- BACKGROUND
- HISTORY
- BYLAWS
- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- AUDITORS
- RECOGNITION
- NOBLE AGAZIAN
- GUIDING PRINCIPLES
- HISTORIC DOCUMENTS
- Memory of Our Members
July 5, 2017 – Present
Hagos Gebre – (Chairman) Haile Mariam Asefa (Vice Chairman) Aster Eyob (Secretary) Kahsay Abraham (Treasurer) Aregash Abraha (Financial Secretary) Bruck Girmay (Public Relations Officer) Elen Tareke (Business Planning/Membership Drive) Alem Berhane Meskel (Business Planning/Membership Drive) Assefa Tesfay (Business Planning/Membership Drive)
July 5, 2014 – July 11, 2017
Dr. Yohannes Woldegabriel (Chairman) Alem Gebretsadik (Vice Chairman) Negusse Hailu (Secretary) Tsegay K Medhin (Treasurer) Binyam Tsehaye (Financial Secretary) Birikty Atsbeha (Public Relations Officer) Embaye Danfa (Public Relations Officer) Gebreyessus Engida (Public Relations Officer) vacant – Seatle chapter will have special election for this seat
July 2011 – July 5, 2014
Kahsay Abraha Bissirat (Chairman) Yeshi Gebremeskel (Secretary) Mulugeta G. Melles (Treasurer) Alem Gebretsadik Ameha Amene Hagos, Dr. Birhane Girmay, Ph.D. Haileselassie Desta Ogbazgi Melles Zelalem Woldu
July 2008 – July 2011
Ogbazghi Melles (Chairman) Kahsay Abraham (Treasurer) Aster Eyob (Secretary) Michael Gebre, Ph.D. (Financial Secretary) Zelalem Woldu (Public Relations) Girmay Tesfagiorgis (Member) Alem Seyoum (Member)
July 2005 – July 2008
Ogbazghi Melles (Chairman) Zuryash Amarework (Treasurer) Michael Gebre, Ph.D. (Secretary) Kahsay Abraham (Public Relations) Mekonen Ambaye (Public Relations)
July 2002 – 2005
Berhane Hagos (Chairman) Hagos Gebrai (Treasurer) Teka Sahlu (Secretary) Dr. Teame Embaye (Public Relations) Genet Tessema (Member)
July 1999 – July 2002
Michael Gebre, Ph.D. (Chair) Yeshi Gebremeskel (Vice Chair) Hagos Gebrai (Treasurer) Teka Sahlu (Secretary) Mulugeta Melles (public Relations) Ogbazghi Melles (public Relations) Kidane Teklu (Member)
July 1996 to July 1999
Michael Gebre, Ph.D. (Chair) Lemlem Yohannes (Vice Chair) Teka Sahlu (Secretary) Ameha Amene (Treasurer July 1996 – March 1997) Kidane Teklehaimanot (Treasurer, March 1997 – July 1999) Tafere Haileselassie (Auditor) Berhane Tesfai (Member) Berhane Hagos (Member)
Auditors July 2005 – July 2011
Hagos Gebre Kidane Teklehaimanot
Audit Committee 2002 – 2005
Daniel Belai Kahsay Abraha Laake Ghebre
Audit Committee July 2001 – July 2002
Kahsay Abraha Hagos Gebre Eyob Kebede

- Nurture loyalty, pride and tradition of Volunteerism and sharing: We work to strengthen the powerful attributes of loyalty, pride, and tradition in our alumni, students, and friends that contribute to the quality of education in Agazi and other schools around Adigrat.
- Working to make ASAA-NA a model of learning organization from which other Alumni Associations can learn to serve their communities.
- Communicate openly: We value open communication, both within the Alumni Association staff and among alumni members, other ASAA boards, Agazi high school administrators, teachers and students.
- Promote collaboration: We seek out partnerships with other individuals and groups (ASAA chapters, NGOs…) to achieve the objectives of our alumni.
- Build a positive team and family spirit: We value and respect each other as individuals, work well together as a team.
- Exercise good governance: We strive for quality, Transparency and accountability.
For almost 20 years, members and supporters of Agazi School Alumni Association – N.A. (ASAA-N.A.) have justifiably argued that ASAA is not a new organization except for the residency of its members. It was a continuation of what was established in the 1960’s in Ethiopia with its main office in Adigrat (see the introduction at our website www.agazi.org). Some people did not believe it or did not want to believe it. Regardless of the argument, we persisted and celebrated our 15th annual event in Adigrat.
It was during the “home coming” last July in 2010, we were able to get hold of a historic document. Thanks to Ato G.Mariam Kiros, one of the first ASAA officials in Ethiopia at the time the Association was officially recognized by the government, we have a copy of the letter of legal recognition in 1964 E.C. The scanned image of the letter from Ras Mengesha Seyoum (then Governor General of Tigrai) to Ato Seyoum Yakob (then Governor of Agame Awraja) is shown below.
Please note how soon Ato Seyoum Yakob wrote his letter (Tahsas 27, 1964) notifying ASAA about the authorization from Ras Seyoum (Tahsas 24). For those of us who used to hear how hard Ato Seyoum Yakob worked for ASAA’s official recognition, this may be an indirect proof how happy he was to get that letter and pass it immediately to the ASAA office. See the historic documents below:
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Subscribe To Unlock The Content!The autobiography of the philanthropist Brambaras Hadgu Gebreyohannes
Early Childhood and Family
He lost his parents at a very young age and was raised by his beloved grandmother who loved him unconditionally and offered him the blueprint on how to be productive young man.
Barambaras Hadgu was blessed to have 13 children, 34 grand children and 7 great grand children. While his business ventures were blossoming and nurturing, the community and growth of Adigrat was his passion, he had to deal with unfortunate and untimely tragedies. Fortunately, he had the right disposition, tremendous mental fortitude and temperament to cope with all the losses: W/o Tsdaka Kidanu (a loving wife), Gebrezigabher Hadgu (eldest son and a gentle giant), Tsegu Hadgu (tough and humorous), Tafere Hadgu (simply amazing and full of life), Elias Hadgu (the quite one) and Girmay Hagos (son in-law, who loved him like his own son).
Barambaras Hadgu didn’t have the opportunity to attend formal education, rather to contribute like everyone else his age in a family farm. As he became a teenager, he couldn’t see himself as a peasant for long, so he moved to Adigrat to further his opportunities. Thereafter, he traveled north to Eritrea to work at a bakery shop owned by an Italian. His tenacious work ethics includes waking up late nights, when everyone was asleep, to practice and master the art of making delicious bread. That indelible effort led to his promotion as the only non-Italian assistant manager. Consequently, he saved enough money to move back to Aidgrat and open the first Ethiopian owned modern bakery in Tigray.
The indomitable determination and perseverance propelled him to become the quintessential merchant that Tigray had ever seen. He had the foresight and vision to diversify his businesses to support Aidgrat and surrounding areas by opening the following adjacent businesses: modern hotel, gas station, supermarket, transportation, real state, mechanized agriculture, dairy products shop, assortments of vegetables and fruit shop, sweater shop.
Influence of his Grand Mother
Most of his major business decisions that he had made were always in accordance to the values he garnered from his grandmother. That includes not venturing his business outside Adigrat. He had many chances to relocate his businesses to Addis Ababa, Asmara and Mekelle… but every time when opportunities presented, he reverted back to the inner voice of his grandmother – “ To not leave the land that is good to you for another land”.
Principle and Ethics
As a father, first and foremost he expected his kids to be good citizens, and then to be top of their school activities or help in the family businesses. One thing he couldn’t care was idleness. There were many instances where he subbed-in for absentee workers on night shifts at the bakery, and to top that he did it at an old age of 65 to 70 years. Therefore, his work ethics were exemplary that couldn’t be matched by anyone.
Contribution to the community and awards
One of the main purposes of Barambaras Hadgu’s life was to give back his fortune to the community tirelessly, and at the same time encouraging his peers to do the same. The following are the selected few of the good deeds:
•In 1980, he contributed the entire projected budget of his son’s (Tsegu) wedding for hospital improvement, as a result downsizing the wedding.
•In 1984, he contributed all cash that was collected as gift from Tafere’s elaborate wedding to Medhani Alem church. Again, this is not only about the money, but he always thought what could be a teaching moment for the community.
•He was a consistent donor to many churches in Adigrat and mosques.
•He gave two distinct businesses establishments to trusted and hard working employees as a gesture for many years of services and loyalties.
•Along with many Adigrat greats, he was instrumental in funding academia, infrastructure and helping the poor.
•He received many awards from Emperor Haileselassie to the current government for his dedication, generosity and for being a pillar and beacon of hope for Adigrat and Tigray at large.
Wisdom and Knowledge
Barmabaras Hadgu learned how to write and read in both Tigrigna and Amharic without any formal education. He spoke fluent Italian and conversational Arabic and Swahili. He had passion for world affairs and history and enjoyed intelligent conversations with people who ventured to engage him. He received his formal education by brute force of curiosity, by an ending hunger for knowledge and information and hard work.
Hero and Voice for Just
One afternoon during Derg regime, all merchants were summoned at a local town hall located in mission middle school, and the cadres were interrogating everyone to find out if they are supporting TPLF and/or EPRP by selling goods. So much so, they killed one craftsman to put all on notice. Everyone was so scared, but not Barambaras Hadgu. He raised his hand, and told the cadres “we are merchants and we don’t ask for an ID to decipher who is who, and that is not our job, we are in the business of selling goods and STOP terrorizing us.” Everyone thought that could be the last day on earth for him, but they were wrong. He was passionate about just and fair action in civic matters and was never afraid to speak his mind in front of government officials.
His sense of fairness and civic duty was something to be desired. He believed and encouraged everyone to contribute their fair share to the well being of their community, and his life was an example of his dedication to that belief.
His First International Visit – USA
Few nuggets from his US trip at age of 75:
•He was impressed with the infrastructure and forestry, and he hoped we could emulate the same with the minimum resources that we have in Ethiopia.
•He regretted that he didn’t visit the US at a younger age.
•He impressed many spectators in target shooting competition.
Rest in Peace Grand Father!
You have been my role model all my life, I am who/where I am today because of you.
The eldest grandson,
Bruck Girmay
California, US
Current Board Members in Pictures

Kahsay Gebretsadik
Chairman

Kahsay Abraham
Treasurer

Yemane Mehari
Business Planning

Mizan Tsegay
Vice Chairwoman

Girmay Negusse
Financial Secretary

Kesete Gebreslassie
Business Planning

Se-Arom Kassahun
Secretary

Michael Gebru
Public Relations Officer

Yared Tesfay
Business Planning