2025 Assembly Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Highlights the Importance of Connecting Directly with People Shaping Policy

Washington, D.C. - A talented and energetic group of 21 college students participated this summer in the Armenian Assembly of America's Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program in Washington, D.C. They gained valuable professional skills interning at a variety of offices and experienced government in action. They participated as well in many local Armenian cultural activities and educational opportunities.

Participants had the opportunity to meet with key elected officials, academics and leading professionals. Through these meetings and the Assembly’s Congressional relations efforts, students mastered the necessary skills to advocate for themselves and the Armenian American community.

Assembly interns met with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Representative Jim Costa (D-CA), Representative Laura Friedman (D-CA), Representative Young Kim (R-CA), Representative Dave Min (D-CA), Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), Representative Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Representative George Latimer (D-NY), and Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY). They discussed issues important to our community with staff members from the offices of Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Tim Scott (R-SC), as well as Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Dina Titus (D-NV), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), this summer on Capitol Hill.

With their newly honed skills, the summer interns took a leading role in the Knights and Daughters of Vartan successful Capitol Hill Advocacy Day hosted by the Armenian Assembly. The Assembly interns guided groups of Knights & Daughters through the labyrinth of Congressional hallways and offices, assisted in articulating community concerns and requests, and provided facts and information as needed.

“Advocating on Capitol Hill reminded me how important it is to engage directly with the people shaping policy. Throughout the Knights and Daughters Advocacy Day, I had the opportunity to actively contribute to meetings with Senator Padilla and several California House members, each one a chance to bring real concerns into the room. There was something genuinely meaningful about sitting across from people who influence national decisions and being able to speak to perspectives that often go unheard, especially on Armenian issues like regional security, humanitarian assistance, and genocide education. These are topics that don’t always get the national attention they deserve and raising them in these spaces is a step toward ensuring they stay on the agenda.” said Nellie Chobanyan, a student at Fresno State University and an intern with the Armenian National Institute.

Assembly interns also attended several important hearings, including the U.S. Helsinki Commission briefing on “Advancing the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal” featuring Garo Paylan; the U.S. Helsinki Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe hearing on “The Cost of a Bad Deal in Ukraine;” and the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno Karabakh briefing featuring Rep. Wilson and Sen. Wicker. The Assembly interns also enjoyed the benefit of Capitol Hill Tours lead by fellow Assembly interns Christian Abrimian, Maria Galstyan and Ofelia Yeghiyan working in Congressional offices.

Interns also met with Former Ambassador John Marshall Evans, Director of the film “My Sweet Land” Sareen Hairabedian, incoming Executive Director of The Next 50 and former Michigan state representative Mari Manoogian, former congressional staffer Maria Martirosyan Issakhanian, former Department of Homeland Security staff member Noris Balabanian, President of the National Prayer Breakfast for Armenia; Emanuel Khachaturov, Deloitte DC’s Armenian staffers lead by Tadeh Issakhanian, Director of Research and Analysis at the Armenian Assembly of America Robert Avetisyan and Executive Director at the Armenian Assembly of America Bryan Ardouny. The summer interns also received a private tour of the Library of Congress hosted by Dr. Khachig Mouradian, the Armenian and Georgian Area Specialist in the African and Middle Eastern Division. Interns also attended dance classes with the Hay Hoki Dance Ensemble and attended the Nahigian Strategies 25th Anniversary Party.

After attending the Nahigian Strategies 25th anniversary party Sam Vahanian said, “As an Armenian American intern and business student from Georgia, I had the chance to speak with many businesspeople from the D.C. area. There was a lot of encouragement from local marketing people on conquering the intimidation factor of working in D.C. The environment was a perfect mix of professional attire and a relaxed scene, being a 2000s themed party. The highlight of my night was getting my picture with Robert F. Kennedy, which boosted morale of the whole event.”

Following the groups meeting with Ambassador Evans, Assembly intern Charles Schlindwein, who spent the summer working for the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, shared: “Ambassador Evans was very a knowledgeable and humble gentleman. He spoke with expertise about Armenian and American foreign relations, especially with Russia. I was very impressed that he won the Morgenthau Award as well. Morgenthau helped my grandmother write a book about my great grandfather’s experiences in the Armenian Genocide. I thought Ambassador Evans’ responses to our questions were very in depth and contained valuable insights.”

The Terjenian-Thomas Assembly 2025 Internship Program participants included: Christian Abrimian attending Fairfield University; Levon Alyanakian attending the University of California, Los Angeles; Arshak Avetisyan attending the College of William and Mary; Adeline Chanti attending Scripps College; Nellie Chobanyan attending Fresno State University; Kyle Fitzpatrick attending American University; Maria Galstyan attending Georgetown University; Diana Grigoryan attending the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Sergey Khachatryan attending the University of California, Irvine; Elizabeth Margaryan attending the University of California, Irvine; Victoria Mnatsakanyan attending Yale University; Arin Musurlian attending the University of California, Irvine; Chloe Nishanian attending Chapman University; Erik Saakyan attending the University of California Los Angeles; Charles Schlindwein attending Ursinus College; Sosie Scott attending the University of Delaware; Eric Tsaturyan attending Glendale Community College; Samuel Vahanian attending Kennesaw State University; Ellen Vartanyan attending Pasadena City College; Ofelia Yeghiyan attending Michigan State University; and joined remotely by Lucy Boyadzhyan attending Cornell University.

Intern Coordinator David Babigian, who participated in the program last summer as intern for Schoening Strategies, praised the 2025 cohort for their advocacy efforts.

"Having the chance to return to the Armenian Assembly this summer as Intern Coordinator was incredibly rewarding" said Babigian, a rising first year at the University of Connecticut School of Law. "In this role, I helped guide our interns as they engaged with policymakers and advocated for pro-Armenian issues. Watching the interns navigate D.C. and take advantage of all the opportunities this program offers really shows its lasting impact."

The Assembly's Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program, which marks its 48th 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.

"Every summer the Armenian Assembly welcomes a new class of college students to the nation's capital. The program encourages and enhances their interest in government, media, advocacy, policy, and research," said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The Assembly's Internship Programs serve as a foundation with students taking their positive experiences with them and continue their involvement and activism for the betterment of the Armenian people."

For more information about the Assembly's 2026 Internship Programs, as well as the Assembly's financial aid directory, please click here. The Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program application is available here, and the Summer Internship Program in Armenia application can be found here.

The Armenian Assembly of America Summer Internship Program has been celebrated and strongly supported by the Armenian community with major gifts from the Richard Tufenkian Memorial Fund, the John Hanessian Scholarship Fund, the Armen Astarjian Scholarship Fund, the Ohanian Memorial Fund, Ann Hintlian, Ann Nahigian, James and Connie Melikian, the Knights of Vartan, the Estate of Haig J. Boyadjian, and the Estate of George Judge Karabedian (George Kay), as well as generous contributions in memory of former Assembly Board Members Dr. Lionel Galstaun, Peter Kezirian, and John O'Connor. In 2003, the Armenian Assembly's Summer Internship Program was renamed in honor of Aram and Florence Terjenian and Annie Thomas in honor of their support for the program.

We are deeply grateful for the support of all of our donors and members who make our work possible. Gifts that help educate and empower the next generation of Armenian American leaders are deeply appreciated.

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 strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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