Los Angeles, CA – The summer session of the Armenian National Committee – Western Region Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP) is once again off to a strong start. Students from across the greater Los Angeles area began the summer session on Monday June 18, 2007 and finished the first half of the program on Friday July 20, 2007. Participants were selected from several applicants to the program that included students from across the western United States.

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 summer session is a ten week program featuring a weekly lecture and seminar series as well as special events.

The ANC-WR IEP 2007 Summer Session’s participants are Nareg Bostanian, Taleen Mardirossian, Aida Siyahian, and Ankineh Zadoorian.

Nareg Bostanian is a senior at Holy Martyrs Armenian High School where he is an athlete as well as active writer and editor for the Ferrahian newspaper, Hyelights. As a Community and Government Affairs Intern, he has worked closely with ANC-WR staff to set up meetings with members of Congress and investigate opposition from the professional lobbying community to H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

Taleen Mardirossian is a sophomore at El Camino College majoring in political science. She is participating in the program’s externship with the Foundation for Economic Development, Inc., a non-profit organization that helps coordinate the California Trade Office (CATO). The CATO promotes trade and economic development between the Golden State and Eastern Europe, Western Asia, the Caucasus and the Newly Independent States (NIS). Working under the supervision of FED Executive Director and CATO Trade Specialist Johnny Nalbandian, Mardirossian has helped promote the FED/CATO’s activities to the media and public as well as explored the ways in which trade missions are organized.

Aida Siyahian is also a senior at Holy Martyrs Armenian High School where she is an athlete and member of the school’s Model United Nations and Science Bowl teams. Specializing in Public and Media Relations, Aida has helped the ANC-WR inform the public about its accomplishments, events and activities through press releases and media outreach. She has also worked with Western Region staff and its local affiliates to increase awareness regarding local ANC communities.

Ankineh Zadoorian is a junior at California State Long Beach majoring in political science with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. As an intern specializing in Community and Government Affairs she has worked with the ANC-WR staff to explore opportunities for, and encourage Armenian Americans to, engage in public service through community organizations. She has also worked with the Los Angeles-Yerevan Sister City Association to plan, organize, and sponsor events and programs aimed at building stronger ties between Los Angeles and the capital of Armenia.

Since October 2006, Hovsepian has visited high school and college campuses to discuss the ANC-WR IEP and similar ANC-related job and internship opportunities for students. He has also presented the program at community events throughout California and the Western Region states.

Emphasizing the educational aspect of the ANC-WR IEP, Hovsepian explains, “The program is a learning process for everyone. Being surrounded by the Armenian youth and their thoughts brings about new ideas for the ANC. We are all very glad that the second summer session started off strongly, and as we head into the second half we look forward to even more events and activities we hope will broaden the scope of our interns’ advocacy experience.”

The Application for ANC-WR IEP Autumn Session is now available online. The deadline for the 2007 autumn session is Friday, August 17, 2007. More information about and applications for the program are available online by visiting the “Capitol Gateway” section of the ANCA website (www.anca.org).

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: ANC-WR Internship-Externship Program participants wrap up the fifth week of the program. Participants in the 2007 summer session (from left to right) are Aida Siyahian, Nareg Bostanian, Ankineh Zadoorian and Taleen Mardirossian.