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Summer 2012 Interns

Samuel Aguilar, University of Georgia

Samuel Aguilar is a senior political science and psychology major at the University of Georgia. At UGA, Samuel has shown his dedication and passion with working for the Latino community. He served as chapter president of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., and as political action chair of the Hispanic Student Association, among other positions and memberships.

During the 2011-2012 school year Samuel initiated, planned, and executed the first Latin@ Activism and Leadership Symposium in the state of Georgia. This was an inaugaural, semi-regional conference that dealt with "Latino politics" and motivated Latino students to take on leadership roles and create a difference in their communities. During this process, Samuel and his partners branched out into the Georgia Latino Leadership community, involving themselves with organizations such as GALEO., The Latin American Association, Troutman Sanders Atlanta, The Association of Latino Proffessionals in Finance and Accounting, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and many others.

Samuel shows great interest in politics and public policy benefiting the Latino community, and hopes to someday be in the political arena making or breaking legislative proposals. Samuel has great ideas for increasing Latino voting involvement and ultimately Latino voting power. He hopes to gain valuable leadership and executive experience working with GALEO and the Latino community this summer.

In his free time Samuel enjoys playing soccer and football, keeping up with politics, and spending time with his family in Woodstock, Georgia.
 

Bonnie Stinson, Kennesaw State University

Bonnie is a senior at Kennesaw State University and is on track to graduate in July 2012 with a Bachelors Degree in International Affairs and a minor in Spanish. After graduation, she hopes to attend graduate school and pursue work within the federal government or non-profit international organizations. Previously Bonnie has volunteered with Invisible Children and Not For Sale.

Bonnie has always been interested in immigrant rights and Latin America, and hopes that through working with GALEO she can help change a government system that is more immigrant friendly, as well as encouraging the local Latino community to become more involved in Georgia’s political system.


Mary Betsill, Kennesaw State University

Mary Betsill is a student of International Affairs with a concentration in Spanish and a minor in the Classics, the Latin language specifically, at Kennesaw State University who is graduating in July/August 2012. Although she studied Latin throughout her high school career and college, she currently focuses on Spanish and the Latino community. She has now studied the Spanish language for years, including a study abroad to Mexico, and has recently become a part of the Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. She hopes to return to Mexico after her graduation to improve her Spanish, as well as eventually make it to Italy, as she is of Italian decent and delights in the ancient Roman history she spent so much time studying.

Although she was originally a theatre major, her hope to remedy the unwarranted struggles of immigrants, especially Latinos, has moved her to her current major. She has been involved in the Latino Community on a personal level for years and hopes to help find a positive solution to immigration issues and rectify its misconceptions.

In her free time, Mary enjoys reading, hiking, video games, spending time with her friends and family, including her three cats, Ghost Baby, Toluca, and Sonya, and going out dancing.


Paola Rivera, Mill Creek High School

Paola Rivera is an Intern for the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO). Although a rising senior in high school, she has been a youth leader for the past three years. In 2009, she joined the Gwinnett Bar Association’s Law Exploring Post, becoming the group’s Vice President of Administrations a year after. Tapping on her passion in helping others harness their potential to be great, and as President-elect for the 2012-13 school year, she schedules student officer meetings and creates a plan to keep members interested and informed in the different careers and aspects of law, which includes coordinating guest speakers such as Superior Court judges, District Attorney Danny Porter, Solicitor General Rozanna Sczabo, and others in the fields of immigration, entertainment, and criminal defense law. She also creates an environment that fosters many learning possibilities, including mock trial and debate into their meetings and coordinates field trips to the State Capitol, Emory Law School, State Supreme Court, and Winterfest. Additionally, she maintains the group’s Facebook page, where photos, upcoming events and member updates are posted.

Paola also serves as team captain of the Mill Creek High School Mock Trial Team, a team that she established in 2011. One of Paola’s passions is graphic design and photography. In her school, she has conceptualized and planned the yearbook’s theme and layout since 2008, including drafting and editing copy; photographing school events year-round and overseeing final proofing and approvals.

A member of the National Honor Society and Vice President of the Latin Club/Junior Classic League, Paola’s long-term goal is to study International Relations in hopes of eventually studying International Law. Her dream is to achieve a position in the United Nations to fight for international civil liberties. In the meantime, she was chosen to participate in the Junior Statesmen Summer School in Georgetown, a program for outstanding high school students from across the globe. During a 3-week period, she will explore DC politics and government through courses and work, and participate in congressional-style debate workshops.

During her spare time, Paola enjoys working as a referee across the state. In fact, she was recognized by the Georgia Soccer Association with the Mike Burnett Referee Award for her dedication, exemplary work and professionalism to the sport. She also volunteers at TOPSoccer, where she teaches physical and mental disabilities youth how to play the sport she loves.


 

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