The Patman Center is delighted to announce our 2024 Patman Scholars!
Patman Scholars show exemplary promise to become civic leaders. The $10,000 Patman Scholarships offer financial support for students seeking internships with elected officials, state legislatures, the U.S. Congress, State Governor’s offices, the Office of the President, and other civic leaders. Scholars are selected based on their promise as leaders, as revealed in their self-statements, academic performance, and internship proposal.
Christian Aguirre- Christian Aguirre is a DACA recipient and Master's of Public Affairs candidate at the LBJ School. During his undergraduate studies, he immersed himself in city governance through an internship with Houston's Mayor Sylvester Turner. Before graduate school, Aguirre worked as a policy analyst and communications aide for Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado. Recently, he was appointed by the City Council to Austin’s LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission, where he served as Vice-Chair. Driven by his upbringing as an undocumented immigrant in the US, Aguirre developed a passion for domestic policy, focusing on immigration and higher education. He currently serves as a legislative intern for Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia in the House of Representatives and hopes to aid in advancing the Dream and Promise Act of 2023.
Christy Beauchemin- Christy Beauchemin is a second-year Master's of Global Policy Studies student interested in immigration and humanitarian policy. Before coming to LBJ, she lived in Washington D.C. for six years, working in international development nonprofits. She helped manage multi-million-dollar development programs around the world, including in Ukraine, Rwanda, and Liberia. While she misses D.C., she is thrilled to be back in Texas near her family. She is currently interning with Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson as a Legislative Aide. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2016 with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Arabic.
Guilleremo Gudino- Guilleremo Gudino is a dedicated Master's student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, where he channels his passion for public service into a rigorous academic environment. Coming from Dallas, Texas, Guilleremo has always been deeply rooted in his community, drawing inspiration from the diverse and dynamic social landscape of his hometown. His academic journey is driven by a profound commitment to addressing some of the most pressing policy issues of our time, with a keen focus on education, criminal justice, and immigration. Guilleremo's educational pursuits are complemented by his aspiration to become an attorney, a goal that underscores his dedication to justice and advocacy. Guilleremo's blend of passion, academic excellence, and future legal ambitions positions him as a promising force in the realm of public affairs, poised to make significant contributions to the betterment of society. Guilleremo is interning with the Civil Rights Unit in the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.
Lacey Lewis- Lacey Lewis is a candidate for the Master of Global Policy Studies (DC Concentration) at the LBJ School. She majored in Political Science at the University of Oklahoma. While earning her degree, she worked in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for two sessions and then worked as a Government Affairs Specialist for Guinn Strategies, an independent consulting firm. Most recently, she was a Policy Intern for the Office of Management and Budget in the Executive Office of the President. As a Patman Scholar, she will start an internship in September in the Office of Congressman Tony Gonzales.
Leland Murphy- Leland Murphy is a rising second-year Master's of Public Affairs student at the LBJ School. Originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Leland is passionate about advocating for government changes that positively impact people in Texas, the United States, and worldwide. While he considers every policy issue important, Leland is particularly interested in progressive fiscal policy, energy and environmental policy, labor law, and constitutional issues. Over the past year, he has been a Youth Organizing Fellow with Americans United for Separation of Church and State and has been involved on campus with Texas Political Consulting, the Queer Policy Coalition, and the Graduate Public Affairs Council. He has previously worked in state government, advocacy non-profits, and on-campus positions including serving as UT Austin’s 22-23 Student Government President. This summer, Leland is living in DC as a Graduate Archer Fellow, interning remotely with State Representative Lulu Flores of Texas House District 51 as a legislative intern.
Aniyah Reed- Aniyah Reed is originally from Northern Virginia and earned a BA in Political Science from Howard University. While continuing her education at the LBJ School, she's taken an interest in human trafficking as a link to organized crime and terrorist organizations. She aspires to help mend gaps in the international community's approach to circumventing human trafficking and victim support. Post graduation, she plans to enter the foreign service as a political officer or work within the UN's political network. Aniyah is interning in Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s office.
Kevin Roberts- Kevin Roberts is a second-year Master's of Public Affairs candidate focusing on national security and state & local government. Kevin has over two years experience working in the state legislature and in Congress. He has also worked with the Travis Country Democratic Party in Austin, leading Student Government and University Democrats on campus. Currently, Kevin works within the Texas House of Representatives for State Representative Venton Jones and is president of Austin Young Democrats. In his spare time Kevin likes to spend time with his family and friends, and to catch up on his favorite TV shows.
Interested in becoming a Patman Scholar?