On February 25, Ameriabank sums up the student contest “My Armenia, My Future” conducted within the framework of “My Ameria, My Armenia” campaign and announced the names of the students who will get scholarship, those who will go to University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) , and those who will receive funding for their projects.
The purpose of the contest announced by Ameriabank and VISA for all students of state and private universities of Armenia was to identify and encourage proactive students with flexible and creative mindset, who care for the future of Armenia.
Students from 36 universities of Armenia participated in the contest. They competed for three awards:
- 160 scholarships of AMD 50,000 per month each, to be paid for 5 months during the second semester of the academic year 2024-2025;
- 10 packages to attend a short-term educational program at UC Berkeley ;
- funding for the best 3 projects titled “My Armenia, My Future” for the total maximum amount of AMD 10 million.
To take part in the contest, applicants were required to be students in the academic year 2024-2025 and holders of Ameriabank’s Visa Student card. Furthermore,
- to qualify for scholarship, applicants were required to be at least second-year students, get the highest score for the test, and have the highest GPA (no less than 65%) for the academic year 2023-24;
- to compete for project funding and/or for participation in an educational program at UC Berkeley, the participants needed to get the highest score both for the test and project evaluation (regardless of the GPA).
The projects were evaluated by a jury composed of independent specialists from different sectors, as well as representatives of VISA and Ameriabank. Namely, the following persons were on the jury: AUA lecturer, visual artist Ruben Malayan, lawyer, artist Narek Van Ashughatoyan, founder of MerakiPal company, organizational transformation coach Armine Mkrtchyan, Public Relations Master Program Manager at the Department of Sociology of Yerevan State University, co-founder and Chairman of SPRING PR company Nvard Melkonyan, Business Development Manager at VISA Ani Alebyan, Chief People and Services Officer of Ameriabank Armine Ghazaryan, and Chief Marketing and Communication Officer of Ameriabank Rebecca Hakobyan.
The three projects, for implementation of which the authors will receive funding from Ameriabank, were also presented at the closing event of the contest. In particular, funding will be provided for:
- The project by Zhanna Harutyunyan, representing the Armenian State University of Economics, aimed at video recording and preserving the techniques for creating 8 embroidery ornaments
- The project by Vahagn Zakaryan, representing the Armenian National Polytechnic University, aimed at developing a Braille keyboard for people with visual impairments
- The project by Volodya Torosyan, representing the Armenian National Agrarian University, aimed at implementing a program designed to increase agricultural effectiveness.
To note, “My Ameria My Armenia” campaign aimed to bring people together around Ameriabank’s mission of improving the quality of life.