The goal of the Vahé & Lucie Awards is to showcase the creativity and skills of TUMO students and alumni through their unique works and projects. The competition is sponsored by the Vahé & Lucie Foundation and reflects the participation and engagement of TUMO students in artistic, cultural, and educational initiatives. By recognizing outstanding achievements, the competition inspires young creators to advance further and present their unique vision.
Terms of the 2026 Vahé & Lucie Awards
Categories
- Game Development
- Photography
- Motion Graphics
- Robotics
- Graphic Design
- Music
- Programming
- Creative Writing
- Web Development
- Animation
- 3D Modeling
- GenAI
- Filmmaking
- Drawing
How to Boost Your Chances of Winning
All TUMO students and U, M, and O alumni are encouraged to actively participate in learning labs and workshops through the end of September, enriching their portfolios.
Prizes
Each category will have one prize of AMD equivalent to $2,000 USD.
Special Prize
A Special Prize is also available. All students and M and O alumni may submit work created outside of TUMO program, as long as it falls within one of our 14 focus areas.
Prize: AMD equivalent to $2,000 USD.
To apply for the Special Prize, participants must complete the section at the bottom of this page.
Participation Rules
- Competition entries are selected by workshop leaders and teams from completed learning lab and workshop projects conducted between October 2025 and September 30, 2026.
- Previous participants who have already won a Vahé & Lucie Award may not apply as individual nominees in any of TUMO’s 14 focus areas or for the Special Prize.
- Previous winners may only participate as part of a nominated group project. If the group wins, the previous winners will not receive a monetary prize.
- Students and alumni may win in only one category award. However, a category winner may also win the Special Prize.
Jury
The jury will consist of leading professionals in related fields, as well as TUMO alumni.
Deadlines
- Project submission deadline: September 30, 2026
- Announcement of winners: November 27, 2026
About Vahé and Lucie Fattal
The Vahé & Lucie Annual Awards encourages TUMO students and alumni to innovate and make strides in their fields. The program was launched by Vahé Fattal in 2018 to honor his late wife, Lucie. Since then, Vahé has also passed away, and the competition is now dedicated to both of their memories. On behalf of all TUMO students, alumni and staff, we are tremendously grateful to the Fattals for their vision and generosity.
Vahé was an artist and graphic designer who studied at the National School of Fine Arts in Paris. After working as an art director for major firms in Los Angeles, he established his own design and advertising agency. Its creative services included corporate identity and communications, advertising and marketing, motion picture and television campaigns, and motion graphics and branding. The agency’s clients included the “Big Five” Hollywood movie studios, National Geographic, Nissan, UCLA Extension and First Interstate Bank. For 18 years, Vahé’s firm was also ABC Television’s exclusive advertising agency.
Throughout his life, Vahé was creatively involved in advancing Armenian causes and projects. He designed the raised-first Karabakh symbol and posters (1988) and the flag of Karabakh (1998). He helped establish the Golden Apricot International Film Festival (2004) and designed its visual identity. Vahé also designed the “Make it Happen” advertising campaign (2004) for the Armenia Fund Telethon and was the art director for AIM/Armenian International Magazine (1990-1992).
Lucie graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a master’s degree in philosophy and French literature. She went on to take intensive French Language and Civilization Courses (CCFS) at the Sorbonne University in Paris.
Vahé and Lucie met, lived and were married in Paris. They later settled in Los Angeles, where Lucie taught French before founding a travel agency in Beverly Hills. Her agency organized personalized international travel & accommodation services for the art world, the entertainment industry as well as corporate businesses.
Vahé and Lucie shared a commitment to and passion for all things Armenian, education, the arts and exploring the world.