Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
Facsimile: (818) 246-7353

PRESS RELEASE

August 20, 2009
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC-WR INTERN SPOTLIGHT: LAUREN SHENIAN
GCC student leader promotes greater understanding of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic

GLENDALE, CA — Participating in the 2009 Summer Session of the Armenian
National Committee-Western Region’s Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR
IEP), Lauren Shenian has done a little bit of everything as a Community and
Government Affairs Intern. Over the past ten weeks, she has developed
educational events for students ranging from elementary and middle school to
college and prepared informational packages about the Republic of Nagorno
Karabakh.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the IEP," says
Shenian. "It has given me the chance to get to know some wonderful,
dedicated, and hard-working people as well as provide me with an
extraordinary experience."

Researching the background of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and the
ongoing peace process, Shenian prepared informational packages to help
educate community leaders about the history of the region and its residents’
struggle to have their right to self-determination respected. She also
teamed up with fellow ANC-WR IEP intern Nare Kupelian to organize and host a
workshop about genocide education and conflict resolution geared towards
college students.

Shenian is a psychology major at Glendale Community College and is also very
involved with campus life activities. As a member of the Associated
Students of Glendale Community College (ASGCC), Shenian was the student
government’s Vice President of Administration at the college. She is very
active in the Armenian Student Association as well serving as an advisor and
as vice president of the campus club.

Shenian learned about the ANC’s internship program through a presentation
that was given at a GCC ASA meeting. She feels that her participation in
both groups and the leadership positions she has held in them have helped
prepare her for the ANC-WR IEP.

"One of the things I will definitely take away from this program is the
amount of hard work that everyone puts in. It is this kind of tireless
dedication that inspires me to increase my skills and my participation level
in the future," says Shenian.

Shenian is in her last year at GCC and is considering a number of schools in
southern California to continue her studies. She hopes to pursue a career
in optometry. Shenian will continue to work with the ANC following the
culmination of the internship program and looks forward to the opportunity
to see many of the projects she started as an intern come to fruition.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest Armenian
American grassroots community 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 works to promote understanding regarding issues of
concern to the Armenian American community.

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