What was supposed to be a moment of celebration has instead become a call to action. Students, parents, alumni, and community members of Chamlian Armenian School have mobilized in an unprecedented letter-writing campaign urging federal and state leaders to honor this year’s National Blue Ribbon School cohort, following the sudden cancellation of the U.S. Department of Education’s long-standing recognition program.
Earlier this year, Chamlian Armenian School was selected as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School, the nation’s highest distinction for academic excellence. Out of more than 130,000 schools across the country, only about 300 are selected annually. Chamlian, a Prelacy Armenian school in Glendale, was proud to become the first Armenian day school in the United States to receive this rare honor.
For months, faculty, staff, and administrators devoted hundreds of hours to preparing data, submitting reports, and documenting the innovative practices that make Chamlian a model of academic achievement. Families eagerly awaited the national announcement, viewing the recognition as a testament not just to the school, but to the generations of immigrant parents who built and sustained it.
Yet just two weeks before the awards were to be revealed, schools learned through news reports that the Department of Education had abruptly canceled the program. The decision left hundreds of schools, including Chamlian, without acknowledgment after months of work and anticipation.
“This honor was never about a plaque or a ceremony. It was about recognizing the collective effort of a community—our educators, families, and students—who have built something extraordinary together,” said Dr. Talin Kargodorian, Head of School. “To have that acknowledgment taken away is disheartening, but our community’s achievement cannot be erased.”
In response, Chamlian has launched a grassroots letter-writing campaign. Hundreds of students, parents, teachers, alumni, and local leaders are writing to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and members of Congress, asking that this year’s cohort still be officially recognized.
“This award represents the legacy of a community that values excellence, shared leadership, and a strong vision for education,” said Artin Ghazarian, Chairman of the Chamlian School Board. “It was earned by our students, supported by generations of families, and made possible through a shared commitment to something greater than ourselves. Recognition of that kind should never be subject to political decisions.”
A petition has also been created for supporters across the country to add their voices. The petition can be found here.
Attached photos show Chamlian students writing letters by hand, a symbolic act of civic engagement that underscores the seriousness of their appeal.
For Chamlian, the honor remains an enduring source of pride, regardless of the federal program’s fate.
“This Blue Ribbon is already woven into our school’s story,” Dr. Kargodorian added. “We earned it, and we will continue to celebrate it with our students, families, and community.”
