Los Angeles, CA – In a short period of time, three Armenian American students are making an impact as participants in the Armenian National Committee-Western Region’s Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP). Lori Kechichian, Carina Khanjian, and Christine Semerdjian have joined the ANC-WR IEP for the 2008 Spring Session and have already started tackling several projects.

A graduating senior from Ferrahian High School in Encino, CA, Kechihian joins the program as an Administration and Development Intern. In the coming months she will be working on developing multi-media promotional material for the ANC-WR IEP.

Khanjian, also a graduating senior from Rose and Alex Pilibos High School in Hollywood, CA has been helping the ANC-WR reach out to the community as a Public and Media Relations Intern. Already she has contributed greatly to the Western Region’s outreach efforts.

Semerdjian, a Community and Government Affairs Intern, will be leading a team effort voter registration drive by the interns. A graduate of TCA Arshag Dikranian High School, she joins the program from Woodbury University where she is pursuing a major in Communication Studies and a minor in Law and Society.

“Interning at the ANC regional office has been a very interesting and educational experience so far,” says Kechichian. “I look forward to working with Carina and Christine to increase Armenian American voter registration in the coming months.”

Along with the voter registration drive and the upcoming California Democratic Party convention, the interns will be completing their projects and working with the regional office and local ANCs to advance issues at the federal, state and local levels.

“We welcome Lori, Carina, and Christine to the Western Region office,” said Haig Hovsepian, ANC-WR Community Relations Director and ANC-WR Internship-Externship Program Coordinator. “We look forward to their participation in the program, as well as making a positive impact during their time here with us,” he added.

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 a program 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 application deadline for the 2008 Summer Session is March 1st (postmarked). For more information about the IEP and a downloadable version of the application please visit http://www.anca.org/gateway/gateway_overview.php.

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: (L to R) ANC-WR Internship-Externship Program participants for the 2008 Spring Session Lori Kechichian, Christine Semerdjian, and Carina Khanjian.