Texas Tech Selects Congressional Interns
September 3, 2009
By: Allison Matherly
Texas Tech has named 12 students to serve as congressional interns during the Fall
2009 semester.
Texas Tech University has named 12 students to serve as congressional interns during
the Fall 2009 semester.
The Office of the President at Texas Tech sponsors and provides the scholarships for
the Congressional Internship Program. As participants in the program, students observe
how the government functions while working for senators and representatives. Students
are selected through an interview process to complete an internship in the nation’s
capital in the fall or spring.
“In many cases, our internship program has been a life-changing experience for the
students,” said Guy Bailey, president of Texas Tech. “Regardless of their career choice,
the students will benefit from the experience of seeing first-hand how the political
process will affect their futures.”
The new interns include:
• David Abercia, a secondary education masters student from Houston, working in the
office of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes of El Paso.
• Austin Carrizales, a senior political science major from Lubbock, working in the
office of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo.
• Megan Carpenter, a junior communications major from Arlington, working in the office
of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson.
• Dwight Clark, a senior health, exercise and sport science major from Houston, working
in the office of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.
• Charles Entsminger, a senior communications major from Plano, working in the office
of U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson of Plano.
• Kristy French, a senior economics major from Victoria, working in the office of
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
• Samuel Heinz, a junior Spanish major from San Antonio, working in the office of
U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez of San Antonio.
• Cole Moore, a junior international business major from Houston, working in the office
of U.S. Rep. John Carter of Round Rock.
• Erica Parten, a senior journalism major from Plano, working in the office of U.S.
Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth.
• Vanessa Ruiz, a senior marketing and political science major from Levelland, working
in the office of U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith of San Antonio.
• Garrett Salzman, a junior advertising major from San Antonio, working in the office
of U.S. Rep. Charles Gonzalez of San Antonio.
• Justin Winn, a junior political science major from Lubbock, working in the office
of U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock.
More information about Texas Tech’s internship program is available at
http://www.congressionalintern.ttu.edu.
CONTACT: Amber Harris, program coordinator, Office of the President, Texas Tech University,
(806) 742-2121, or amber.harris@ttu.edu.