“THE ASSEMBLY’S INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I EVER MADE AS I BUILT VALUABLE CAREER CONNECTIONS AND FORMED STRONG FRIENDSHIPS.”
ASSEMBLY’S ENCOMPASSING 2024 INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS IN D.C. & YEREVAN MOTIVATE STUDENTS IN THE DIASPORA AND HOMELAND TO INCREASE ADVOCACY EFFORTS, MOLD FUTURE CAREERS
Washington, D.C. – An enthusiastic and hardworking group of 28 college students participated in the Armenian Assembly of America’s (Assembly) internship programs in Washington, D.C., and Yerevan, Armenia, where they expanded their professional and personal experiences in the two symbolic cities. They also attended a speaker series and participated in networking events to help shape their career aspirations, while uplifting the voice and presence of Armenians.
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“For some 47 years, the Assembly has enthusiastically welcomed students to the nation’s capital, and to fuel their interest in government, media, advocacy, policy, and research,” said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “The Assembly’s Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program serves as a foundation with students taking their positive experiences with them and continue their involvement and activism for the betterment of the Armenian people.”
The 2024 Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program in Washington D.C., which consisted of 20 interns, allowed participants the opportunity to meet with key elected officials, including Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, along with fellow Co-Chairs Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). Students also met with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA).
Intern Coordinator Sarine Meguerditchian, who participated in the program last summer as an intern in Senator Markey’s office, praised the 2024 cohort for their dedication.
“After the tragic events in Artsakh unfolded earlier this year, being able to work at the Assembly office has given me the space to engage in my passion for Armenian advocacy directly,” said Meguerditchian, a rising junior at Northwestern University, where she studies Economics and Political Science. “I was honored to be surrounded by similar-minded and eager individuals once again this summer.”
The eight-week experience was enhanced by a guest speaker series, where successful professionals and notable program alumni shared information about their career trajectories. This year’s speakers included Professor Aram Gavoor, Esq., Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the George Washington University Law School, a Board Member of the Armenian Assembly of America, and an alumnus of the Class of 2003; Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of The Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington D.C.-based think-tank, and an alumnus of the Class of 1981; Robert Avetisyan, who served as the Permanent Representative of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to the U.S.; Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Executive Director; Dr. Rouben Adalian, Director of the Armenian National Institute (ANI); Sarkis Karabashian, Director of the Nexus Armenia program at the Assembly; Max Cherry, a communications consultant and media relations expert (and grandson of one of the Assembly’s founding members, Dr. Haikaz M. Grigorian); Grigor Sargsyan, Principal Portfolio Manager and Head of the Global Fixed Income at Asset Management and Advisory at the World Bank, and an alumnus of the Class of 2003; Mariam Khaloyan, Assembly Congressional Relations Director, and an alumnus of the Class of 2015; and Robert George, Data Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, and an alumnus of the Class of 2018.
Interns also attended special events, including the Helsinki Commission’s hearing on Capitol Hill regarding the plight of political prisoners – where Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi shared remarks and spent time with Assembly interns – and touring the Library of Congress with the Armenian and Georgian Area Specialist Dr. Khatchig Mouradian.
The Assembly’s Class of 2024 carved out time to socialize and bond with their fellow interns by attending the annual Congressional baseball game at Nationals Park; an Armenian dance class led by Aris Mardirossian, founder of the D.C.-based dance group Hayi Hoki; an intern mixer hosted by the ACYOA Seniors of the D.C.-based St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church; the annual barbecue of the ANCA’s Leo Sarkisian and Maral Melkonian Avetisyan Internship Program; and also partook in memorable events such as watching the July 4 fireworks at the National Mall, touring the U.S. Capitol, joining the Congressional Armenian Staff Association (CASA) on Capitol Hill for a lunch and panel discussion, and visiting the Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, which featured paintings of Armenian artist Ivan Aivazovsky.
For intern Sabrina Ishanyan, the Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program was a “rewarding and fulfilling experience.”
The Newton, MA native, who interned with Rep. Jack Auchincloss (D-MA), is a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she studies History and Economics.
“The people I met on the Hill, while being directly immersed in the federal legislative process, helped guide me towards realizing my professional and personal pursuits,” she said. “I was incredibly grateful to be in D.C. with the Assembly, where I met and was empowered by my fellow Armenians to continue to advocate for pro-Armenian issues.”
Originally from Artsakh, Shushanik Hayriyan interned with the Armenian National Institute (ANI), where her family’s story impacted her work and activism on Capitol Hill.
“It is imperative that we consolidate our efforts to ensure the safe return of Armenians to our ancestral homeland, and to hold Azerbaijan accountable for crimes committed in Artsakh,” said Hayriyan, a student at the College of Idaho where she is a double major in Political Science and Business. “Together we can advocate for justice and the rightful claims of our people.”
As an intern for the government relations firm Potomac International Partners, Alex Marootian felt that the Assembly’s Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program provided him with a “fantastic experience in and out of the office, on and off Capitol Hill.”
“I have a deep connection with both my passion for politics and my Armenian identity, and being able to explore those as a part of this program has been such an amazing opportunity,” said Marootian, who resides in Boston, Massachusetts, and is a rising senior at The George Washington University, where he is double majoring in Political Science and French. “I was able to meet with our elected officials, talk with national leaders of Armenian-American political groups, and make deep connections with the other young and passionate Armenians in this program.”
While interning at the Embassy of Armenia to the U.S., Alec Samra noted that his interest in international relations and foreign policy deepened, and he emphasized that a highlight of the program was meeting representatives on Capitol Hill and using his platform to raise awareness of pro-Armenian issues.
“I have been able to explore my interest in politics through numerous Assembly events and guest speakers, which have been incredibly informative and worthwhile,” said Samra, a rising junior at Florida Atlantic University who is majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law. “This experience has also allowed me to build valuable career connections and form strong friendships with my fellow interns.”
This year’s D.C. intern class included: Ani Ajamian, Armenian Assembly of America; David Babigian, Schoening Strategies; Joseph Chelebian, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA); Hagop Demirjian, Rep. Michael Bost (R-IL); Shushanik Hayriyan, Armenian National Institute and Armenia Tree Project; Sabrina Ishanyan, Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA); Eliza Kalenjian, Armenian Assembly of America; Anna Kaloustian, WANi Organization; Tatevik Kamalyan, Embassy of Armenia to the U.S.; Alexander Kibarian, American Academy of Dermatology; Alex Marootian, Potomac International Partners; Zaven Masih, Armenian Assembly of America; Lili Mkrtchyan, Armenian National Institute; Raffi Nalbandian, WilkinGuttenplan; Nareg Panossian, Armenian National Institute; Alec Samra, Embassy of Armenia to the U.S.; Mihranush Varzhapetyan, Armenian National Institute; Sergey Khachatryan, Armenian National Institute; and Susanna Kharatyan, Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA)
In addition to gaining professional work experience, interns also discovered more about their ancestral roots.
During a tour of the Sardarapat Museum, intern Yulia Danielyan inquired if the section on the history and liberation struggle of Sardarapat had any records on her great-great-grandfather, Vladimir Perekrestov, which the guide confirmed and allowed Yulia to take photos with her great-great-grandfather’s memorabilia, including his photos and shoulder straps. She noted that unearthing more of her family history was one of her “favorite moments” during the program, alongside the bonds she created with her cohort.
“The one thing I never expected this internship to give me is new strong friendships,” said Danielyan, who studies Computer Information Systems at the University of Washington. “Being able to explore Yerevan with them has been a highlight and I’m glad to be taking these friendships with me when I leave.”
Participants in the Assembly’s Yerevan Internship Program included
Adam Sherinian, RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Aleksandr Mangasarov, RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ani Hekimian, Armenian-American Wellness Center; Caylyn Kojamanian, RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Defender’s Office; Sophia Alexanian, Matenadaran; Sosie Scott, RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Victoria Melkonyan, CivilNet; Yulia Danielyan, Matenadaran.
The Assembly’s Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program, which marks its 47th year, along with its sister Summer Internship Program in Armenia, has welcomed over 1,200 students over the decades. The programs offer students internships in government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and mass media, as well as meetings with elected officials, community leaders, entrepreneurs and leading professionals in various fields including law, business, and academics.
