SACRAMENTO — The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation (CALCF) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Scholarships, awarded to California high school students (grades 9–12) for outstanding submissions in the Foundation’s annual essay and visual arts contests.
The scholarship program recognizes students who thoughtfully engaged with this year’s theme, Reimagining California, through the lens of Armenian-American experiences, highlighting the community’s cultural resilience, civic contributions, and enduring impact on California’s history and future.
For the essay contest, students were asked to explore how Armenian-American experiences, leaders, and contributions have shaped the state’s culture, identity, and future, and why these perspectives matter for California today and for generations to come. The winners of this contest are, for first prize ($1,000), Anna Nazaryan attending Burbank High School in Burbank, CA; second prize ($750), Sareen Guldjian attending Armenian Mesrobian School in Pico Rivera, CA, and third prize ($500), Francine Habacon attending Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, CA.
For the visual arts contest, students were asked to create original artwork that reimagines California through the eyes, stories, and future of its Armenian community. Submissions highlighted themes such as identity, migration, resilience, culture, and intergenerational connection, illustrating the Armenian diaspora’s lasting contributions to California’s cultural and social fabric. Winners are, for first prize ($1,000) Anais Joseph Lynch attending Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, CA; second prize ($750) Macie Gibson attending Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, CA; and third prize ($500) Alabama Koger attending Granada Hills Charter High School in Granada Hills, CA.
On this occasion, Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena), CALCF chair, declared: “Congratulations to the six scholarship recipients! I want to thank these students for highlighting the history of Armenian Americans in California and remembering the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to ensure it is never forgotten and never repeated.”
Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) said, “I offer my congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Armenian Genocide remembrance scholarships. Each recipient has thoughtfully demonstrated through their essay or visual art submission the strong cultural and social fabric of California’s Armenian diaspora. As the State Senator representing the largest concentration of Armenian Americans in California, I am thrilled to support this vital community and promote access to higher education for our future leaders.”
