An Affair to Remember: Friends of HMADS Hold Annual Gala Dinner Dance
By Arpi Arukian
On Sat., May 21, the Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School (HMADS) community gathered at the North Hills Country Club in Manhasset to celebrate its beloved school. The annual gala dinner dance, a lavish affair organized by the Friends of HMADS fundraising committee, once again proved itself to be the school’s most significant fundraiser. More than 200 friends and supporters socialized and danced the night away at the bittersweet event, which would be the last under the school leadership of adored principal Zarminé Boghosian, whose retirement was recently announced.
On May 21, the Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School (HMADS) community gathered at the North Hills Country Club in Manhasset to celebrate its beloved school.
The event was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. Representing the Armenian Ambassador at the United Nations Zohrab Mnatsaganian was Tigran Samvelian.
Guests were welcomed to North Hills Country Club by the Friends of HMADS Reservations Committee, a subcommittee of the dedicated group responsible for organizing the evening. During cocktail hour, everyone mingled, sipped cocktails, and sampled delicious appetizers from various hors d’oeuvres stations. The doors of the spacious ballroom then filled with guests of every facet of the HMADS family: benefactors, school board members, committee members, staff, parents, alumni, and students from the current graduating class. Guests ranged in age from young to young-at-heart, all with a common bond: love and praise for their beloved school and Armenian community.
Guests were welcomed to North Hills Country Club by the Friends of HMADS Reservations Committee, a subcommittee of the dedicated group responsible for organizing the evening.
The main festivities began as Friends of HMADS chairman Hovannes Malikyan welcomed everyone and expressed his appreciation for their continuous support. He then invited Boghosian to the podium to share the accomplishments of the school’s current students and alumni. Throughout the night, international singer Bartev entertained guests with his vocals, luring them to the dance floor, especially for “shoorch bars.” During a brief interlude from dancing, Friends of HMADS committee members approached tables and encouraged diners to try their luck in the raffle drawings for prizes that are generously donated each year by school supporters.
The gala dinner dance, co-chaired by Arpi Candan and Hagop Semerdjian, was once again a remarkable success, honoring Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School as the acclaimed academic institution that it is.
Source: Armenian Weekly Mid-Atlantic
