Washington, DC – Alex Der Alexanian, a proud member of Orange County’s “Ashot Yergat” AYF Chapter is doing something special this summer. Alex is making a real difference for the Armenian Cause in Washington, DC. Alex was selected in May of this year to be one of four individuals from California to serve in the distinguished ANCA “Leo Sarkisian” Internship (LSI) Program. As an intern, Alex is making a strong impact for the Armenian Cause.

The ANCA-LSI Program is funded by the Armenian National Committee of America — Western Region (ANCA-WR). Named after long-time ANCA activist Leo Sarkisian, the program brings together young Armenian Americans from across the United States and Canada to gain first-hand experience in the American political system while working on issues of concern to the Armenian American community.

“Alex Der Alexanian is a shining example of why the ANCA is proud to invest in our future,” commented ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian. “Every Armenian American should be proud of Alex and his colleagues,” Hamparian added.

Alex Der Alexanian, a longtime Orange County resident, is a business major at California State University at Fullerton. As a responsible member of his local community, he has dedicated numerous hours volunteering with the On Track Mentorship program for at risk youth in Orange County. In addition to his ANCA activism, Alex currently serves as the chairman of the Orange County AYF’s social committee.

In his first week in the nation’s capital, Der Alexanian hit the ground running. He has played a major role in working with ANCA staff to build support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H. Res. 106). Der Alexanian has been assigned the task of working with local community’s to get five Members of Congress from around the country to join as cosponsors for this human rights resolution. Der Alexanian has also traveled to Capitol Hill to personally honor Members of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. Alex and his fellow interns have also attended two talks as part of an eight part seminar series. The first talk was delivered by ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and focused on the history of the ANCA. The second presentation was on the Republic of Armenia’s current geopolitical challenges and was presented by ARF Bureau Member Garo Armenian.

Now in its 23rd 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.

In addition to Alex Der Alexanian, the 2007 LSI Program participants from the Western United States are Shant Hagopian, Dzovak Kazandjian, and Chris Yemenidjian. Joining interns from Canada, Europe and the Eastern United States, the LSI participants from the Western Region have conducted significant and groundbreaking activities in just their first week in our nation’s capital.

The Armenian National Committee of America 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: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-8) joins Leo Sarkisian Internship Participants at a Washington Nationals Baseball game.