By Kayla Rudd |
Senior Jamie Turcios-Villalta visited Washington, DC last week to represent Texas at the LULAC and LNESC Washington Youth Leadership Seminar, Sept. 30-Oct. 5.
The conference is a chance to work on public issues affecting Latinos, and present scientific research at the White House. Turcios-Villalta presented her Upconversion of Rare Earth Nanoparticles from Photobiomodulation.
“I was selected out of 20,000 kids in Texas to go to the conference and help come up with an idea to help teach the youth,” Turcios Villalta said.
The program was made possible by the combined efforts of Latino advocates represented through LNESC, LULAC, corporate donors and travel sponsors.
While in Washington, DC, she spoke with members of the House of Representatives about local Latino issues.
On Oct. 2, she spoke at the LULAC and LNESC Gala about the Higher Education Act.
“After my speech the president of the organization asked me to back up to the stage and he began to award me with a scholarship,” Turcios Villalta said.
She said presidents of each organization present at the gala began a scholarship pledge auction.
In total, she received $27,500 in scholarships.
