WASHINGTON, DC – Recent graduates looking to start careers in Washington, DC are encouraged to apply to the Fall, 2016, session of the Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA) Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program (ANCA CGP) – a unique job placement program which offers three months of free housing, career-building workshops, and networking opportunities all designed to help Armenian Americans succeed in their professional goals in the nation’s capital.

Applications for the Fall, 2016, session are due by July 15th and are available at anca.org/gateway/application. The session begins on September 12th.

“Whether you just graduated from university or interested in a career change to work in Washington, DC’s fast paced public policy world, the ANCA’s Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program is an excellent place to start, surrounded by a dedicated team of program alumni and professionals ready to assist in your successful job search,” said ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian. “Our program also serves university students interested in internship opportunities in the nation’s capital. As always, space is running out – so, please, get your application in today.”

Launched in 2003 with a founding grant by the Cafesjian Family Foundation, the ANCA CGP has helped over 100 Armenian American professionals from across the U.S. explore career prospects in Washington DC. Gateway Program fellows are offered three months of free housing at the ANCA’s Aramian House, located in the heart of Washington, DC in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, just blocks from the ANCA offices. Karakashian and the Capital Gateway Program Advisory Committee (CGPAC) coordinate a series of career placement workshops on a range of issues including resume and cover letter preparation, effective interview strategies and networking. The CGPAC also connects fellows with mentors most closely aligned with their career goals for one-on-one advice and encouragement.

For university students interested in a quarter/semester in Washington, DC, the ANCA CGP can assist with internship guidance and placements both at the ANCA headquarters and other public policy and government institutions. Students are offered up to three months of free housing at The Aramian House depending on space availability and along with assistance to ensure they meet their university program obligations.

Additional information about the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program is available at anca.org/gateway or by calling (202) 775-1918.

The ANCA CGP is named after Hovig Apo Saghdejian, a beloved young community leader who lost his life in a tragic car accident and whose eternal memory continues to inspire new generations of Armenian Americans. His family generously established the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fund in his memory and, over the past decade, have played a vital role in the expansion of the program. Substantial support has also been provided by longtime ANCA benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Barbara Hekimian and the Armenian American Veterans Post of Milford, Massachusetts (AAVO).

The recent purchase of The Aramian House was made possible through a generous donation by the family of the late community leader and philanthropist Martha Aramian of Providence, Rhode Island. The Aramian family – led by sisters Sue, Margo, and the late Martha – have long been among the most generous benefactors of ANCA programs as well as of charitable projects in the Armenian homeland and the Diaspora.

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