Texas Tech Selects Congressional Interns
September 9, 2009
By: Allison Matherly
Twelve students named to serve as congressional interns during the Fall 2009 semester.

Students will have the opportunity to work with senators and representatives from
around the area. Pictured above are Texas Tech Congressional Interns from the spring
2009 class. Click to Enlarge Image.
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 President Bailey. “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.