ANCG WELCOMES SPRING 2009 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
January 19, 2009

This week, the Armenian National Committee - Glendale Chapter welcomed its spring 2009 Internship participants.  Joining the program for the first intern class of the New Year are Sarkis Balagyozyan, Talar Kakilian, and Gagik Mkhitaryan

“The ANCG internship program demonstrates our commitment to the next generation of leaders in our community,” stated Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of ANCG “We look forward to providing our interns with the necessary tools and guidance that will ultimately prepare them to become active and engaged public servants,” added Asatryan.

Sarkis Balagyozyan is a motivated senior at Clark Magnet High School who has been very active in the political arena since the age of 13. Growing up after the fall of the Soviet Union, Balagyozyan has adopted a special interest in international affairs and community development. Sarkis is also a proud member of the Armenian Club on campus.

"I am very proud of joining the ANC and I am looking forward to gain as much knowledge and experience from this extraordinary opportunity" Balagyozyan stated.

Talar Kakilian is a high school junior at Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School in Altadena, California where she is an honor roll student and the student body treasurer.  She is also a member of the JV basketball team and hopes to start a human rights student organization on campus.  Kakilian has also volunteered with various city organizations including Glendale City Employees' Association and public libraries. Talar is also a proud member of the Armenian Youth Federation "Nigol Touman" Pasadena Chapter.  After graduating high school, Kakilian hopes to attend UCLA or UC Berkeley to pursue a dual degree in Armenian history and International Relations.

"Working with the ANC I hope to better understand the Armenian community.  This program will provide the opportunity for me to help my peers today, and it will also better prepare me for my future,” stated Kakilian.

A third year student at Woodbury University, Gagik Mkhitaryan looks forward to the ANC Glendale Internship Program as an opportunity to gain more insight on local politics. Already a veteran volunteer of several municipal, state-wide and federal level campaigns, Mkhitaryan first became involved in politics volunteering for current Glendale City Clerk, Ardashes Kassakhian's 2005 campaign.  Mkhitaryan is an active member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee.  He is the treasurer and All-ASA Representative of the Woodbury University Armenian Student Association.  He hopes to continue his education at Georgetown University in Washington DC.

"I am very interested in the political process and public service.  As a grassroots, public affairs community organization, the ANC will allow me to help educate and empower my fellow citizens to take action locally and in doing so, make a difference here in Glendale and beyond," said Mkhitaryan.

Established in fall 2007, the ANCG IP is a selective part time, leadership training program, which introduces young public servants to all aspects of the public affairs arena.  The program provides an opportunity for student leaders and activists to gain an in-depth understanding of Armenian American issues as well as advocacy efforts on the local level. The program hosts spring, summer, and autumn sessions.

The Armenian National Committee-Glendale Chapter advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city's Armenian American community and promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels. It is the voice of this vibrant community, which seeks to advance and enrich Glendale.

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***Gagik Mkhitaryan was dismissed from the ANC Glendale Internship Program