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CC: Apply to AGBU Scholarships 2026-2027
AEF Scholarship Applications Are Now Open
| US Scholarships · Academic Year 2026–2027 | |||
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Know a Student Who Qualifies?
For 75 years, the Armenian Educational Foundation has invested in the next generation of Armenian leaders. This year, we’re awarding scholarships totaling over $39,000 to Armenian students studying at colleges and universities across the United States. If you know a student of Armenian heritage who could benefit, please pass this along. The deadline to apply is May 15 — and a word from someone they trust can make all the difference. |
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This Year’s Programs
Who Can Apply |
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| Every year, students miss out simply because they didn’t know the opportunity was available. If someone comes to mind, we hope you’ll send this their way — or share it with your network. The Armenian community has always lifted its students forward together. | |||
All three programs accept applications directly at aef.org. The committee reviews all submissions and places applicants in the appropriate program based on eligibility. |
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Administered Through Schools & Organizations
Institutional AwardsThe following awards are funded by AEF but administered directly by each participating institution. Recipients are selected by their school or organization — no application is required. |
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Gold Surges to $4,676 as Turkey Dumps 120 Tons of Gold
Chicago Today
Central bank buying from emerging markets overpowers Western paper selling, signaling a structural shift in the gold market.
The relentless physical demand for gold from emerging market central banks is overpowering the paper selling pressure from Western institutional investors.Chicago Today
Gold prices have surged to $4,676 per ounce despite Turkey offloading 120 tons of its gold reserves and $5.4 billion in outflows from gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This disconnect between physical demand and paper market sentiment indicates a fundamental shift in the gold market, with central bank buying from emerging markets like China, India, and Russia overpowering the selling pressure from Western institutional investors.
WHY IT MATTERS
The divergence between physical gold demand and paper market activity highlights how the infrastructure of the gold market has changed. Traditionally, gold prices were set by futures contracts, ETF flows, and expectations around Western monetary policy. However, this dynamic is breaking down as physical demand from emerging market central banks and retail buyers in Asia becomes the dominant price driver. This shift has significant implications for how investors should analyze and position themselves in the gold market going forward.
THE DETAILS
Turkey’s decision to sell 120 tons of its gold reserves, one of the largest single-country reductions in recent memory, was driven by domestic economic pressures and the need to raise dollars to stabilize its currency and balance sheet. However, this massive sell-off was easily absorbed by a queue of sovereign buyers, including the central banks of Poland, China, India, and Russia, who have been consistent and aggressive accumulators of physical gold over the past two years. Meanwhile, gold ETFs listed in New York and London have seen $5.4 billion in outflows as Western institutional investors rotate out of the non-yielding asset and into equities and Treasuries. But this paper market selling has been unable to break through the floor set by physical demand, particularly from retail buyers in India and China and wealthy individuals in the Gulf states.
- Turkey’s central bank sold 120 tons of gold reserves in recent months.
- Gold ETFs have seen $5.4 billion in outflows over the past several months.
WHAT’S NEXT
Investors will need to closely monitor central bank gold purchases, physical premiums in key markets like Shanghai, and sovereign reserve diversification trends to get a better read on the direction of gold prices going forward. The traditional playbook of tracking ETF flows and US interest rate expectations may no longer provide a reliable guide.
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How to Vet an Auto Transport Company Before Signing Any Contract
Finding a trustworthy auto transport provider involves more than a casual web search. Confidence and reassurance rely on conscientious investigation, open communication, and extensive scrutiny. Shipping a car is not just a financial investment; it’s also an emotional one. For some customers, the most important things are that the vehicle performs well, arrives on time, and arrives safely. This guide lists some key steps to evaluate any auto shipping service before accepting an offer.
Research Company Credentials
One of the first things to check is whether the company has the legal authority to transport vehicles. Trusted providers will have the licenses and registration numbers. Companies should have their DOT and motor carrier numbers on their website or available to request. These identifiers assure you that the service follows industry rules and standards. A service provider could be less accountable and provide minimal protection without proper credentials.
Evaluate Reputation and Reviews
The experience customers will likely have is largely shaped by your reputation. Review sites and consumer-protection websites give insight into prior customer experiences. Feedback from others—reviews, ratings, or testimonials—can highlight similar problems or recurring compliments from the San Diego auto transport company. Warnings should be a concern when there are unresolved complaints or repeated negative feedback. Many positive reviews will make the provider feel far more confident.
Scrutinize Insurance Coverage
Transporting vehicles involves inherent risks. Always confirm the insurance policy for the service before binding yourself to any contract. The insurance must protect against damage in transit, theft, or loss. Request paperwork detailing the limitations and exclusions of coverage. A few policies only describe it in broad terms, and knowing these terms may save you from an unfortunate surprise down the line. If that coverage seems low, you may feel comfortable obtaining additional insurance.
Request Detailed Quotes
A written quote outlines the charging price, and only then do we know where we stand financially. Your estimate should be clearly stated, including all fees such as fuel surcharges and pickup. When prices seem too low, hidden costs emerge. Getting a few quotes helps inform a clearer sense of the market rate. A low or high estimate, though, should raise a red flag.
Review Contract Terms Thoroughly
You must read part of the contract every time. A well-defined clause about delivery schedules, cancellation, and refund protects customer rights. Look for any clauses related to delays, damage claims, or additional charges. Do not sign any agreement whose terms are unclear or incomplete. When in doubt, ask: if a statement sounds unclear or vague, follow up with a question.
Assess Customer Service Quality
Low response time and high professionalism are among the best signs of a reliable firm. And contact us with questions before you put your name on the line. Timely and polite responses demonstrate regard for potential customers and show you can be relied upon. Struggling with staff or vague answers suggests that this is a long-term communication issue. Companies that value their clients keep the lines of communication open and make themselves available if you ever need assistance.
Examine Payment Options
Payment methods that are both flexible and secure are a sign of serious business. Most reputable companies offer a variety of payment methods, including credit cards or secure electronic transfers. Expected to be paid in advance (if any) should be within reason and stated in the contract. Avoid requests for cash payments to them or any non-refundable deposit of any amount before the quality and quantity of service delivery are confirmed. Reliable payment methods protect customers financially and inspire confidence.
Watch for Warning Signs
A few warning signs truly may deserve closer scrutiny. If someone uses high-pressure sales tactics, provides vague answers, or is hesitant to provide documentation, raise a red flag. Reputable providers will never pressure clients to make the call quickly. Good organizations have neither of those traits—transparency and patience are the pathfinders in acting in good faith. If something feels wrong during the selection process, always trust your gut and probe deeper.
Conclusion
A careful vetting process ensures that the auto transport service hired will not only meet expectations but also protect precious items and goods. Confidence in transactions rests on pre-transaction analysis and communication. Before signing a contract, informed choices and an eye for detail yield the best possible conditions for a secure transport experience.
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International Lawyers Warn European Commission Over Interference in Armenian D
London — Amsterdam & Partners LLP, counsel to ‘Strong Armenia’ leader Samvel Karapetyan, announced that it has submitted a formal legal complaint to the European Commission concerning the deployment of a “Hybrid Rapid Response Team” to Armenia, warning that the initiative constitutes direct interference in the country’s internal political processes and undermines, rather than upholds, free and fair elections.
The submission highlights a series of measures targeting the Armenian opposition, including the prosecution and detention of opposition figures, namely Mr. Karapetyan, the targeting of clergy and defence lawyers, the suppression of independent civil society, and, crucially, recent amendments to the Electoral Code that effectively prevent opposition alliances, including that of ‘Strong Armenia’, from participating on equal terms.
The letter, addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and copied to senior Commissioners, raises serious questions regarding the legal and political consequences of EU-funded activities in Armenia. The submission argues that, in the current political context, the operation risks creating a structural imbalance between the Armenian government and the political opposition.
Amsterdam & Partners argues that these developments reflect a broader pattern of democratic backsliding in Armenia.
The complaint focuses in particular on the European Union’s decision to allocate 27 million EUR under the NDICI-Global Europe instrument to fund a Hybrid Rapid Response Team tasked with monitoring what are described as “hybrid threats” and public narratives in the pre-election period. In practice, such a mechanism risks securitising legitimate political discourse and enabling Armenian authorities to characterise opposition activity as foreign interference, despite the EU having condemned such mechanisms elsewhere, namely in Russia and Georgia.
The letter further contends that the operation lacks basic safeguards, including transparency in its mandate, objective criteria for identifying disinformation, independent oversight mechanisms and any role for opposition participation. In this context, the submission warns that the European Commission may be exposed to significant legal liability under EU law, including for misuse of powers, acting beyond its competence and violations of fundamental rights.
Amsterdam & Partners denounces the pattern of inconsistent application of EU standards. The Union has even taken action against member states it considers to be rule-of-law violations, while continuing to deepen cooperation with the government of Armenian, despite it not being a member state and the existence of credible allegations of systemic repression during an electoral cycle.
Robert Amsterdam, Founder and Managing Partner of Amsterdam & Partners, states that:
“The European Union cannot claim to defend democracy while simultaneously financing mechanisms that risk distorting electoral competition in favour of an administration engaged in the systematic suppression of its opponents.
What we are witnessing in Armenia is not simply democratic backsliding, but the deliberate construction of an electoral environment in which the opposition is marginalized, criminalized and recast as a security threat. By introducing a framework that allows legitimate political discourse to be labelled as ‘disinformation’ or foreign interference, the Commission is crossing a line from enabler to participant.”
Amsterdam & Partners LLP is an international law firm specialized in political advocacy and human rights, based in London and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.amsterdamandpartners.com.
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Armenian Assembly Of America To Honor Longtime Leaders And Staff At Celebratio
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It’s No Lie. It’s Triple-cross
By Jirair Tutunjian
The two mass murderers—Donnie Orangutan and Bibi Satanyahu—had
a top secret conversation a few hours after the joker, who leads the
United States, announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
B.S.: You are my hero and the hero of every Israeli, Jew, and people
everywhere who believe in international peace, justice, democracy,
human rights, and civilization.
D.O.: Slow down, Bibi.
B.S.: You are too modest, big brother. Your classic hot-and cold
treatment of the situation will be hailed in history books. Political
science students at universities around the world will study your
strategy. It’s truly a master class in deception.
D.O.: What you say is a fact …
B.S. :We will hold an international conference in Jerusalem and
dedicate a whole week to hail your genius.
D.O.: Enough already. You sound as if you want to become my PR man.
B.S. I would love to become your PR man once I get our judicial system
off my back. Perhaps you can use your clout with the Israeli judges to
go easy about my verdict.
D.O: You demand too much.
B.S.: With your soaring popularity in Greater Israel, no judge will dare
say “no” to you.
D.O. One day at a time.
B.S.: We, Israeli political and military leaders often spout war threats to
scare our enemies…the three Ks…Khamas of Gaza, Khizbillah of
Lebanon, Khoutis of Yemen. Did you know that about 1,500 years ago
one of our generals—a proto Zionist—beat the Yemeni army? Perhaps
he was the pioneer of the great Greater Israel sacred mission.
D.O: Bibi, you know something? You talk too much. When you leave
your job, you should consider becoming a DJ or circus carney. Anyhoo.
B.S.: The two-week ceasefire, as before, will give us a breather while
you replenish our arsenal.
D.O.: Hold on to your horses, B.S. What makes you think it’s a ploy?
Maybe, I am genuinely interested in peace with Iran.
B.S.: You are such a teaser, Mr. President. You are like Jello—nobody
can pin you down. You are like a smooth eel which no one can catch.
You are such a kidder.
D.O. : No joke. I want to make peace with the Ayatollahs.
B.S.: You can’t do that.
D.O.: Watch me.
B.S.: Should I mention that we have deadly files on you. Consider that
when President Clinton was beginning to listen to the Palestinian
terrorists regarding the future of Judea and Samaria, we reminded him
about his affair with our girl…Lewinski.
D.O.: B.S., you are B.S. A perfect tag for an obnoxious low-life.
B.S.: Don’t provoke me, Donnie. Remember that we have assassinated
Lord Moyne, Count Bernadotte, a bunch of Khisballah leaders, a gang of
anti-Semite ayatollahs. I can’t vouch for it, but they say we sent
President John Kennedy to Kingdom Come and Arafat on the same trip.
D.O.: Just as you are taping this conversation, so am I. I can easily order
my forces, the strategists, and intelligence officers to make a 180-
degree turn, join the Iranian forces and rain death on your puny,
misbegotten country which wouldn’t have been born had it not been
for President Truman and my people. Yes, before you alert your AIPAC
conspirators, the bought politicians and the Zionist media, Israhell will
turn into Cinemascope, VistVision, Technicolor Gehenna. Don’t
threaten me. I’ll turn you into Lot’s wife. Ha. Ha.
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City of Glendale’s 25th Annual Armenian Genocide Commemorative Event
Glendale to Host 25th Annual
Armenian Genocide Commemoration
and Week of Remembrance Events
Glendale, CA – The City of Glendale will host its annual Armenian Genocide Commemorative Event on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Alex Theatre honoring the memory of the 1.5 million lives lost during the Armenian Genocide.
This year’s theme is “Memory Across Generations: The Continuing Echo of 1915,” and the program will feature performances by the AGBU Choir, Lilia Dance Group, Jivan Gasparyan Jr., musical selections by students from the Sonata Music School, and a short film produced by the City of Glendale Television (GTV) team.
The City of Glendale stands with the global Armenian community not only in remembering the events of 1915, but also in recognizing the ongoing importance of awareness and cultural preservation. Through this annual commemoration, now in its 25th year, the city remains committed to honoring the past while supporting a more informed future.
“By coming together to reflect, we honor the past while reinforcing our commitment to preserving these stories for future generations,” said Mayor Ara Najarian.
The City will also host a series of events as part of the Week of Remembrance, taking place from now through the end of the month. Highlights include Armat Celebrates the Culinary Diaspora of Armenia, taking place on April 11th, and a Lecture and Book Talk with Peter Balakian, taking place on April 30th. A full schedule of events is available at GlendaleCA.gov/AGCE.
This event is free and open to the public; however, tickets must be reserved. To reserve free tickets and view the full list of Week of Remembrance events taking place, visit: GlendaleCA.gov/AGCE.
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Glendale The city Will host Armenian: Genocide 25-th Annually Commemoration and: In memory of the week The events
GLENDALE, Calif. – The city of Glendale will host its annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration event on Thursday. On April 23, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., at the historic Alex Theater, to pay tribute to the memory of the 1.5 million lives lost during the Armenian Genocide.
This year’s theme is “Memory Transmitted Through Generations: The continuing echo of 1915”, and the program will include performances by the AGBU Choir, Lilia Dance Group, Jivan Gasparyan Jr., Musical performances by Sonata School of Music students, as well as a short film produced by the Glendale City Television (GTV) team.
The City of Glendale stands with the global Armenian community, not only remembering the events of 1915, but also emphasizing the continuing need to raise awareness and preserve cultural heritage. Through this annual commemoration, now in its 25th year, the city continues to stay true to its commitment to honoring the past and building a more informed future.
“By coming together to reflect and commemorate, we respect the past while strengthening our commitment to preserve these stories for future generations,” Mayor Ara Najarian said.
The city will also host a series of events as part of Remembrance Week, which will take place between now and the end of the month. Among the important events are “Root. “Celebration of the Culinary Diaspora of Armenia” event on April 11, as well as a lecture and book discussion with Peter Balakian on April 30. A complete schedule of events is available at GlendaleCA.gov/AGCE.
The event is free and open to the public, but advance reservations are required. To reserve free tickets and see a complete list of all Memorial Week events, visit GlendaleCA.gov/AGCE.
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About Glendale:
Known as the “Jewel City,” Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of almost 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks & facilities, with easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking. Visit GlendaleCA.gov for more information and follow us on social media @MyGlendale.
About the Alex Theatre:
A beloved landmark in the heart of Glendale, the Alex Theatre has been a cultural hub since 1925. Known for its distinctive Art Deco architecture and iconic spire, the theatre has hosted a wide range of performances—from vaudeville shows and classic films to concerts, community events, and live theater. Operated by SAS, the Alex continues to be a vibrant gathering place for artistic _expression_.
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Armenian Cultural Renaissance In the Ottoman Empire
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CC: Pasadena mechanic turns scrap metal into art
By Araksya Karapetyan and Paul Chaderjian
History Month
FOX 11
Armenian Heritage Month: Family auto shop becomes art studio
FOX 11’s Araksya Karapetyan introduces you to a local artist who is turning metal into sculptures, many of which are inspired by his Armenian roots.
The Brief
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- Pasadena mechanic Tro Khayalian is transforming discarded auto parts and scrap metal into intricate sculptures, blending decades of family labor with artistic _expression_.
- His work explores themes of Armenian identity, history, and survival, including pieces that memorialize the Armenian Genocide and the 2020 war.
- Khayalian’s latest collection, “Mind in Flight,” debuts April 9 at the Glenmark Hotel, featuring bird-inspired works symbolizing freedom and the human life cycle.
PASADENA, Calif. – Inside a family mechanic shop that has served the community for nearly 50 years, Tro Khayalian works with steel, heat, noise and muscle.
He bends pipe. He fixes exhaust systems. He stands among old bolts, worn parts, scraps of metal and tools marked by grease and repetition.
Then he transforms those same materials into something else. He makes sculpture out of what other people leave behind.
The shop sits at the center of his life. His father and uncle built the business after immigrating from Syria.
Khayalian grew up there, surrounded by repair work, family rhythm and the rough poetry of a place where damaged things come in and leave whole again.
That history matters because his art rises from the same instinct.
RELATED COVERAGE: FOX 11 celebrates Armenian Heritage Month with a special on culture, travel, and inspiring stories
He does not separate labor from imagination. He does not treat the shop as one life and sculpture as another. The metal, the memory and the family story all travel together.
He says the shop shaped him early, not only as a worker but as someone who learned to see discarded things differently. A car part did not have to remain a car part. A broken object could hold another shape inside it. That way of seeing now drives a body of work that transforms scrap metal, hardware and even kitchen utensils into art that feels both personal and hard-won.
“I’ve grown up here in the shop,” Khayalian said. “I also love doing art.”
That instinct never really left him. It deepened with time. What others might pass over as useless, he studies for line, weight, tension and possibility.
The castoff object becomes raw material for memory and invention.
“I used to see car parts differently when I was younger,” he said. “I get more satisfaction out of scrap metal car parts in my sculptures when I create them. Nothing is junk to me.”
Friends and relatives now save pieces for him, handing him spoons, screws, nails and scraps because they know he may find life in them again.
“All of a sudden you see friends and family with a bucket with their old spoons,” he said. “‘Hey, make something out of this.’ I use nails, screws, bolts, nuts, anything that I could get my hands on.”
By day, Khayalian handles exhaust systems, a trade that calls for control, force and an intimate feel for metal.
He bends tubing and piping with the practiced precision of someone who knows where a stubborn material will resist and where it will give. That work demands patience and touch.
It also helps explain why his sculptures carry such a strong physical presence. They do not feel imagined from a distance. They feel handled, wrestled with and coaxed into form. In his world, the mechanic’s workbench and the artist’s table sit close together.
The same eye that studies line and curve in metal for function studies it again for meaning.
“My specific job here is I do exhaust systems,” he said. “So, I bend tubings and pipings. That’s more like an art form for me.”
He does not romanticize the labor. Working with metal leaves a mark. The heat, the grinding, the repetition and the force all register in the body.
His art may carry grace and symbolism, but it begins in strain. It begins in hands that absorb impact and in a body that must stay with the work long enough to make hard material yield.
“It takes a lot of toll on your hands and your body for sure,” he said. “A lot of heat comes out to it. A lot of grinding.”
Still, he returns to sculpture for reasons that reach beyond craft. He describes the process as challenge, but also as release.
The same shop that demands physical effort also offers him a kind of stillness. In that sense, the work becomes more than design or assembly. It becomes a way to empty out what he carries inside.
“It’s a different approach that I take to it,” he said. “The meditation through my sculptures. It satisfies me a lot more.”
Much of that inner life flows toward Armenian identity and memory.
One sculpture honors the Armenian Genocide. It does not treat history as something distant or sealed away. It pulls grief and survival into the present through symbols that speak directly to heritage, language and endurance.
The Armenian alphabet appears in the work. So do forget-me-not flowers. Together they turn sculpture into testimony.
“I want to show people what we have endured with all the pain through one of my sculptures,” Khayalian said. “The base is a tree trunk. We have our Armenian alphabet. Our language. It’s dear to us. We’re eternally grateful for our culture and our Armenian people.”
That sense of inheritance runs through the entire story. The family business traces back to Syria. The art points toward Armenia. The shop stands in Pasadena, where many diasporic lives have taken root while still looking back toward other homes, other ruptures and other beginnings.
Khayalian’s work seems to hold those geographies together. It understands that home is not always one place. Sometimes it is a chain of places. Sometimes it is language. Sometimes it is memory.
Sometimes it is the act of making something lasting from fragments that remain.
His wife, Maral, says inspiration also enters through ordinary domestic life, through what the family watches, talks about and absorbs together. Even pop culture can spark a burst of work.
She recalls the household’s fascination with the Johnny Depp trial, which led Khayalian toward a run of pieces that turned obsession into object, including a large metal Black Pearl ship and a sculpture inspired by the Mad Hatter’s hat.
“It started with my obsession with the Johnny Depp trial,” Maral said. “It was 24-7 in our household.”
She said of the pieces, “They were labors of love for him.”
She says life with an artist keeps the house alive with surprise. She also points to more serious events that have pushed him inward and then back toward creation.
The 2020 war in Armenia, she says, stirred something in him and led him to make more work. Even when the pieces carry whimsy or fantasy, they remain tethered to grief, concern and the pressure of history.
“It’s actually quite exciting in our household to have someone as creative as Tro live with us,” Maral said. “Every day is something different.” She added, “Closer to the 2020 war in Armenia it just evoked something inside of him to start creating more.”
Today, a small room inside the shop serves as a kind of private museum.
Customers may arrive expecting a repair estimate and end up in a conversation about sculpture, symbolism and process.
It is a fitting image for the world Khayalian has built. The shop remains a place of labor and livelihood, but it also opens into something more intimate.
“It’s like my little museum,” Khayalian said. “Whoever comes and once their car is done, we totally forget about the payments and then we’re talking about my art.”
His newest exhibit, “Mind in Flight,” opens April 9 at the Glenmark Hotel in Glendale.
The collection centers on bird-inspired sculptures and reaches toward freedom, love and the stages of human connection.
Birds make an apt subject here. They suggest motion, release, migration and return.
For Khayalian, the series traces a human arc, from solitude to partnership to home and family.
“It’s going to be called ‘Mind in Flight,’ where trying to elevate your thoughts and your mind to be free,” he said. “It’s like a life story. We all start off alone, then we find our significant other, and then we build a home. Finally, you fall in love. You become a parent.”
In the end, Khayalian describes the impulse behind all of it in plain words. He has something inside that needs release, and sculpture gives it form.
In this Pasadena shop, that _expression_ arrives in steel and fire, in fragments joined together, in symbols of heritage and echoes of displacement.
“Whatever I have inside of me, I have to let it out,” Khayalian said. “The only way I could express is through my art.”
The Source: This report is based on direct interviews with Tro Khayalian and his wife, Maral in Pasadena. The information regarding the “Mind in Flight” exhibit and the artist’s creative process was gathered through first-hand observations of the workshop and the artist’s private collection.
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