GLENDALE—On June 15, the Armenian National Committee-Western Region welcomed the seven newest participants in its Internship-Externship Program. The 2009 Summer Session class includes students from across California who will be spending the summer working at the ANC-WR office in Glendale, California. The interns will assist the board and staff with day-to-day operations at the office while completing individually assigned community development and public policy related projects.
“We have a diverse group of interns this summer and several volunteers representing nearly a dozen schools, colleges, and universities. I am looking forward to a very active summer here at the Western Region office and the summer interns will be an integral part of what we hope to accomplish, from outreach to education,” said Haig Hovsepian, ANC-WR IEP Coordinator. “While we expect this internship experience to provide them solid insight into Armenian American issues and the community, we hope that it is only the first step in their involvement in the ANC and the start of great friendships.”
The 2009 Summer Session participants are Colette Ghazarian (Troy High School in Fullerton, CA), Hovsep Hajibekyan (UC Berkeley), Srbui Karapetian (UC Los Angeles), Razmig Khayalian (UC Irvine), Nare Kupelian (UC San Diego), Elizabeth McIntyre (CSU “Cal Poly” Pomona), and Lauren Shenian (Glendale Community College). In addition to their individually assigned and group projects, the interns will also be participating in a weekly series of professional development workshops, media review seminars, and lectures.
Karapetian, Kupelian, and Shenian will be focusing on Community and Government Affairs. Khayalian and McIntyre will be tackling Administration and Development projects. Rounding out the group handling Public and Media Relations efforts will be Ghazarian and Hajibekyan.
Established in June 2006, the ANC-WR IEP is a selective and intensive program that provides student leaders and activists with an opportunity to participate in an intensive internship designed to provide an in-depth introduction to Armenian American issues as well as advocacy efforts on the federal, state and local level. The program hosts spring, summer and autumn sessions.
The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.