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California Department of Education
Official Letter
California Department of Education
Official Letter
March 11, 2026

Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and High School Principals:

Essay and Visual Arts Scholarships to Raise Awareness of the Armenian Genocide

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation (Foundation) is holding two scholarship contests to commemorate the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. California high school students in ninth through twelfth grades are invited to participate in an essay contest and/or a visual arts contest to increase awareness of the Armenian Genocide. The submission deadline for both contests is Friday, March 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

All winners will be awarded scholarships and acknowledged at the Foundation’s Annual Armenian Advocacy Day. Scholarship awards are $1,000 for first place; $750 for second place; and $500 for third place in each contest. Winners will be announced on Friday, April 24, 2026, through mainstream and Armenian media outlets.

Instructions and criteria for the contests are available on the Armenian Mirror-Spectator Newspaper web page at https://mirrorspectator.com/2026/02/10/california-armenian-legislative-caucus-foundation-announces-2026-armenian-genocide-remembrance-scholarship-contests/.

To apply, please view the 2026 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Scholarship Contests web form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeGPHkJbPcMPVH1YTfX5YcpdVsLJBGrmeLzg_6-VZT0RwlwQ/viewform.

Students may enter both contests, but submissions must be entered separately.

If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Bruton-Yenovkian at 1915essay@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Last Reviewed: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

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