Glendale - The Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) announces the establishment of the Vahe Shrikian Endowment Fund through the generous donation of $200,000 by the Shrikian Family of Southern California. The Fund is to provide scholarships for students graduating from the Haratch-Gulbenkian High School in Anjar, Lebanon and other Armenian schools.

Vahe Shrikian, who passed away in August of 2012, was born in 1955. He was the second of six children to Der Nareg and the late Yeretsgin Bayzar Shrikian. Vahe lived his early childhood in the Armenian village of Anjar, Lebanon, and attended the Haratch Elementary School in Anjar. The family immigrated to the United States in 1963, and after moving to Southern California, he attended Ferrahian High School where he graduated in 1973. Vahe continued his education in community college and worked with his brother Movses for over 35 years.

Vahe's love of children and education, and his sincere generosity will continue to benefit Armenian students through the endowment fund established by his family in his memory.

The Vahe Shrikian Endowment Fund is the third fund established by the Shrikian family with the Armenian Educational Foundation. In 2004, Der Nareg Shrikian family donated $150,000 to establish their first endowment fund to provide annual financial support for the operation of the Haratch-Gulbenkian School in Anjar, Lebanon. In 2007, the family donated an additional $150,000 to establish a second fund with AEF to provide annual support to seminary students at the Theological Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.

"The Armenian Educational Foundation wishes to thank the Shrikian family for their generous donation, and continued trust with their third fund with AEF and we commit to continue the memory of Vahe Shrikian by providing scholarships to deserving Armenian students in his name" stated AEF President Hermineh Pakhanians.

AEF was established in 1950 to provide financial support to Armenian students and Armenian educational institutions. Over the past twenty years, AEF has renovated over 180 schools in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk and provided aid to thousands of students. Since 2000, AEF has awarded over $850,000 in scholarships to deserving students in the United States, Lebanon and Armenia. For the past 5 years AEF has been providing full tuition 4-year scholarships to approximately 50students attending public universities in Armenia and Artsakh. With the implementation of the Vahe Shrikian Endowment Fund scholarships and other generous donors, AEF scholarship program is expected to grow to 100 students in the next few years.