Dr. Khatchig Mouradian during a discussion with students.
By Pauline Getzoyan
The Armenian Weekly
Last Thursday, April 13, was a big day at the Armenian Museum of America as 110 ninth-graders from Waltham High School visited its galleries during the day, followed by more than 50 students from Montreal’s Sourp Hagop Armenian School (L’École Arménienne Sourp Hagop) later that evening. These school visits, which have increased since the end of the pandemic, are part of the museum’s genocide education programming, which is sponsored by a generous grant from the Cummings Foundation. Since 2022, more than 30 groups from elementary and high schools, as well as universities, have visited the museum.
The Weekly joined Waltham High School students studying modern world history, as they made their way through the museum’s galleries, expertly guided by director of building operations Berj Chekijian and collections curator Gary Lind-Sinanian. Overseeing the school visit was executive director Jason Sohigian, who worked closely with history teacher Rachel Unger to create a meaningful experience for the students. “This was an incredible experience for the students, to learn more about the Genocide as it ties to their curriculum but also about Armenian and history and culture in the centuries before the Genocide,” Sohigian told the Weekly. “We appreciate the effort made by Rachel [Unger] and Derek [Vandegrift] to coordinate such a large visit with us.”