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Two
TWU students to intern in the 81st Texas Legislature
1/13/09
Cristal Retana
Photo
credit: Ronda DuTeil
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Diana Cruz
Photo
credit: Shannon Drawe
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DENTON –
Texas Woman’s University seniors Cristal Retana and
Diana Cruz will learn how government works first hand during
their internships in the 2009 Texas Legislature.
Ms. Retana, a pre-law
senior from Farmers Branch, is one of only 14 students in
the state selected for the Senator Gregory Luna Legislative
Scholars and Fellows Program. She is interning for Sen. Jeff
Wentworth (R-San Antonio) and performing a variety of legislative
tasks, including researching legislation, tracking bills and
writing constituent correspondence. The Luna Scholars Program
is named after the late state Sen. Gregory Luna, a well-known
education advocate and former chair of the Senate Hispanic
Caucus. He served as a senator from Bexar County from 1993
until his death in 1999.
“This internship
is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Ms. Retana said.
“Being a part of the legislative process will benefit
me tremendously as I look ahead to my future career in the
law and politics.”
Diana Cruz, a government
senior from Hughes Springs, is one of only 50 students in
the state selected for the Texas Legislative Internship Program
(TLIP), sponsored by Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and coordinated
by the Mickey Leland Center for World Hunger and Peace at
Texas Southern University. TLIP interns work in the offices
of ranking members of the Texas Legislature or statewide elected
officials. Sen. Ellis created the program in 1990 for students
interested in the political process and in the kind of humanitarian
service exemplified by the late Houston Congressman Mickey
Leland.
“I am excited
to experience how state government works first hand,”
Ms. Cruz said. “I will learn immeasurable amounts of
information and grow as a student and as an individual. I
hope this internship will guide me toward a flourishing career.”
Both Ms. Retana
and Ms. Cruz plan to attend law school after graduating from
TWU in May.
Ms. Retana has
been active in many student organizations, including the TWU
Student Government Association, the university’s League
of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) chapter, the Sigma
Lambda Alpha sorority and the National Society of Collegiate
Scholars. She has served as president of the TWU G-Force,
was listed in “Who’s Who Among American College
Students” and has been named to the TWU Dean’s
List.
Ms. Cruz is an
active volunteer with TWU Helping Hands, and is a member of
the TWU government honor society Pi Sigma Alpha and the TWU
Barrister’s Club, an organization for legal students.
She is a TWU Presidential Scholar and has been named to the
TWU’s Dean list for six consecutive semesters. The TWU
History and Government Department recently named her an Outstanding
Legal Studies Student.
Media
Contact:
Amanda Simpson
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: asimpson1@twu.edu
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