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ANCA Leo Sarkisian Interns Take Washington, DC by Storm

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  • ANCA Leo Sarkisian Interns Take Washington, DC by Storm

    PRESS RELEASE
    Date: June 23, 2008
    Armenian National Committee of America
    Eastern Region
    122 W. 27th St, Floor 12, New York, NY, 10001
    Contact: Karine Birazian
    Tel: 917-428-1918

    ANCA LEO SARKISIAN INTERNS TAKE WASHINGTON, DC BY STORM
    --Eastern Region activists Nieri Avanessian and Zori Eurdekian reflect
    on their experiences

    Washington, DC- After last week's excitement of House and Senate
    hearings, Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region
    (ANCA-ER) Leo Sarkisian Interns, Nieri Avanessian and Zori Eurdekian,
    reflect on their new experiences and first week in Washington, DC.

    "We are excited, confident, and honored that Nieri and Zori will
    experience working to help advance the Armenian cause by interning for
    the ANCA this summer. Both activists exhibit strong skills in the
    political arena and have shown vast commitment to their Armenian
    heritage," commented ANCA ER Executive Director Karine Birazian.

    Nieri Avanessian is a Michigan native who completed her freshman year
    at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor as an English & political
    science major. Active in various organizations including the
    University of Michigan Armenian Students Cultural Association, the
    Armenian Youth Federation, the Hamazkayin Dance Ensemble, and the
    University of Michigan Arts Chorale, Avanessian has already shown
    strong leadership roles and efforts to help advance the Armenian cause
    while interning with the ANCA.

    After being accepted to the internship, Avanessian stated: "I applied
    to this internship program to gain a more intimate knowledge of the
    American government and the way that lobbying groups affect it. I
    really hope to make a big difference in the Armenian cause and I think
    that by working in Washington, D.C. with the ANCA, I can accomplish
    that." Following her first week, in her weekly journal, she
    reflected, "Being involved in Hai Tahd is great no matter where you
    are, but when you're in Washington, DC, in the thick of it all, it is
    just that much more personal and close to your heart."

    Along with helping with day-to-day office activities, Avanessian will
    be researching U.S. aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and the
    Millennium Challenge Account. Having an opportunity to already hear
    from Ara Hovsepyan the CEO of the Millennium Challenge
    Account-Armenia, Avanessian is enthusiastic about working on this
    project.

    Zori Eurdekian, born and raised in New York, is currently a junior at
    Babson College. Heavily involved with school campus affairs,
    including the Babson Campus Activities Board, the Babson Armenian
    Student Association, and the Babson Admissions Assistant Program,
    Eurdekian is a team player, even sacrificing attending the House
    Hearing on the Caucasus this past Wednesday to assist at the ANCA
    office.

    In his personal statement in applying for the internship program,
    Eurdekian stated, "As Armenian Americans, we should be proactive by
    working within the American political system. I am hoping the ANCA
    summer internship program will help give me the tools and the
    knowledge to work within the system and introduce me to the ways of
    how policies are shaped and influenced. I am also hoping to meet
    other American Armenians from different regions of the country to
    establish a network of lifelong friends with common goals and
    ambitions."

    Reflecting on week one of the Leo Sarkisian Internship, Eurdekian
    commented, "After a successful, informative, and enjoyable first week,
    I am more enabled and capable of carrying out the mission of the ANCA.
    I look forward to working with all the interns, ANCA staff, and all
    the Capitol Hill staff in the upcoming weeks."

    Eurdekian will be working with the ANCA staff in helping to send out
    and collect ANCA 2008 Questionnaires for the upcoming House and Senate
    races.

    Last year's Eastern Region interns, Nyree Naljian and Alidz Oshagan,
    have been called upon by ANCA ER Executive Director Karine Birazian to
    become active and help guide Avanessian and Eurdekian through their
    own experiences from interning with the ANCA in 2007. Both graduates
    of the LSI Program will offer guidance and help to all the LSI
    participants.

    Now in its 24th 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.

    The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) 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.

    ####

    Photo Caption #1: ANCA Leo Sarkisian Intern Nieri Avanessian
    Photo Caption #2: ANCA Leo Sarkisian Intern Zori Eurdekian
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