WASHINGTON, DC – The Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund, established last year by the Saghdejian family in memory of their son Hovig, continues to carry on his proud legacy by opening doors for young Armenians to find jobs in Congress, consulting firms, the media, and public interest organizations, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Powered by the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund, the ANCA Capital Gateway Program provides free housing, training, networking, and job placement support to qualified college graduates seeking full-time government, public policy, and media-related job opportunities in the nation’s capital. Among the current participants and those who have recently benefited from the program in finding positions are:

* Michael Gedjeyan, a former ANCA intern and staff member in the ANCA-Western region office, was recently hired by the prestigious consulting firm of Booz Allen Hamilton.

* Andrew Gregorian has secured a position working for an international management consulting firm that provides services to the U.S. government and large private companies in the defense and aerospace industry.

* Vasken Kassakhian, who just finished a three-month tour working on the Artic Drilling issue at the Defenders of Wildlife, is looking to get back on Capitol Hill, where he interned earlier this year in the office of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA).

* Etienne Kechichian, who has worked for the United Nations in Vienna and the European Commission in Beirut, has been hired as a consultant by a Washington, DC-based international financial institution.

* Mary Vardazarian, a UCLA graduate who interned this summer in the office of Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), is interviewing for positions on Capital Hill and within the Washington, DC foreign policy community. She recently secured an internship with Development Associates.

* Ani Bedrosian, who secured a position in the office of Congressman Frank Lobiondo (R-NJ), will be returning home to Los Angeles, where she will apply her valuable Capitol Hill experience to a new position in public service.

* Megan Young, who has interned for the Leadership Council on Civil Rights and currently works as the coordinator of the Capital Gateway Program, is currently seeking a public service position in Washington, DC.

* Mane Beglaryan, who holds a Master’s degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, has secured a position at Development Associations, a leading organization implementing economic and social development programs around the world.

* Several articles on Armenia written by Grigor Hakobyan, a graduate of the program, have been published by the prestigious “Central Asia and Caucasus Analyst,” of the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

* Gohar Galyan, a Stanford University graduate, secured a position with the Corporate Executive Board, which provides best practices research, decision support tools, and executive education to the world’s leading corporations and not-for-profit institutions.

The Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fund: A Lasting Legacy

Hovig’s father Apo, his mother Rosine, and sister, Nayiri, established the Fund, which has, to date, grown to more than $75,000. All of the more than 250 donations to the Fund are held in perpetuity, with only the income used to finance the participation of young Armenian Americans in the ANCA Capital Gateway Program.

Hovig’s sudden and tragic death in a car accident last year has been a great loss for his family, friends, and the Armenian American community–in the Central Valley and around the nation. He was an exemplary son, brother, grandson, nephew, and friend, who left a legacy of love for his family and friends, and of selfless devotion to his fellow Armenians and his cultural heritage. He exemplified the best of the Armenian American tradition, proudly serving his ancient homeland and fully and energetically engaging in American civic life.

Recent donors to the Fund include:

Hamazasb & Hourik Abajian of Torrance, CA – $100
Kevork & Choughik Altounian of Annandale, VA – $100
Kris Demirjian of Reseda, CA – $50
Annette Egoian of Fresno, CA – $15
Virginia Foudulyan of Fresno, CA – $100
Victor Packing of Madera, CA – $100
Hirma Garabedian of Pacifica, CA – $50
Sirop and Alice Ghazourian of Troy, MI – $50
Armen Goenjian of Redondo Beach, CA – $200
Butros & Repsima Haddad of Hackensack, NJ – $150
Paul Jamushian of Arlington, VA – $100
Varoujan & Satenig Kassabian of Fresno, CA – $50
Bob & Anne Kevorkian of Fresno, CA – $25
Helen Lindsay of Sanger, CA – $100
Robert & Jackie Manselian of Fresno, CA – $100
Gayne Ohanyan of Fresno, CA – $150
Siraik Panosian of Fresno, CA – $100
Ossanna Proudian of Del Rey, CA – $50
Apo & Rosine Saghdejian of Fresno, CA – $15,000
Varoujan Saghdejian of Fresno, CA – $50
Khajag Sarkissian of San Francisco, CA – $150
Jirair & Serpouhie Sarkissian of San Francisco, CA – $200
Zareh Sarkissian of San Francisco, CA – $100
Michael Sarkissian of San Francisco, CA – $100
Abraham Yacobian of San Francisco, CA – $100
Aghavni Zakian of Glendale, CA – $50

Tax-deductible donations to the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund can be sent to:

Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund
ANCA Endowment Fund
888 17th St, NW, Suite 906
Washington, DC 20005

Please direct email inquiries to anca@anca.org.

Note to the Editor: Attached please find a photo of Hovig Apo Saghdejian.