From: Assembly <[email protected]>
Subject: AAA: Successful Assembly Internship in Washington Comes To A Close
Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
August 11, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
SUCCESSFUL ASSEMBLY INTERNSHIP IN WASHINGTON COMES TO A CLOSE
Washington, DC – This summer, twenty Armenian college students from
across the United States, including three from Armenia, took part in
the Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program in Washington,
DC. During their eight-week stint in the nation’s capital, students
took part in a full schedule of activities designed to advance their
professional development and encourage community and public service.
Several Assembly interns spent the summer working in the offices of
prominent lawmakers including Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Carl
Levin (D-MI) and Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ed Royce
(R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Anthony Weiner (D-NY), while others
worked at federal government agencies, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), media outlets and think tanks. "I’ve had a great time here
in DC learning not just about the American political system but also
about Armenia," said Joel Cretan, a Stanford University student who
interned for Senator Boxer. "My work in the Senate has been
instrumental in helping me decide what I want to do later in life in
the political sphere, and spending time with a lot of Armenians and
Armenian groups has been rewarding."
In addition to educational and career building opportunities, the
students developed a greater understanding of their common Armenian
heritage by interacting with their fellow interns from across the
United States, as well as Armenia.
"In Armenia I had little idea what it meant to be an
Armenian-American. I didn’t know how much work that’s been done for
Armenia by the Diaspora," said Margarita Tadevosyan, a Yerevan State
University student who interned at the Offices of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic. "Now that I’m aware, I will make sure that all my friends
back home know that we are one nation. No matter where we live, what
we do, there is one thing that unites all of us – it is being
Armenian."
To date, more than 800 students have participated in the program since
it was established in 1977.
A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE
In addition to their busy internships, students also met with Armenian
issues supporters including Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) and
Representatives Mark Kirk (R-IL), James Langevin (D-RI), Edward
Markey (D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and
Mark Souder (R-IN). During these meetings, lawmakers discussed Armenia
specific legislative items such as the Rail Measure and the Genocide
Resolution, and learned more about the policymaking process. The
Assembly interns also attended a briefing at the United States
Institute of Peace where Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian and Foreign
Minster Georgi Petrosian of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic discussed
prospects for peace in the region. This event was followed by a
reception for the NKR officials co-hosted by the Office of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, the Armenian Embassy, and the Armenian Assembly of
America and in cooperation with Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Joseph
Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). The interns also had
a chance to meet with Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) during this
reception. Additionally, students met Armenian Ambassador to the
U.S. Tatoul Markarian at the Armenian Embassy and visited the
Department of State where Elizabeth Rood, Office Director for Caucasus
Affairs and Regional Conflicts, Bureau of European and Eurasian
Affairs, provided a briefing on the State Department’s
mission. Dr. Levon Avdoyan who specializes in Armenian and Georgian
studies at the Library of Congress, led a tour of the facilities and
discussed the vast collection of Armenian artifacts. The interns also
met with Assistant Administrator Joseph Bogosian at the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) and Armenian National Institute (ANI)
Director Dr. Rouben Adalian provided the interns with a preview of the
planned Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial (AGMM). Interns also
learned more about the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) during a
presentation by Deputy Resident Country Director of Operations for
Armenia Myron Hirniak and discussed several issues in the news with
journalists Michael Doyle from McClatchy Newspaper Inc. and
T.K. Malloy from United Press International (UPI). Interns also met
with Executive Director Mark Kirkorian from the Center for Immigration
Studies (CIS), Policy Advisor Noris Balabanian from Department of
Homeland Security and Dean Shahinian of the Senate Banking
Committee. Additionally, Assembly Board Member and founder of
Birthright Armenia Edele Hovnanian and founder and Director of Project
Save Ruth Thomasian visited the Assembly office to inform interns on
their organizations.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Other program highlights included museum tours and visits to historic
landmarks, such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln and
Jefferson Memorials. The interns also took a special weekend trip to
longtime Fellow Trustee Harold and Melissa Keshishian’s farm in
Maryland. Some students also displayed their talents by participating
in a variety show at St. Mary’s Armenian Church where they met with
local Armenians. Intern Levon Keushkerian of Los Angeles, CA has
chronicled his experiences and those of his fellow classmates on an
online blog. To access this blog go to:
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.
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NR#2006-069
Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following
links:
ss/2006-069/2006-069-1.JPG
CAPTION: Interns met with Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian (center)
and Foreign Minster Georgi Petrosian (far left) of NKR at an event
held by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington.
06-069/2006-069-2.JPG
CAPTION: Levon Keushkerian (left) interned at the Armenian Embassy
where he worked closely with Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul
Markarian.
ess/2006-069/2006-069-3.jpg
CAPTION: Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) (center) and Dean Shahinian,
counsel, Senate Banking Committee (far left) met with the interns on
the steps of the Capitol building.
-069/2006-069-4.JPG
CAPTION: Representative Mark Souder (R-IN) discussed legislative
issues with interns on Capitol Hill.
/2006-069-5.jpg
CAPTION: Assembly interns at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.
-069/2006-069-6.JPG
CAPTION: Along with the other interns, Taron Burris and Caroline Hogan
enjoyed a pleasant summer day at the Keshishian farm in Maryland.