Rogelio Chanes
Brownsville, Texas
The University of Texas - Brownsville
Rogelio is completing his final year of Marketing studies to earn a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He brings years of campaign experience to the Moreno/Rangel Program, having spent the past four years working for a half-dozen candidates for office, including State Rep. Eddie Lucio III and Congressman Solomon Ortiz Jr. In his spare time, he tutors elementary students and speaks to school groups about how he overcame the learning barriers imposed by dyslexia.
Alberto de la Torre
Laredo, Texas
St. Edward's University
A Political Science major, Alberto completed an internship with the Legislative Budget Board, and another with the Laredo office of Congressman Henry Cuellar before starting his internship with the Moreno/Rangel Program. He most recently worked as a researcher on social justice issues at St. Edward's University. He is an Eagle Scout and a National Hispanic Scholar who maintains a 3.9 GPA.
Natalie Diaz
El Paso, Texas
Texas State University
A double major, Natalie is studying urban and regional planning as she works to complete degrees in Geography and Spanish. Despite her courseload, she sets time aside to teach younger students at Boys & Girls Club South Chapter in Austin. Natalie plans to bring home to her family and community the value of civic engagement that she is learning in the Moreno/Rangel Program.
Isla Flores-Bayer
Austin, Texas
The University of Texas at Austin
Isla is studying Marketing to earn double degrees in Business Administration and Spanish. Because she is grateful for the mentors she had at her high school magnet program, she also volunteers for an after-school program run by El Buen Pastor Early Childhood Development Center in Austin. She hopes to make a difference in how her students in the after-school program - who are largely Hispanic - view their opportunities in life.
Araceli Garcia
Houston, Texas
University of Houston - Downtown
While working as a technical writer for first the U.S. Department of Treasury and then 3M, Araceli finished college with a degree in English and a minor in Criminal Justice. In college, she spent her down time volunteering to organize community service projects and fundraisers for LULAC, and serving as a Peer Tutor. Next on her list is law school.
Humberto Hernandez
Edinburg, Texas
The University of Texas - Pan Am
A Criminal Justice major with a Spanish minor, Humberto has his sights set on law school. He spent his high school years working to support his mother and three younger siblings. At 18, he bought a house for his family with the small income he earned from various jobs. Still, he managed to keep his grades high enough to graduate at the top of his class. After seeing firsthand the effects of bad public policy, he hopes to one day have a role in shaping policies that affect Latino families.
Victor Marquez
Houston, Texas
Texas State University
At 17, Victor joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to a submarine fully engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom. As a result of his military service, Victor developed an interest in public policy, especially as it affects veterans. He continues his involvement with the Navy as a reservist while studying for a degree in Political Science. The first in his mother's family to finish high school, Victor is aiming for law school.
Julie Nieto
Victoria, Texas
Texas State University
Julie is inspired by her father, who fled El Salvador at the onset of its 12-year civil war, settling in Texas where he taught himself English and eventually becoming a small-business owner. She is the first in her family to attend college, where she's studying for a degree in Political Science. Prior to the Moreno/Rangel Program, Julie worked her way up from HEB bagger to pharmacy technician. She is trilingual - her third language being American Sign Language.
Stephanie Ozuna
McAllen, Texas
Texas Women's University
Stephanie recently graduated with a degree in Business Administration. While in school, she organized and led a new student organization that advocates the importance of higher education to high school students who lack their families' support to pursue a college degree. She was named "Outstanding Campus Leader" of the 2005-06 school year for her work. In her spare time, she performs with a folk dancing group.
A Presidential Scholar, José is studying International Relations on a pre-Law track. He has traveled extensively, by way of internships and personal activism, to Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom and India. In his most recent job, he researched immigration and border security issues for the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative in Washington, D.C. He is inspired to follow the example of public service set for him by his father, an attorney and politician who died when José was a senior in high school.
Laura Salcedo
Laredo, Texas
The University of Texas at Austin
In her future, Laura sees herself in public service, perhaps as an elected officeholder. She is the first in her family to attend college, and she pays her own way by working full time while pursuing two degrees -- Public Relations and Communications Studies. To boost her earning power along the way, she earned an A.A.S. from Austin Community College. Becoming a Legal Assistant led to jobs with Sneed, Vine & Perry, P.C. and the Texas Municipal League. Most recently, she worked as campus campaign manager for Teach for America.
Arleen Sanchez
El Paso, Texas
Texas State University
Arleen earned a degree in Marketing Management last year, and was working as a marketing assistant for a prolific chain of fitness clubs before starting her internship with the Moreno/Rangel Program. In college, she spent her extracurricular time volunteering at an elementary school, fundraising for disabled individuals as part of the Push America campaign, and caring for animals at a rural shelter. She is inspired by her mother, a single parent who completed law school and went on to become a judge while also raising her daughter.
Rogelio is completing his final year of Marketing studies to earn a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He brings years of campaign experience to the Moreno/Rangel Program, having spent the past four years working for a half-dozen candidates for office, including State Rep. Eddie Lucio III and Congressman Solomon Ortiz Jr. In his spare time, he tutors elementary students and speaks to school groups about how he overcame the learning barriers imposed by dyslexia.
Rogelio Chanes is placed in the office of
A Political Science major, Alberto completed an internship with the Legislative Budget Board, and another with the Laredo office of Congressman Henry Cuellar before starting his internship with the Moreno/Rangel Program. He most recently worked as a researcher on social justice issues at St. Edward's University. He is an Eagle Scout and a National Hispanic Scholar who maintains a 3.9 GPA.
Alberto de la Torre is placed in the office of 
A double major, Natalie is studying urban and regional planning as she works to complete degrees in Geography and Spanish. Despite her courseload, she sets time aside to teach younger students at Boys & Girls Club South Chapter in Austin. Natalie plans to bring home to her family and community the value of civic engagement that she is learning in the Moreno/Rangel Program.
Natalie Diaz is placed in the office of 
Isla is studying Marketing to earn double degrees in Business Administration and Spanish. Because she is grateful for the mentors she had at her high school magnet program, she also volunteers for an after-school program run by El Buen Pastor Early Childhood Development Center in Austin. She hopes to make a difference in how her students in the after-school program - who are largely Hispanic - view their opportunities in life.
Isla Flores-Bayer is placed in the office of 
While working as a technical writer for first the U.S. Department of Treasury and then 3M, Araceli finished college with a degree in English and a minor in Criminal Justice. In college, she spent her down time volunteering to organize community service projects and fundraisers for LULAC, and serving as a Peer Tutor. Next on her list is law school.
Araceli Garcia is placed in the office of 
A Criminal Justice major with a Spanish minor, Humberto has his sights set on law school. He spent his high school years working to support his mother and three younger siblings. At 18, he bought a house for his family with the small income he earned from various jobs. Still, he managed to keep his grades high enough to graduate at the top of his class. After seeing firsthand the effects of bad public policy, he hopes to one day have a role in shaping policies that affect Latino families.
Humberto Hernandez is placed in the office of 
At 17, Victor joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to a submarine fully engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom. As a result of his military service, Victor developed an interest in public policy, especially as it affects veterans. He continues his involvement with the Navy as a reservist while studying for a degree in Political Science. The first in his mother's family to finish high school, Victor is aiming for law school.
Victor Marquez is placed in the office of 
Julie is inspired by her father, who fled El Salvador at the onset of its 12-year civil war, settling in Texas where he taught himself English and eventually becoming a small-business owner. She is the first in her family to attend college, where she's studying for a degree in Political Science. Prior to the Moreno/Rangel Program, Julie worked her way up from HEB bagger to pharmacy technician. She is trilingual - her third language being American Sign Language.
Julie Nieto is placed in the office of 
Stephanie recently graduated with a degree in Business Administration. While in school, she organized and led a new student organization that advocates the importance of higher education to high school students who lack their families' support to pursue a college degree. She was named "Outstanding Campus Leader" of the 2005-06 school year for her work. In her spare time, she performs with a folk dancing group.
Stephanie Ozuna is placed in the office of 
A Presidential Scholar, José is studying International Relations on a pre-Law track. He has traveled extensively, by way of internships and personal activism, to Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom and India. In his most recent job, he researched immigration and border security issues for the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative in Washington, D.C. He is inspired to follow the example of public service set for him by his father, an attorney and politician who died when José was a senior in high school.
José Rocha is placed in the office of 
In her future, Laura sees herself in public service, perhaps as an elected officeholder. She is the first in her family to attend college, and she pays her own way by working full time while pursuing two degrees -- Public Relations and Communications Studies. To boost her earning power along the way, she earned an A.A.S. from Austin Community College. Becoming a Legal Assistant led to jobs with Sneed, Vine & Perry, P.C. and the Texas Municipal League. Most recently, she worked as campus campaign manager for Teach for America.
Laura Salcedo is placed in the office of 
Arleen earned a degree in Marketing Management last year, and was working as a marketing assistant for a prolific chain of fitness clubs before starting her internship with the Moreno/Rangel Program. In college, she spent her extracurricular time volunteering at an elementary school, fundraising for disabled individuals as part of the Push America campaign, and caring for animals at a rural shelter. She is inspired by her mother, a single parent who completed law school and went on to become a judge while also raising her daughter.
Arleen Sanchez is placed in the office of