TxCC State VISTA Leader Katie Hardgrove

Katie Hardgrove is the State VISTA Leader for Texas Campus Compact . She is a veteran AmeriCorps volunteer from Minnesota. After receiving a bachelor of science in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, Katie relocated to Austin, Texas, to earn her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. Her professional focus is on community building, youth empowerment and juvenile delinquency prevention. Most recently she worked with Southwest Key Programs in Austin to coordinate a Symposium on Mental Health Needs of Youth of Color in the Texas Juvenile Justice System, completing a qualitative report on family and youth needs. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and an advocate for low-income campus housing. She loves running, swimming, biking and all the sunshine that Texas has to offer."

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Katie's VISTA storybook

TxCC Host Site: Baylor University

Amanda Allen is from Shreveport, Louisiana. Amanda is a graduate of Baylor University, Waco Texas, where she majored in business journalism with a studio art minor.

Amanda says "I found out late in the game that I love graphic design. I love art. I love to dance. I love food. I love people - especially funny ones or ones that inspire me, even if I've never met them (i.e. MLK and Gandhi). A combination of any of these things is a plus. I also love working with high school / college students, so having a job where I help raise awareness about social justice issues and poverty with college students, amazing".

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Amanda's VISTA storybook page

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TxCC host site: Abilene Christian University

Katie Buckel is from from Azle, TX (near Ft. Worth). She graduated from Abilene Christian University in May of 2009 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design. While at Abilene, Katie became involved in service through a student organization called the Service Action Leadership Team (SALT) where she developed a passion for service and inspiring others to serve.

Katie says" I was searching for deeper purpose in my design classes, and searching for a way to use my skill-set for a greater good. I wanted a job, and a personal life that reflects my beliefs. I am excited for this opportunity to serve as a VISTA. This opportunity allows me to learn more about non-profits, and enables my future plan to pursue career in non-profit graphic design."

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Katie's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: University of Texas, El Paso

A Dean's List student, Samantha Dominguez graduated with degrees in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Texas at El Paso. Additionally, her leadership and dedication to her community have led to recognition, the El Paso Bar Association named her the Cori A. Harbour Pre Law Student of the Year and she earned the Presidential Volunteer Gold Service Award in 2008. She is fond of serving as a mentor to younger students through Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and Girl Scouts in Housing Projects programs.

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Samantha's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: Texas Christian University

A native of Tennessee, Melissa Gruver graduated from Union University in 2005 with a B.A. in Philosophy and Christian Studies and received her M.S. in Education in Student Affairs Administration from Baylor University in 2008. While at Baylor, Melissa worked in the Academy for Leader Development & Civic Engagement and the Waco Episcopal Student Center, where she created experiences for students that both connected them to their local community and exposed them to critical local and global issues. As an AmeriCorps VISTA, she is working with student service organizations and community partners, empowering students to create positive change in the Fort Worth area. Melissa has dyed her hair at least seven colors, she likes fireflies, coffee, and talking in the third person. She laughs loud, she laughs often, and without apologies.

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Melissa's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: Our Lady of the Lake University

Fabiola Ochoa Torralba was born in Acapulco, Mexico and raised in the Westside of San Antonio, Texas.  She has participated in various community based projects as an activist, cultural worker, and is a Buena Gente of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. Her interests include learning about world struggles, the arts, grassroots organizing, dance, and community-based research.  She plans to continue exploring ways to facilitate grassroots efforts.

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Fabiola's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: Texas Christian University

Beatriz Gutierrez was born in Mexico but has been living in the Fort Worth Texas since the age of 4.  She graduated from Texas Christian University in May of 2009 with a double major in Communications and Spanish.  Beatriz loves working with high school and college students.

Beatriz says, "Working with Junior Transitions where I get to not only work with students but also help organize events that service our community is truly a blessing.  Faith, family, friends and giving back to the community are the most important things in my life.  I like to work out and watch movies old and new."

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Beatriz's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: Texas Christian University

Kate Jones graduated from TCU in May 2009 with a B.A. in Spanish. While attending TCU Kate had the privilege of being involved in service-learning and would like current TCU students to experience it as well. As an AmeriCorps VISTA, Kate is focusing her efforts on the service-learning program, working with students, faculty and staff to support service-learning courses and both the Faculty Service-Learning Grants and the Student Service-Learning Assistantships. She will also collaborate with community members to develop and reinforce partnerships. In her free time Kate enjoys spending time helping others as well as animals. Kate is a volunteer at the North Texas Humane Society where she just adopted a three month old Calico kitten named Phoenix. Kate also enjoys sewing and quilting, and is currently working on a t-shirt quilt using all the shirts she collected in college.

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Kate's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: Northwest Vista College

Marchelle C. Jones, born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, raised in Miami, Fl and most recently moved to the Southwest- Houston/San Antonio, Texas area.  My educational endeavors have been fine tuned by obtaining my B.S. in Business Administration from Florida Memorial University, Miami, Fl, a small historically black college or university (HBCU), MBA from Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, TX a member of the Texas A & M University system and most recently to actively consider pursuing my Ph D in Educational Leadership- Higher Education or the opportunity to secure a permanent federal position with our government. 

Currently, I am the AmeriCorps VISTA at Northwest Vista College, one of the Alamo Colleges in San Antonio, Tx.  This is my first term and as a TXCC and our entire main goal for the site campus we are on is to build and maintain civic engagement among students, faculty and community members to be sustained throughout the years.  It has been a very interesting couple of months jumping into the Service Learning Community and the non-profit sector, but having the “BEST SUPERVISOR” has made the transition easier to deal with.  I am very excited about the new and upcoming “Student Lead” Service Club that we will be kicking off this Spring 2010.  Overall, being a newbie to the San Antonio area and learning its very different culture has been a major issue to my learning curve but since my team, other VISTAs, the students and staff, faculty and the community partners have all been very instrumental in guiding me whenever I ask.  Overall, I consider myself to be a very flexible person who gets the job done.  I enjoy traveling, meeting new people and will make the most out of any situation.   

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Marcelle's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: University of Texas Health Sciences, San Antonio

Rashunda Lewis recently moved to Texas from Florida. She grew up in Rockledge (about an hour from Orlando) and graduated from Florida State University in Tallahassee in May 2009. After serving with Americorps for a year, Rashunda plans to go to graduate school to obtain a Master’s degree in Public Health. Outside of work, Rashunda likes to work out, cook, try new types of food, travel, or just hang out with friends. She also love animals, especially dogs is thinking about getting a dog for her own this year.

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Rashunda's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: Texas State University/Capitol Area Health Education Center/Ventanilla de Salud -Consulate General of Mexico

In 2009 Cordelia Stough graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. While at Southwestern Cordelia held several different internships with organizations including Hope Alliance, Soulforce, and the Texas Legislature. These experiences prompted her interest in the non-profit and social services fields. After her year of service,Cordelia plans on attending graduate school, or continuing to work in Austin.

Cordelia grew up at Lake Travis, and is extremely familiar with the Austin area. She is excited to be working and living in the Austin Metro Area over the next year.

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Coredelia's VISTA storybook page 1

TxCC host site: Kilgore College

Natasha's Biography Coming Soon!

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Natasha's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: San Antonio College

Justin, has a bachelors degree in Political Science from the College of St.
Joseph and a Masters Degree in International Relations from St.
Mary's University. He is a second your VISTA with Texas Campus
Compact at San Antonio College. In his first year he worked as a VISTA Service Learning Coordinator at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen Texas. Outside of the education world he has additional experience in the web design business and retail management. Justin's career interests included international and domestic economic development, as well as, good governance issues. Justin's Personal interest include travel, reading, soccer, current events, foreign policy and economic issues.

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Justin's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: Sam Houston State University

My name is Tracy Szymczak and I am the Vista for Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Tx. My first year is almost over and I plan to serve another year. My main goal for the campus is to build and maintain civic engagement among students, faculty and community members. One of the projects I did this year was survey students to find out about their civic engagement and to assess what is being done and what needs to be done. Another project I have done was the Burning Issues Film Series to promote awareness of a variety of issues and encourage students to become active. My main focus is to design and implement a Civic Engagement Center on campus that will serve students, faculty and community members and maintain civic engagement on campus throughout the years.

A future goal I have is to become a licensed counselor and work with juveniles by setting up a writing program in juvenile facilities. Writing is a passion of mine and I believe through writing people discover who they are and emotions they have been holding back. Also, I would like to open my own nonprofit one day that is geared to providing counseling and legal services to women and improve upon women’s rights all over the world. The last goal I have is to become a profiler for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s behavioral unit because I love to study people and learn about them.

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Tracy's VISTA storybook page

TxCC host site: University of Texas, San Antonio

Mary Vadillo was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She recently earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2009. After her year of service, she plans to attend a graduate program for a Master of Public Administration. She enjoys spending time with her family and hanging out with her friends. She also likes movie nights, art exhibits, concerts, traveling, cooking, word puzzles, and during the summer she loves being at the river.

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Mary's VISTA Storybook Page

TxCC host site: Panola College

Kira Muñoz is from originally from Racine, Wisconsin. She attended Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI and received her B.A. in Psychology. She also studied Global Studies & International Business and Spanish Language & Culture extensively in her career at Alverno.

During her undergraduate studies, Kira was very involved in her community. She served as a Community Advisor for two years, served as chair of the Wisconsin Private Colleges’ Initiative for Diversity Conference, mentored 5th and 6th grade students during a community project, worked with refugees, and more. Before moving to Carthage, Texas Kira served as the Character & Leadership Development Program Director and Intern & Volunteer Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee at a middle school site.

In the future, Kira plans to continue her education and eventually create and run her own non-profit organization that tends to at risk populations.

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Kira's VISTA Storybook page page 1