Ken Khachigian, an Armenian-American speechwriter, worked with Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan, crafting historic speeches, including Reagan’s Holocaust proclamation. A political strategist and advisor, he influenced major campaigns and California elections. His memoir Behind Closed Doors aims to inspire young Armenians to engage in politics and achieve high goals.

Parnag Shishigyan dedicated his life to reuniting hundreds of Armenian children with their heritage. After gaining the trust of local Arabs, he compiled lists of Armenian orphans, aiding in their return to Armenian communities. He eventually moved to Soviet Armenia, where his legacy continues, marked by a statue and family home preserved as a tribute. Parnag's efforts embody resilience and cultural preservation amidst tragedy.

Ardem Patapoutian is awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine,  the first Armenian to do so!  He shared the award with Dr. David Julius who, together and separately, discovered how our bodies feel the warmth of the sun or the hug of a loved one. Dr. Patapoutian is a professor of Neuro Science at Scripps Institute in California.

Armenian immigrant Vahe Karapetyan revolutionized street food in the U.S. by designing the first mass-produceable food truck in 1968, enabling diverse cuisines to go mobile. His company, Vahe Enterprises, now employs 90 people. Dedicated to supporting his community, Karapetian funds Armenian institutions and created mobile emergency units during the 2020 Nagorno Karabagh war. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2015.

Aline Kamakian’s father had a dream to open a restaurant in Lebanon that celebrated his Armenian culinary heritage. Unfortunately he died when she was 17 years old. She took a job with an insurance company to finance her university education and graduated with a Master’s degree in both Finance and Marketing. She began working as an insurance broker and soon opened her own brokerage firm. In 2001 Aline opened her first restaurant, Mayrig, (Little Mother) in downtown Beirut. It has become a favorite place to gather and eat for both locals and tourists.

Oscar Banker (Asadoor Sarafian) was the developer of the first practical automatic transmission in cars and buses and inventor of the first versatile needless inoculation gun along with 300 other patents. “When I see something doesn’t work quite right, I try to see what I can do to make it work a little better”.