104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
ancawr@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA "Leo Sarkisian" Intern Focus: Orange County’s Alex Der Alexanian
Washington, DC – Alex Der Alexanian, a proud member of Orange County’s
"Ashot Yergat" AYF Chapter is doing something special this summer. Alex is
making a real difference for the Armenian Cause in Washington, DC. Alex was
selected in May of this year to be one of four individuals from California
to serve in the distinguished ANCA "Leo Sarkisian" Internship (LSI) Program.
As an intern, Alex is making a strong impact for the Armenian Cause.
The ANCA-LSI Program is funded by the Armenian National Committee of
America – Western Region (ANCA-WR). Named after long-time ANCA activist Leo
Sarkisian, the program brings together young Armenian Americans from across
the United States and Canada to gain first-hand experience in the American
political system while working on issues of concern to the Armenian American
community.
"Alex Der Alexanian is a shining example of why the ANCA is proud to invest
in our future," commented ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian. "Every Armenian
American should be proud of Alex and his colleagues," Hamparian added.
Alex Der Alexanian, a longtime Orange County resident, is a business major
at California State University at Fullerton. As a responsible member of his
local community, he has dedicated numerous hours volunteering with the On
Track Mentorship program for at risk youth in Orange County. In addition to
his ANCA activism, Alex currently serves as the chairman of the Orange
County AYF’s social committee.
In his first week in the nation’s capital, Der Alexanian hit the ground
running. He has played a major role in working with ANCA staff to build
support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H. Res. 106). Der Alexanian
has been assigned the task of working with local community’s to get five
Members of Congress from around the country to join as cosponsors for this
human rights resolution. Der Alexanian has also traveled to Capitol Hill to
personally honor Members of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. Alex and
his fellow interns have also attended two talks as part of an eight part
seminar series. The first talk was delivered by ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian and focused on the history of the ANCA. The second
presentation was on the Republic of Armenia’s current geopolitical
challenges and was presented by ARF Bureau Member Garo Armenian.
Now in its 23rd year, the ANCA LSI Program provides student leaders and
activists an opportunity to participate in an intensive 8-week program
designed to give them the tools necessary to effectively advance issues of
concern to the Armenian American community on the federal, state and local
level. The LSI Program is a competitive and prestigious internship program
and is widely considered to be the best program of its kind for Armenian
American college students.
In addition to Alex Der Alexanian, the 2007 LSI Program participants from
the Western United States are Shant Hagopian, Dzovak Kazandjian, and Chris
Yemenidjian. Joining interns from Canada, Europe and the Eastern United
States, the LSI participants from the Western Region have conducted
significant and groundbreaking activities in just their first week in our
nation’s capital.
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress