Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
December 1, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: ckojoian@aaainc.org
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2005 SUMMER INTERNSHIP
PROGRAMS IN WASHINGTON, YEREVAN
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America announced this week
that it is accepting applications for the 2005 Terjenian-Thomas
Assembly Internship Program in Washington, DC and the Summer
Internship Program in Yerevan. Both internship programs provide
college students of Armenian descent an opportunity to work in those
cities while taking part in a full schedule of educational, cultural
and social activities.
Students who are accepted into the Washington program will be placed
as interns in various offices including congressional, think tank,
media and governmental agencies. Interns also have the opportunity to
meet with U.S Representatives, Senators, other government officials
and noted academians through the Capitol Ideas and Lecture Series
programs. Students will also be exposed to the wide variety of social
activities and networking opportunities that are planned throughout
their eight week stay.
Similarly, students enrolled in the Yerevan program are placed in
Armenian governmental offices and inter-governmental agencies. If
accepted, they will have the opportunity to experience life in their
ancestral homeland while gaining valuable work experience.
At the end of their eight-week stint in our nation’s capital, some
students, like 2002 intern alum and George Washington University
graduate Leslie Azarian of Old Tappan, New Jersey, leave with the
confidence of having gained valuable work experience and life-long
friendships.
“The internship program in DC surpassed all of my expectations,”
Azarian said. “I was offered a full-time job during my senior year of
college and still keep in close contact with members of my internship
class. Without this summer experience, none of this would be
possible.”
Like Azarian, 2004 intern alum Christine Heath of Bloomfield Hills,
MI, currently a junior at the University of Michigan, said, “The
Armenian Assembly has given me a gift that I will carry throughout my
life. I will always cherish the excitement and stimulation of living
and working in our nation’s capital.”
And like her Washington counterparts, 2004 Armenia intern alum Eliz
Agopian’s experience was also inspiring. “Prior to coming to Armenia,
I felt removed from Armenia and my cultural heritage. I had heard
many stories that made me fearful that I might be disappointed from my
visit. Instead, Armenians amazed me with their hospitality,
cheerfulness and intelligence. I realized that Armenia faces some
substantial challenges, but also shows incredible potential.”
Since its founding in 1977, the internship program has welcomed more
than 800 talented college-aged Armenian-Americans to Washington, DC.
Following the success of the Washington program, the Assembly launched
a similar program in Armenia in 1999 to give students an opportunity
to work in Armenian government agencies, meet with Armenian and
Nagorno Karabakh officials and tour historical sites throughout the
region.
To learn more about the Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program,
download application forms or apply online, go to the Assembly Web
site at Partial and
full housing scholarships are available to qualified applicants on a
competitive basis. The deadline for completed Washington, DC program
applications is January 15, 2005 and February 15, 2005 for Armenia.
For additional information or assistance with the application process,
please contact Alex Karapetian, Intern Program Manager, at
202-393-3434 ext. 245 or via e-mail at alex@aaainc.org.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
NR#2004-103
Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following
links:
CAPTION: Left to Right: Assembly Intern Program Manager Alex
Karapetian with 2004 summer interns Talar Beylerian, Joe Piatt and
Taniel Koushakijian on Capitol Hill.
CAPTION: Armenia Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian flanked by 2004
Yerevan program participants Alexandra Kazarian, left, and Marina
Nazarbekian.