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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
New York Summer Intern Program (NYSIP) Concludes 21st Season with Great
Success; Summer 2009 Applications Available Now
The AGBU is currently accepting applications for the New York Summer
Intern Program (NYSIP). The deadline for applications is December 1,
2008. Information on the application process, as well as the application
form itself, is available at
In its 22nd year, the Program has over 600 alumni from throughout the
world, including Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England,
France, and Lebanon. This past summer, 38 interns had opportunities to
work at New York’s leading financial institutions, law firms, sports and
entertainment outlets, media organizations, and fashion houses.
Throughout the years, NYSIP interns have been placed at a number of the
city’s most prominent institutions, including Deutsche Bank Securities,
Merrill Lynch, Columbia University Medical Center, Entertainment Weekly,
Isaac Mizrahi, the National Hockey League, The People’s Choice Awards,
Telegraph Newspaper UK, and Hermes.
The internships provide rewarding professional experiences and
opportunities for enhancing career development and contacts, which are
invaluable in today’s intensely competitive global marketplace. In
addition, interns live on the campus of New York University and
participate in social and cultural events that create shared memories of
friendships.
During evenings and weekends, NYSIP interns participate in educational,
cultural and professional networking events. This past year, lecturers
included NYSIP alumnus Patrick Sarkissian, now president of Sarkissian
Mason, a full-service international interactive media and graphic design
agency, who spoke about becoming an entrepreneur, stressing the
importance of diligence, hard work, research, and belief in one’s self.
"AGBU’s NYSIP is one of the defining pillars in the personality of those
young Armenians who are brave enough to attend," said Sarkissian. "It
takes courage to be in a city where you know no one and are expected to
prove yourself – it is the essence of building character. The year I
attended I remember facing the city and feeling so small in comparison.
Ten years later, I watch my intern and realize how experience builds
courage and strength, and that the city isn’t so daunting after all."
The cultural and educational activities help strengthen each intern’s
sense of pride in their heritage, whether they are learning about
Armenian dance and language or discussing the role and mission of the
Armenian Church with His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) at St. Vartan
Cathedral, one of the key headquarters for religious life in the
diaspora.
The internship program is also enhanced by support and guidance
throughout the summer from the AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New
York (YPGNY), many of whom are NYSIP alumni. In 2008, the Young
Professionals took on an even greater role by hosting a summer-long
mentoring initiative, which paired each intern with an industry leader
in their field of study. Mentors met with their interns several times
throughout the summer, and undoubtedly many will continue as future
advisors and professional contacts for the interns.
This year was a bittersweet year for NYSIP and the extended AGBU family
as all were saddened by the passing away of Vartkess Balian. As co-chair
of the AGBU President’s Club, Mr. Balian co-founded NYSIP in 1987 along
with his wife Rita Balian. They worked selflessly and tirelessly for 20
years to build the program to where it has reached today. The AGBU and
the alumni of the Internship Programs are grateful to Vartkess and Rita
Balian for the sacrifices that they have made. This year the torch was
passed to their son Raffi Balian and AGBU Central Board Member Sarkis
Jebejian, who together co-chair the program. Raffi Balian serves as a
Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State, and Sarkis
Jebejian, is a partner in the law firm of Cravath, Swaine, and Moore.
Each summer comes to a close with the Supervisor’s Reception, which pays
tribute to the individuals who shared their time, guidance, and
expertise with the interns. The NYSIP Director Michael Hovsepian served
as the Master of Ceremonies, Patrick Sarkissian, President of Sarkissian
Mason and a NYSIP alumnus, was the keynote speaker, while supervisor
Anna Bruno of AXA Advisors and AGBU Central Board of Directors Member
Arda Haratunian also reflected on the program. Two interns, Ani Toumajan
from Michigan and Arman Kalamkarian from Fresno, also provided insight
into the student side of the experience.
As yet another summer in New York came to a close, the 2008 program
participants, like many interns before them, left the city with
unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships, professional connections,
a wealth of diverse knowledge and a feeling of wanting to give back in
the future.
"No matter how far from home you may be, when there are Armenians
around, you’re with your family," said Miranda Torosoglu, an intern from
Melbourne, Australia, after her summer in New York.
"The most important thing I learned during my AGBU New York Summer
Intern Program experience was that there is a whole world of opportunity
out there for me, just as long as I go after it and achieve my goals,"
said intern Ximena Kedikian of Buenos Aires, Argentina. "AGBU has given
me wonderful opportunities to explore my horizons and connect with my
culture."
Sponsored by the AGBU President’s Club, the AGBU New York Summer Intern
Program (NYSIP) (agbu.org/nysip) was established in 1987 by Vartkess and
Rita Balian. NYSIP places young, aspiring Armenians in eight-week
internships in leading academic, cultural, financial, governmental,
legal, media and medical institutions in New York, while providing a
well-rounded program of Armenian cultural, educational and
community-service activities.
For more information on AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit