On March 3, 2012, the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New Jersey, will mark its 35th anniversary with a festive anniversary gala celebrating 35 years of excellence in education.

The event will take place at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park with an art exhibition and cocktail hour, followed by dinner and dancing.

The evening’s two main honorees will be Dr. John Apovian and Hratch Kaprielian, two men with diverse backgrounds who share a common concern for people and the greater community, and have been generous in their support of charitable causes.

The Hovnanian School was founded in 1976 by a number of individuals, led by Vahakn and Hasmig Hovnanian. Originally known as the Armenian School of New Jersey, it was renamed Hovnanian School in the mid-1980’s in recognition of the immeasurable contributions of the Hovnanian Family. The school’s mission is to build an active community of lifelong learners in a nurturing educational environment where each child feels happy, respected, proud, secure, and loved, and to nurture its students’ understanding of their heritage to develop a positive identity. Under the leadership of Anahid Garmiryan, who has been the principal for more than a decade, the school has received national acclaim and attention for its excellence and innovation.