President Sargsyan hosted the medal recipients for the academic year 2011-2012, laureates of the Olympiads and award winners of the Kangaroo-2012 competition

President Serzh Sargsyan hosted today the medal recipient graduates of the RA educational institutions, 2012 laureates of the international Olympiads and the award winners of the Kangaroo-2012 competition who at the gathering at the Presidential Palace, which has already become a good tradition, received their awards – medals, certificates and gifts from the President of Armenia. President Sargsyan received as a gift from a participant of the Kangaroo-2012 International Math Competition the Armenian Zardatar book, in which over 2500 fancy letters are presented, acquired from the artifacts exhibited in the world’s renowned museums and libraries.

Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the participants of the meeting, congratulated them on their outstanding performance and received awards. He wished success to the schoolchildren and those who have already become students in the realization of their objectives and aspirations. The President of Armenia underscored that on that road, besides the assistance of the family and friends, they will always have the support of our state, “This success is only the beginning of your bright journey, and I want you to go through it with optimism. I wish that you overcome hurdles along the way, and there inevitably will be some, you’re your optimism and your dedication. The goal must be achieved through good and kind deeds, determination and great desire to get knowledge,“ the President of Armenia said.

In his welcoming remarks, Serzh Sargsyan noted that years ago he had made a decision to invite to the Presidential Palace all those children and young people who stand out with their knowledge, who win at the international competitions, who get medals at the subject Olympiads because it was his deep conviction these people, including the participants of the present meeting, are those who were building the future of our country. And they do it in a humble way, through their diligent work and persistence.

Serzh Sargsyan said it was important that those who show excellence in their studies, those who have knowledge serve as an example for the others. “I want us all to realize that there is no shame in not knowing something; however it is shameful not to want to know, reluctance to learn is shameful. I am confident, dear friends, that your parents are the first people to take pride in you, must be that way, however I want you to be confident that you are backed by our entire nation, by our state, which may not have all the necessary means but amplifies its capabilities by year and is doing everything for its young citizens, for its young compatriots to receive the utmost support,” Serzh Sargsyan said.

The President spoke also about the Luys Foundation, which four years ago launched the program of supporting those young Armenians who are studying in the best educational establishments of the world. President Sargsyan noted with satisfaction that the number of the young people studying in these prestigious establishments is growing every year.

“I would like to stress particularly the success of our participants to the Olympiads. This year, we have ten winners at the international subject Olympiads – medal winners and laureates, and this is the best result so far in the history of the Republic of Armenia. Considering the fact that there will be two more subject Olympiads – on astronomy and informatics, in which the Armenian school is pretty strong, I am confident that overall in this area we will really have great success. The results shown by our participants at the Olympiads prove that the results don’t need any justification – it’s enough to have determination, precise allocation of your time, and the right way to organize your young lives. And it is absolutely true; undoubtedly you example will be contagious for the others. I want you to come here next time as the fellows of the Luys Foundation, as the laureates and winners of the RA Presidential Award. I want your journey down this bright road to go on and on.

I want you to be successful in your lives. I want you to set the bar of your principles high. I want you to know for sure that this bounty – knowledge - ought to be used for decent purposes. Many would say that the means justify the ends and any means will do. It is not true, and it is not right. Crooked, indecent means will not get to a decent goal, it’s impossible. To get to a decent goal, decent means must be used. Legality will not be created through the illegal means, it is simply impossible,” the President of Armenia underscored.

Serzh Sargsyan thanked the schoolchildren and students with the record of excellence for their achievements and noted that even the youngest schoolchildren present at the gathering have also made achievements by making Armenia’s name sound elsewhere. According to President Sargsyan, the medal recipient graduates of the secondary schools and all those young people who have become an example for the others; they make these achievements even more prominent by winning at the Olympiads. Serzh Sargsyan expressed confidence that many of those present will make our country’s name be heard from much higher podiums. The President of Armenia responded to the questions raised by the participants of the meeting.