15,000 Students Applied, But Narek Saroyan Stood Apart

Narek Saroyan, a student from COAF’s English Access program and a native of Arapi village in Armenia’s Shirak region, recently returned victorious from the United States. He and his team represented Armenia at the prestigious First Robotics Competition. You might wonder—what’s the connection between English and robotics?

“I was selected out of 15,000 students from the “Armath” Engineering Labs — they prioritized those who knew English,” Narek shares with pride. He adds that Access gave him the chance not only to learn English but also to think bigger and dream bolder. One of those dreams? Studying in the U.S. and returning to Armenia afterward.

Narek’s learning journey is a marathon of curiosity and grit—between strides, he tends to his bees, teaches himself the duduk with online tutorials, and helps lead his school to another victory in this year’s amateur Prime Minister’s Cup road race.

Narek’s story is a testament to what’s possible when opportunity meets determination—a young mind empowered by education, chasing dreams across continents, yet firmly rooted in the hope of giving back.

https://youtu.be/-ZKGNLIyZVA