Armenian International Women's Association

Armenian International Women's Association invests in the education and professional advancement of women of Armenian descent through a structured scholarship and grants program that reaches students studying in countries around the world. Its scholarship program began in 1997 with the establishment of the Agnes Missirian Scholarship Endowment, and since then the organization has awarded more than 200 scholarships to full-time female students of Armenian descent attending accredited colleges and universities. The program serves students entering their junior or senior undergraduate years, with a California-specific exception allowing applicants residing in that state to apply when entering their second year, as well as graduate students. The association ties financial assistance to both need and academic performance. Applicants must be full-time students, meet a 3.2 minimum GPA, submit official transcripts, provide two letters of recommendation, include a high-resolution photograph, and complete the application. Awards are funded through endowments and donations built over one or many years, linking donor philanthropy with direct educational support for emerging professionals. Its scholarship portfolio includes named funds such as the Lucy Kasparian Aharonian Scholarships, the Nishan and Margrit Atinizian Scholarship, the Ethel Jafarian Duffett Endowed Scholarships, the Arpine Kharajian Scholarships, the Eva and Jack Medzorian Scholarships, and the Alice Kanlian Mirak Scholarships. For the 2024-2025 school year, recipients were studying fields including computer science, engineering, Armenian studies, economics, piano performance, medicine, marketing, education, architecture, veterinary medicine, molecular and cell biology, control systems engineering, fashion management, and international management. The recipient list spans places including Yerevan, Beirut, Paris, Istanbul, Fulda in Germany, Quebec, Virginia, and California, underscoring the organization's international reach and its focus on helping Armenian women prepare for careers and professions.