New York Summer Intern Program Wraps Up its 22nd Season with Great Success

From June 14 through August 8, 2009, 32 college students of Armenian descent from 11 countries participated in the eight-week New York Summer Intern Program (NYSIP). The 2009 Program was comprised of students from Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Syria, Russia, and the United States.

Despite the economic downturn and widely felt recession, this year’s interns had opportunities to work at a number of well-respected organizations and firms. The 2009 host institutions included 5WPR, Animal Medical Center, Araks Fashion, ASG Advisors, AXA Advisors, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Columbia University Hospital, Eurasia Group, Experian Simmons, First Solar, Interaudi Bank, International Assets, March Partners, Meaningful World, Merrill Lynch, Mirrorball, Near East Foundation, Northwestern Mutual, Rothschild, Ruder Finn, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the UN, and STV Incorporated Construction.

Each year, NYSIP is geared towards providing distinguished students with a rewarding professional experience and opportunities for enhancing career development and contacts, which are invaluable tools in today's intensely competitive global marketplace. Interns lived in the 13th Street Residence Hall of New York University. During evenings and weekends, NYSIP participants were involved in various educational, cultural, social, and professional networking events. The cultural and educational activities continuously help to strengthen each intern's sense of pride in their heritage and learn about the various facets that constitute Armenian identity. They attended a series of lectures during the program, including: a presentation by AGBU Board Member Yervant Zorian on AGBU's Armenian Virutal College; a book reading by author Margaret Ahnert from her book, The Knock At The Door; a talk by frequent The New York Times contributor, Meline Toumani; a discussion with filmmaker Andrew Goldberg, director of the groundbreaking PBS documentary The Armenian Genocide; a networking and resume writing workshop with Paul Kayaian of Mosaic Enterprises; an Armenian identity Presentation by Dr. Ani Bakalian of MEMEAC at CUNY; a talk by Patrick Sarkissian on becoming an entrepreneur; an Armenian dance lesson by Carolin Melkonian and the AGBU Antranig Dance Ensemble; and a presentation on environmental issues in Armenia organized by the Acopian Center for the Environment.

Participants spent an evening discussing the role and mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church with His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern Diocese) at St. Vartan Cathedral.

Another very special event for the students was "Sunshine for Seniors," an annual community service project which brings interns into contact with Armenian seniors at the Armenian Home for the Aged in Queens, New York.

In addition to lectures and special events, NYSIP participants also attended a series of community social events that put them in touch with local Armenian-American families. This year’s hosts included: Vahram and Lucienne Aynilian of Alpine, New Jersey; Vahe and Sandy Balouzian of Manhattan, New York; and Bryan and Maria Stepanian of Greenwich, Connecticut. The Balouzians invited AGBU President Berge Setrakian, who attended the event and spoke to the interns about AGBU's mission. The Stepanians hosted guest-speaker Paul Kolaj, co-founder of Famous Famiglia Pizza, who spoke to the interns about how he transformed a family company into a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

NYSIP’s 2009 interns also benefited from an interactive Mentoring Program & Mentoring Night organized by the AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York. The Mentoring Program works to increase one-on-one interactions between local Armenian mentors and summer interns over an extended period of time. It is an excellent opportunity for interns to be paired with a professional in their field of interest during their stay in New York, and meet several times throughout the summer to discuss various issues and seek general guidance. The mentor/mentee pairs first met for a casual "meet and greet," enabling participants to get to know one another and help facilitate further communication and interaction during the summer. Mentoring Night is a one-night event, which teams up groups of interns with local professionals in order to help guide and advise the students on their current career paths. The evening’s guest speaker was Michael Ozanian, National Editor at Forbes Magazine, host of SportsMoney on the Forbes.com Video Network, and contributor to YES/Forbes SportsMoney on the YES network.

The Program formally concluded with the annual Supervisor’s Reception at AGBU Central Office. The event celebrates the generosity of intern supervisors who take on the responsibility of hosting an intern throughout the summer. Opening and closing remarks were made by 2009 NYSIP program administrators: Associate Program Director Michael Hovsepian and Activities Coordinator Ciara Libaridian. 2009 interns Aram Sethian from California and Leah Zeitounalian from Lebanon also spoke at the event, reflecting on their summer experience.

"I had an amazing opportunity to get a taste of a new city while making some great career strides, especially in an environment as challenging as this," Sethian said. "The program is organized, disciplined, and meticulously designed to maximize each intern’s experience. I’m eternally indebted to AGBU for letting me take advantage of this privilege and beginning my journey in New York." There were also notable remarks from supervisor Mandy Kalajian of the company Mirrorball and NYSIP Co-Chairman and AGBU Central Board Member Sarkis Jebejian.

The final gathering of the summer was a farewell dinner at Byblos Restaurant in Manhattan, which was hosted by 2009 intern parent Seta Nazarian Albrecht. This informal event allowed interns to socialize for one last time before returning to their home cities.

Intern Maria Estes of California reflected on her summer and summarized her NYSIP experience: "The AGBU New York Summer Intern Program was an amazing opportunity which allowed me to have a unique outlet to learn about my past with people from my future."

NYSIP was created by the late Vartkess Balian and his wife Rita, co-founders of NYSIP and Co-Chairs of AGBU President's Club. Proof of NYSIP's success comes from a track record of twenty-two years of successful alumni, many of whom have moved on to achieve leadership positions in their fields. Grateful and loyal to the Program, alumni continue to contribute to NYSIP through various means, by placing interns at their organizations, contributing to the Program, and facilitating cultural and professional lectures and events. Raffi Balian, son of Vartkess and Rita, and AGBU Central Board Member Sarkis Jebejian are currently the co-chairs of 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.

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.