Laura Bloomer is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in government and Spanish/Hispanic Studies. During the first two years at UT, she interned for State Representative Donna Howard, eventually taking a semester off to work full-time during the 81st legislative session. Last year, she led four after-school Girl Scout troops at a low-income elementary school, and she has served as a reading mentor for two groups of 6th graders through programs with Austin Partners in Education. Additionally, Laura studied abroad in Spain and Argentina. After graduation she plans to become a Peace Corps volunteer, hopefully teaching English in sub-Saharan Africa. Her long-term goal is to help eliminate the disparity in educational opportunity that exists in the United States.