OPENING OF MEMORIAL BOARD DEDICATED TO YSU 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN GYUMRI

The festive events started with the students’ flash-mob which was followed by the meeting of the jubilee commission of YSU held in the Centre of Information Technologies of Gyumri.

Then the ceremony of opening of the memorial board dedicated to YSU Centennial was held in the courtyard of Gyumri Centre of Information Technologies. It should be noted that in the period from May to September of 1920 the university classes were held in this very building.

YSU Rector Aram Simonyan, the marzpet of Shirak marz Tigran Petrosyan, Mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balasanyan, the acting Rector of Shirak State University after M. Nalbandyan Yervand Serobyan were present at the opening ceremony.

In his opening speech YSU Rector Aram Simonyan told about the history of foundation of the university. “This day is very important for YSU and Armenian people as 100 years ago, on this day the order on opening Yerevan State University was signed. From the very beginning it was named Yerevan State University, but the lessons were started in Gyumri as this magnificent building was here, in Gyumri and there was no corresponding building in Yerevan. The lessons lasted for about three months and were interrupted because of Turkish-Armenian war and the university was reopened only at the beginning of 1921”, told Aram Simonyan.

“The order signed in 1919 is the beginning of our university. We are proud that one of the cherished dreams of our people that is to have a university came true in this ancient city. Yerevan State University must always remember that it got its roots from Gyumri”, added the YSU Rector.

Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan congratulated those present stressing that Gyumri is the cradle of Armenian culture.He also spoke about the idea of replacing sport and art establishments as well as educational centres to Gyumri.

Shirak Marzpet Tigran Petrosyan congratulated those present on the Youth and Students’ Day. He stated that the memorial board restates the fact that even during the hard times of 1918 significant importance was attached to the role of education. And the first step to academic education was taken in Gyumri.

The director of YSU museum Heghine Gasparyan reminded those present of the speech of poetess Silva Kaputikyan during YSU 50th jubilee event.

The ceremony of opening of the memorial board was followed by the festive concert.