At its 75th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles, the Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) presented the prestigious Educational Visionaries Award to Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend for their contributions to global education and the founding of UWC Dilijan International School.
The award recognized their vision of education’s future and their efforts that placed Armenia on the international educational map. UWC Dilijan, established in 2014, transformed the town of Dilijan and now hosts more than 220 students from 87 countries.
Veronika Zonabend attended the event and accepted the award on behalf of herself and her husband, who has been held in an Azerbaijani prison for two years on false charges.
“I would have preferred to be standing here with Ruben. His passion and love for changing Armenia through education inspired me to do the same,” Zonabend said.
AEF benefactor and education consultant Alice Petrosyan emphasized the couple’s impact, recalling their dream of making Armenia a hub of international educational excellence. She also highlighted other initiatives, including Moscow’s Skolkovo School of Management, the Matena International School, and numerous scholarship programs.
“Ruben and Veronika continue to have a vision for Armenia. They believe that education is the key to achieving peace and spreading human kindness throughout the world,” Petrosyan noted.
