Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee Western Region (ANC-WR) Internship-Externship Program (IEP) commenced its spring session on January 22nd. Participating in the regional program are three students from Crescenta Valley High School. Assigned a range of projects, the participants will work with ANC-WR staff and board members between now and early May.

The spring session interns include Patil Kavarian, Ani Nalbandian, and Sara Simounian. Nalbandian will be contributing as a Community and Government Affairs specialist, assisting the regional staff with its educational outreach as well as its leadership development programs. Kavarian and Simounian will be covering the various activities of the ANC-WR in the coming months as Public and Media Affairs interns.

Over the next several weeks, the interns will participate in weekly lectures, workshops, and seminars. During their first week in the program, they attended a lecture about anti-genocide advocates Raphael Lemkin and Vahan Cardashian at the Glendale Public Library.

Kavarian is a graduating senior interested in pursuing pre-medicine studies at college. She recently graduated the ANC Glendale Internship Program and looks forward to continuing her work with the ANC’s regional office. Simounian, a former ANC-WR volunteer, is a high school junior participating in her first internship program. Nalbandian, an active member of the AYF, rounds out the group and is also a graduating senior.

“We look forward to having Patil, Ani, and Sara work with us this spring,” said Haig Hovsepian, ANC-WR Community Relations Director and internship program coordinator. “With the start of the new legislative cycle and several community events in development these coming months, they will have an opportunity to see grassroots activism first hand,” he added.

Established in June 2006, the ANC-WR IEP hosts three sessions throughout the year. The application for the upcoming 2009 Summer Session is now available online at http:http://www.anca.org/assets/capital_gateway/2009-Summer-WRIEP.pdf

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.

Photo caption: Kavarian, Nalbandian and Simounian joined by ANC-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian.