Olney-Tarleton student Kiara Owen interns at the Capitol

Five Tarleton students, including Olney High School grad Kiara Owen, are getting a firsthand look at politics, Lone Star style.

Seniors Desirae Garcia, Kiara Owen and Walker Kirk, junior Emilie Gaucin-Rodarte and grad student Olivia Lasater are working as interns in the 88th Texas Legislature.

“They’re definitely our best and brightest,” said Dr. Credence Baker, Vice President for University Relations and Chief of Staff to Tarleton State University President James Hurley.

“For us to have placed five interns on both the Republican and Democratic sides of the House, that’s a feather in the cap for Tarleton.”

The five had to clear an intense application process, including personal interviews with Dr. Baker, Dr. Hurley and the chief of staff for the legislator’s office they hoped to work in.

Though each had a unique reason for wanting to work under the Capitol dome, they all hope to use the experience to glean a greater knowledge of the legislative process.

Kiara came from Olney to Tarleton as an education major but is now in her last semester of study for a degree in political science. Learning the political ropes in Austin, also in Rep. Gonzales’ office, is crucial to her career goals. After graduation she hopes to work in the political arena.

“I’m very interested in politics,” she said. “I want to be a staffer or something involved with public policy. Maybe even lobbyist work.”

Kiara is Gonzales’ lead administrative legislative assistant, the policy analyst for the office, and keeps the representative’s calendar.

“When this internship opened up, I realized it was the perfect opportunity for me. I’m thinking about running for office someday. This will definitely let me know if I want to do that.”