On Saturday, March 7, 2020, Rose and Alex Pilibos School celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala held at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles which H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, attended. He was joined by H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General, Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, Executive Council Chair Garo Eshgian and members. The gala was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Varant and Hoori Melkonian.
The program began with welcoming remarks by Garo Ispendjian, who served as the MC. Fr. Vicken delivered the invocation, which was followed by opening remarks by Gala Committee Chair Hanan Karabetian.
On this occasion, the administration honored a number of individuals who set the foundation from which the School grew and flourished. The honorees were St. Garabed Church, Vahe Karapetian, Hagop and Haiguhi Daglian, and posthumously Alex and Rose Pilibos, Hovhannes and Zepur Apcarian, and Nerses Tashdjian whose relatives accepted the mementos.
The program continued with Head of School, Dr. Alina Dorian’s address, which was followed by a video presentation.
The official program concluded with the Prelate’s blessings and congratulatory remarks. His Eminence highlighted the uniqueness of Armenian Schools, noting that their mission goes above and beyond academics to encompass enriching the hearts and souls of our youth with the faith, language, values, and traditions of our Church and nation, and forming their national identity. He added that Pilibos School has diligently pursued and fulfilled this very mission from the day it opened its doors 50 years ago, and commended the founders, benefactors, past and present principals, board members, faculty, alumni, sponsors, who day by day and year after year cultivated the seeds planted half a century ago and made the school what it is today. He congratulated also the evening’s honorees for their generous support. The Prelate concluded by urging all to continue to serve together with united efforts toward even greater achievements and even greater heights in the next 50 years.
