Washington, DC - Students from George Washington University (GW) recently completed their fall semester internships at the Assembly working on a wide variety of Armenian-American issues, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). Every semester, the Assembly offers local university students a chance to complete a professional internship in the Assembly office. This semester, the Assembly was fortunate to have four interns, each working in the Assembly's congressional relations, grassroots, research and analysis and public affairs departments. "We are happy to provide college students with a professional working experience," stated Assembly Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian. "Every year, the Assembly dedicates itself to help develop the careers of college students who share an interest in advancing Armenian-American issues," stated Koushakjian.. Interning in the Assembly's grassroots department, David Mnatsakanov stated, "My semester internship at the Assembly gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how our community continues to be engaged in the American democratic process." Mnatsakanov, a junior at the GW Elliot School of International Affairs, is also a member of the Armenian Student Network of GW and is active in the greater Washington, DC Armenian community.. Working in the Assembly's public affairs and congressional relations departments, interns Candice Lundquist and Dustin Beaudoin assisted Assembly staff in various projects and assignments covering policy issues debated on Capitol Hill. Intern Daniel Wein, who worked in the Assembly's research and analysis department, stated, "I am thankful to the Assembly for providing me with a great experience that will help me in my professional career." With his growing interest in politics, Wein, a Chicago native, separately volunteered his personal time by working on the successful Senate campaign of Mark Kirk (R-IL). Kirk, during his tenure in the House of Representatives, served as Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus. "The Assembly continues to offer college students year-round opportunities to work on Armenian issues in our nation's capital," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Our semester opportunities supplement our full-time, eight-week summer internship programs in Washington, DC and Yerevan." The deadline for the 2011 Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Summer Internship Program in Washington, DC is December 10, 2010. Applications for the Assembly's Summer Internship Program in Armenia will be accepted through February 15, 2011. Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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