Recent Armenian American Graduates: Kick-Start your Careers in Washington, DC

November 17, 2023: Winter 2024 Application Deadline for ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program

October 23, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – Recent graduates interested in starting careers in policy, politics, or media are invited to apply for the Winter 2024 session of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program (CGP) – a unique Washington DC job placement service that has helped hundreds of Armenian Americans explore professional opportunities in the nation’s capital.

The Capital Gateway Program offers successful applicants three months of free housing, professional development workshops, networking opportunities, and personalized mentorships to help them excel in their careers in Washington, DC.

Applications for the Winter 2024 session are due by November 17th. The session begins on January 8th, 2024. In addition to recent graduates, the Gateway Program also serves university students interested in Washington, DC internship opportunities – both at the ANCA offices and at various governmental agencies, space permitting.

“Hundreds of Armenian American young professionals started their Washington DC policy careers through the ANCA’s Gateway program. With mentorships, enrichment seminars, and free housing – right in the heart of the nation’s capital – the transition to Washington, DC is smoother than ever,” said ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian.

Fall 2022 fellow Soseh Yepoyan called the Gateway program “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kick-start your DC professional career,” noting that constructive workshops and networking events help participants explore opportunities and identify where their future interests lie.

“Coming to a new city can be daunting, but with the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway program, it becomes a home away from home,” explained fellow Fall 2022 participant Nikolas Manzo, who touted the program’s master class in resume building, networking, and LinkedIn prep as particularly useful.

Launched in 2003, the ANCA Gateway Program 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, has played a vital role in the expansion of the program. Substantial support has also been provided through a grant by the Cafesjian Family Foundation, longtime ANCA benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Barbara Hekimian, and the Armenian American Veterans Post of Milford, Massachusetts (AAVO).

The Gateway Program has helped over 275 Armenian American professionals from across the US 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. Manoukian 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.

The Aramian House was purchased in 2016 and 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, the late Margo, and the late Martha – have long been among the most generous benefactors of ANCA programs and charitable projects in the Armenian homeland and the Diaspora.

Additional information about the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program is available at anca.org/gateway, by emailing gateway@anca.org or by calling (202) 775-1918. Information about all the ANCA’s youth empowerment programs is available at https://anca.org/youth.

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