New York, NY — The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA ER) is accepting applications for the 2005 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program, which places interns in the Armenian National Committee of America national office in Washington, DC and Eastern Region offices in New York, NY and Boston, MA. The program is open to college and university students at least 18 years of age who are U.S. residents. During the eight-week Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship, which begins in late June, interns are involved in a wide variety of projects determined in part by their own interests and goals. Participation in the program entails working on specific ANCA projects, conducting research, attending press conferences, writing reports, participating in open lecture forums, and meeting with Members of Congress and Administration officials. Lecture topics range from discussion of Armenian foreign policy issues to hands-on seminars geared toward developing key communication and writing skills. The ANC Eastern Regional Board of Directors is also looking to staff each of its offices in Boston and New York with one intern. The intern in New York would spend certain days in the week at an organization dedicated to expanding the protection of human rights. The intern would be exposed to human rights activists and lawyers pursuing individual cases of abuse and filing reports on recalcitrant governments. The intern in Boston would spend this time at a legislative office. On other days, the interns would attend lectures by prominent journalists and writers on topics pertinent to the Armenian Cause. Such talks are given at the United Nations, Harvard University, New York University, Columbia University, various human rights organizations and other institutions based in New York City and Boston. In addition, each intern would help program events, organize initiatives and develop the infrastructure of the Eastern Regional offices and its local affiliates. “The ANCA Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program provides college-aged students a wonderful opportunity to work on promoting Armenian American concerns while participating in the American political system,” stated ANCA Eastern Region Chairperson Dikran Kaligian. “We are pleased to offer this opportunity for future community leaders to learn and experience working with the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization.” The internship appointments are full-time positions. Interns are provided housing and a nominal stipend. Application packets may be requested by contacting the ANCA ER (Tel: 917-428-1918; Fax: 718-651-3637; ancaer@anca.org; P.O. Box 1066, New York, NY, 10040). The ANCA Eastern Region office must receive completed applications no later than Monday, March 31, 2005. The 21-year-old ANCA Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship is a pillar of the ANCA Capitol Gateway Program, which is designed to give qualified college students and graduates an opportunity to explore various part-time internship and full-time job opportunities in the nation’s capital. For more information on the program, visit www.anca.org. 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.