Unlike the prize ceremonies of 2016 and 2017, the 2018 event was divided in three parts – a trilogy. The third and final part of the program, an evening ceremony titled “Aurora: Tribute to the 2018 Laureate,” took place on June 10 at the A. Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. There, the Co-Founders of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and guests gathered to celebrate the power of humanity and exceptional courage and impact of the 2018 Aurora Prize Laureate Kyaw Hla Aung from Myanmar.

Master of ceremonies David Ignatius returned to lead this segment of the Trilogy and was joined on stage by Ms. Dalia Atallah, Amal Clooney Scholarship Fellow and a student at UWC Dilijan in Armenia, who read a heartbreaking tribute to the woman who inspired the prize titled “A Letter to Aurora Mardiganian from Today.” “Does it calm your soul now, to know that what must have caused you indescribable pain is a source of hope and inspiration for me, for us, 100 years later?”, asked Ms. Attalah during this special moment.

The audience has also enjoyed an outstanding performance by the world-famous cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, who played “Vocalise” by Sergei Rachmaninoff and “Lamentatio” by Giovanni Sollima.

Perhaps the most touching part of the ceremony featured the Aurora Co-Founders and Selection Committee members reading paragraphs from Vartan Gregorian's book “The Road to Home: My Life and Times.” This special surprise was meant to honor the life of a man beloved by all Armenians – Aurora Prize Selection Committee Member and President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian, who was visibly moved by the display of appreciation.