On October 20, 2024, the Armenian Engineers and Scientists Association, Northeastern Branch (AESA-NE) hosted its Eleventh Annual Banquet Dinner at Madeline Petit Paris in Northvale, NJ. The event was well-attended by numerous community members, supporters, and leaders, including Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellency Mher Margaryan, and his wife. The banquet began with the national anthems of both USA and Armenia, performed by Haig Mardirossian. AESA-NE Mentoring Chairman, Raffi Jamgotchian, opened the evening by welcoming the guests and highlighting the organization’s ongoing mission to foster technical and social interactions among Armenian scientists, engineers, and professionals both in the U.S. and internationally. He then invited AESA-NE President, Mr. Bedian, to provide a year-in-review of the chapter’s achievements.
Mr. Bedian shared a detailed overview of the chapter’s activities, beginning with the signature Annual Mentoring Event, co-hosted with the Armenian Health Organization and other Armenian organizations. This well-attended event attracted over 120 mentors and mentees, with many more participating online. He also highlighted AESA-NE’s sponsorship of the Invention Convention at Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School, where they provided a guest speaker and judges to evaluate the creative inventions of young Armenian students. In addition, the chapter hosted a series of five technical presentations on topics such as the carbon footprint of concrete, advancements in technology, bridge construction, and earthquake resilience in Armenia. A key collaboration with the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA) and Rutgers University’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) was also discussed. This partnership included the sponsorship of two professors’ visit to meet with professional firms in construction and infrastructure asset management, setting the foundation for future joint programs in Armenia. Additionally, AESA-NE partnered with the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) Gyumri to train over sixty war veterans at Gyumri’s Techno Center (GITC) and supported the rebuilding of a school in Aratashen Village.
As part of its longstanding tradition, AESA-NE recognized distinguished individuals of Armenian descent, or those closely connected to Armenia, who have made significant contributions in their professional fields, especially in STEM. Hovhannes Mardirossian, AESA-NE’s Science and Technology Chairman, introduced this year’s Guest of Honor, Dr. Mary Hrachoohi Boghosian. A recipient of numerous Excellence Awards and the Founder and Director of Armenia’s Center for Innovation Promotion and Research, Dr. Boghosian was celebrated for her distinguished career in aerospace science and engineering, spanning decades at NASA, the Aerospace Corporation , and most recently in Aremenia.
In her keynote speech, Dr. Boghosian captivated the audience with a compelling account of her efforts to advance Armenia’s space program since 2015, which led to the successful launch of CubeSat satellites. (CubeSats are small satellites, typically 10 x 10 x 10 cm in size, that operate in low Earth orbit and beyond.)
ESA-NE’s President Vicken Bedian and the Science and Technology Chair Hovhaness Mardirossian, along with the AESA NE board members presented the recognition plaque to Dr Boghosian.
The event was sponsored by AESA (the parent organization), the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization, the Armenian Bar Association, Triada Networks, Raman and Oundjian Associates, Tono Law, Orion Worldwide Innovations, Tufenkian Foundation, Advanced Integrated Solutions, Najarian Associates, QD-DAG, Bourghul Jewelers, as well as numerous individual donors including Garo and Maria Derian, Vahan and Lisa Tanal, Aram and Madlen Setian, David and Laura Michaelian, Hovhaness and Anhaid Mardirossian, Vicken and Maria Bedian, Robert and Noushig Bouta, and Nurhan and Vicky Bacidyan. The chapter extends its deepest gratitude to all the sponsors and supporters for their generous contributions
