SANTA BARBARA—The Armenian Student Association of the University of California, Santa Barbara, through the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region, has donated funds to help a young activist attend the Leo Sarkissian Internship program at the ANCA national office in Washington.
The summer program is the premier internship offered by the ANCA and it is where many college students have been turned on to advocating for the Armenian Cause.
The donation came in lieu of an honorarium for a speaker from the ANCA-WR that had participated at the UCSB ASA’s annual Genocide commemoration ceremony.
The UCSB ASA and the ANCA-WR agreed that the funds would better serve to allay the costs of a young participant in the LSI than to go into the ANCA-WR general fund.
“We’re not only very thankful for the UCSB ASA’s gracious donation to help send a young activist from the Western Region to learn about how to advance the Armenian Cause, we would like to commend these young individuals for having a foresight and dedication beyond their years,” said Board Chairman Andrew Kzirian.
The ASA had organized a truly emotional Genocide commemoration. The speakers were vivid and the video presentations were impressively produced.
President of the ASA, Ellen Oganesyan said, “We have a small community of Armenian students at UCSB but we are tight-knit and well-organized. With the active participation of our members, we have put together more events and activities than our size might suggest.”
Patrick Bairamian, an organizing member said, “This is the 8th year that the ASA has been organizing this event and we try to improve on it every year. It is one of the many activities that we organize to familiarize the student body that might not otherwise be aware of Armenian history, especially an event with such global impact and lasting consequences as the Armenian Genocide.”
He continued, “Now, as we remember the Genocide while celebrating our nation’s rebirth, we’re happy to donate funds to help a student go to Washington and learn how to advance the Armenian Cause because we understand that each active young Armenian means that we as a community will be stronger and more ready to confront the challenges of the future.”
The benevolence of the UCSB ASA highlights the grassroots strength espoused by the ANCA-WR and the belief that every contribution makes a difference.
The Armenian National Committee of America-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 ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
Good job! We need more of the ASA’s to be beacons of hope for our young Armenians…bravo!