New York, NY—The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) announced that it is now accepting applications for the 2009 Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship program (LSI) in Washington, DC. The program, now in its 25th year, is a great opportunity for student activists and community leaders to learn the inner workings of our nation’s capital and the Armenian Cause. The application deadline is March 1, 2009.

Named in honor of longtime ANCA activist Leo Sarkisian, the program consists of an intensive 8-week immersion into the American political system and public affairs. Interns are drawn from the Eastern and Western ANCA regions in the United States as well as from Canada and South America. “Every summer we welcome a group of young, talented Armenian American college students from across the United States to participate in the Leo Sarkisian internship. The program affords these students the opportunity to develop their community buildings skills, to increase their understanding of the American political system, and to establish close friendships with other young Armenians” said Karine Birazian, ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director.

The interns will work just blocks from Capitol Hill in the ANCA National Headquarters. In past years, interns have attended both House and Senate committee hearings and have had the opportunity to meet many members of Congress. Interns participate in a series of lectures given by guest lecturers including U.S. government officials and public policy professionals, as well as ANCA staff members. In addition, students have had the great experience of meeting the Armenian Ambassador to America, His Excellency Tatoul Markarian, as well as the representative from Nagorno Karabakh, Vardan Barseghian.

“As a student with an interest in political science and public policy, this internship was a great opportunity for me to get real, hands-on experience in the field. On top of that, my activism on behalf of Hai Tahd has increased tenfold and by the end of my internship, I found myself energized to return home and put all I had learned to good use,” said Nieri Avanessian of Michigan, a 2008 Leo Sarkisian intern. The internship draws students with varying academic and political backgrounds.

The 2009 Leo Sarkisian Internship program will begin in mid June and run through mid August. Applications for the internship are available on the “Capital Gateway” section of the ANCA website at www.anca.org. Applicants must complete the forms corresponding to their respective region and return them to the Eastern Region or Western Region headquarters by March 1 to be considered for the 2009 program. Applications will be reviewed and those deemed qualified will be invited for an interview before final selections are made in May 2009.

For more information, or to request applications, please contact your ANCA regional headquarters at (818) 500-1918 or ancawr@anca.org for the Western Region and (917) 428-1918 or ancaer@anca.org for the Eastern Region.

Click here to download a 2009 Leo Sarkisian Internship Application:
https://www.anca.org/gateway/gateway_application.php