Seventeen-year-old Susanna Avdalyan from TUMO Gyumri is carving a niche in the tech world. As the first-place winner in the technologies category of The Vahé & Lucie Annual Award, the top student at the Samsung Innovation Campus, and an app developer in her own right, she’s set to be the future creator of an internationally renowned Armenian game studio.
During her three transformative years at TUMO, Susanna dived into programming, motion graphics, design, and 3D modeling. It was game development, however, that captured her heart. “I found my element in coding,” Susanna shares. She’s currently working on her mobile app while collaborating with fellow TUMOians on a virtual game.
Susanna started her journey with a sense of curiosity while enrolling at TUMO. The encouraging atmosphere and supportive staff further fueled her enthusiasm to learn how creative technologies can be applied in her fields of interest. It has taught her the value of self-learning, independence, and self-confidence.
Susanna′s TUMO profile photo/2020
Susanna has taken part in 24 workshops at TUMO, with a few standout projects among them. One of her favorites is from the Generative Artificial Intelligence workshop.
A notable project is “Doors of Gyumri,” which captures the architectural beauty of her hometown.
Another highlight is her branding work for the WHY Festival, showcasing her sharp eye for design and marketing.
Her most significant achievement in 2023 was securing first place in the technology category of the Vahe and Lucy Competition. The winning project, a 3D game named Bubbly Blast, is set in a steampunk-inspired medieval village. In the game, the main character, Finn, lands on a quest to find his kidnapped sister and save the village from monster-like creatures reminiscent of carbonated beverages. Susanna developed the game with her TUMO classmate, Vardges Atoyan.
“The idea for the game came about unexpectedly,” Susanna recalls. “Vardges and I were sipping on soda when we realized we needed a game where the weapons were soda bottles. The concept was so charming that we decided to develop it right then and there. Within six months, we created a demo version and presented it to experienced gamers.”
Susanna recalls the disbelief she and her team felt when the competition results were announced. They couldn’t believe it was real. Now, they’re developing the game with a group of young people, some of whom joined the team through TUMO’s alumni network.
Susanna aims to break the stereotype that the tech field is not for girls or that it is too challenging for them. She finds great motivation in serving as an example and inspiring other girls to achieve success in technology. At the Samsung Innovation Campus, she is one of the few female students, excelling with the highest grades and working on her mobile app project. Susanna believes that this fact alone can inspire other girls not to fear and to pursue their technological dreams.
Challenging the status quo is second nature for Susanna. Determined to break the stereotype that tech is a male-dominated field, she strives to be a role model for other girls. As one of the few female students at the Samsung Innovation Campus with top-tier results, Susanna wants to motivate other girls not to be scared and chase their dreams.
Looking ahead, Avdalyan envisions technology as a linchpin for Armenia’s advancement, foreseeing its impact across sectors of healthcare and education. “The future holds promise in AI, biotech, renewable energy, and space research.” She predicts, buoyed by her judgment in technology’s role as a catalyst for progress.
As she prepares to graduate high school next year, Avdalyan is eyeing universities abroad to further sharpen her skills before returning to Armenia. She wants to implement her upcoming skills in establishing a world-class gaming studio on Armenian soil, utilizing the nation’s tech force.
With a vision as expansive as her ambitions, Susanna Avdalyan symbolizes a new generation set to redefine our future.