New York Summer Intern Program Concludes 21st Season with Great Success; Summer 2009 Applications Available Now

The AGBU is currently accepting applications for the New York Summer Intern Program (NYSIP). The deadline for applications is December 1, 2008. Information on the application process, as well as the application form itself, is available at www.agbu.org/nysip.

In its 22nd year, the Program has over 600 alumni from throughout the world, including Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, and Lebanon. This past summer, 38 interns had opportunities to work at New York's leading financial institutions, law firms, sports and entertainment outlets, media organizations, and fashion houses. Throughout the years, NYSIP interns have been placed at a number of the city's most prominent institutions, including Deutsche Bank Securities, Merrill Lynch, Columbia University Medical Center, Entertainment Weekly, Isaac Mizrahi, the National Hockey League, The People's Choice Awards, Telegraph Newspaper UK, and Hermes.

The internships provide rewarding professional experiences and opportunities for enhancing career development and contacts, which are invaluable in today's intensely competitive global marketplace. In addition, interns live on the campus of New York University and participate in social and cultural events that create shared memories of friendships.

During evenings and weekends, NYSIP interns participate in educational, cultural and professional networking events. This past year, lecturers included NYSIP alumnus Patrick Sarkissian, now president of Sarkissian Mason, a full-service international interactive media and graphic design agency, who spoke about becoming an entrepreneur, stressing the importance of diligence, hard work, research, and belief in one's self.

"AGBU's NYSIP is one of the defining pillars in the personality of those young Armenians who are brave enough to attend," said Sarkissian. "It takes courage to be in a city where you know no one and are expected to prove yourself - it is the essence of building character. The year I attended I remember facing the city and feeling so small in comparison. Ten years later, I watch my intern and realize how experience builds courage and strength, and that the city isn't so daunting after all."

The cultural and educational activities help strengthen each intern's sense of pride in their heritage, whether they are learning about Armenian dance and language or discussing the role and mission of the Armenian Church with His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) at St. Vartan Cathedral, one of the key headquarters for religious life in the diaspora.

The internship program is also enhanced by support and guidance throughout the summer from the AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York (YPGNY), many of whom are NYSIP alumni. In 2008, the Young Professionals took on an even greater role by hosting a summer-long mentoring initiative, which paired each intern with an industry leader in their field of study. Mentors met with their interns several times throughout the summer, and undoubtedly many will continue as future advisors and professional contacts for the interns.

This year was a bittersweet year for NYSIP and the extended AGBU family as all were saddened by the passing away of Vartkess Balian. As co-chair of the AGBU President's Club, Mr. Balian co-founded NYSIP in 1987 along with his wife Rita Balian. They worked selflessly and tirelessly for 20 years to build the program to where it has reached today. The AGBU and the alumni of the Internship Programs are grateful to Vartkess and Rita Balian for the sacrifices that they have made. This year the torch was passed to their son Raffi Balian and AGBU Central Board Member Sarkis Jebejian, who together co-chair the program. Raffi Balian serves as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State, and Sarkis Jebejian, is a partner in the law firm of Cravath, Swaine, and Moore.

Each summer comes to a close with the Supervisor's Reception, which pays tribute to the individuals who shared their time, guidance, and expertise with the interns. The NYSIP Director Michael Hovsepian served as the Master of Ceremonies, Patrick Sarkissian, President of Sarkissian Mason and a NYSIP alumnus, was the keynote speaker, while supervisor Anna Bruno of AXA Advisors and AGBU Central Board of Directors Member Arda Haratunian also reflected on the program. Two interns, Ani Toumajan from Michigan and Arman Kalamkarian from Fresno, also provided insight into the student side of the experience.

As yet another summer in New York came to a close, the 2008 program participants, like many interns before them, left the city with unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships, professional connections, a wealth of diverse knowledge and a feeling of wanting to give back in the future.

"No matter how far from home you may be, when there are Armenians around, you're with your family," said Miranda Torosoglu, an intern from Melbourne, Australia, after her summer in New York.

"The most important thing I learned during my AGBU New York Summer Intern Program experience was that there is a whole world of opportunity out there for me, just as long as I go after it and achieve my goals," said intern Ximena Kedikian of Buenos Aires, Argentina. "AGBU has given me wonderful opportunities to explore my horizons and connect with my culture."

Sponsored by the AGBU President's Club, the AGBU New York Summer Intern Program (NYSIP) (agbu.org/nysip) was established in 1987 by Vartkess and Rita Balian. NYSIP places young, aspiring Armenians in eight-week internships in leading academic, cultural, financial, governmental, legal, media and medical institutions in New York, while providing a well-rounded program of Armenian cultural, educational and community-service activities.