroad Past Participants

2003 - Lilit Matevosyan, Tariel Bisharyan
2002 - Lucine Mamyan, Ani Movsisyan
2001 - Varazdat Boyajyan, Lilit Yenokyan
2000 - Siranush Barsegyan, Karen Sarkavagyan, Ani Yeranosian, Hayk Ghazaryan
1999 - Victorya Ohanyan, Harootyun Amiryan, Karine Zakaryan
1998 - Nora Terzian, Hovannes Khandanyan, Ararat Stepanian
1997 - Zakar Boyadjian, Karen Ghazarian, Lusine Martirosyan
1996 - Vahan Margaryan, Tigran Hakobyan, Armen Poghosyan