Day: May 20, 2024

Carol Boyajian

BY MYRON BOYAJIAN

We are pleased to announce that two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded in 2024 to two students of Armenian descent. Applicants must have at least one Armenian parent or grandparent.

Previous awardees include Alex Koceyan, now a student at the Detroit School of Fine Arts in Detroit, MI, and Tatevik Kocharyan who is currently enrolled in a Masters Degree program at the Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA,

I have created the Myron and Carol Boyajian Fine Arts Scholarship in honor of Carol Boyajian who passed away in March 2021 after a valiant 9-year fight against GIST cancer.

Carol herself began her college career with a scholarship to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) with academics at the University of Chicago (UoC).  Graduating from high school as an awarded student artist, Carol was unable to afford college, and considered joining the Army or Navy to gain an education later on the GI Bill. Her high school art teacher told her to register at the Art Institute and that “things would be taken care of.”

Although Carol never learned the name of her benefactor, she rewarded that confidence by hard work in the arts and her academics. She was granted a full 4-year scholarship to SAIC and the UoC after one semester of school. After Carol graduated with high faculty honors, we promised each other to find a way in the future to “pay forward” that good deed.  Carol taught art—to mostly adults—for over 35 years and produced numerous commissioned fine and illustrative art until she became too ill to work.

I am happy to be able to honor Carol’s memory this way, and to see other young people get a start as Carol did years ago.

These are merit-based scholarships awarded to students who have achieved high honors in their area of graphic arts, music, and the written word. Consideration will be given to the students’:

• Artistic accomplishments;
• Artistic talents;
• Community involvement.

Please submit applications to Fr. Tavit Boyajian at Saints Joachim and Anne Armenian Apostolic Church, 12600 South Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, IL 60463.

Candidates will be selected by a committee of Church and Diocese clergymen.

For more information, call: (708) 388-4940 or send an email to: robert@stsjoachimandanne.ccsend.com or saintsjoachimandanne.net.