On Saturday, October 11, a group of political science alumni who work at the Capitol or with the legislature held their sixth annual homecoming tailgate. About 30 Capitol Cats Alumni attended the event along with dozens of their friends, family, and current students. This was the second year of officially partnering with Texas State University through the Capitol Cats internship program, which seeks to empower students by providing them with support necessary to participate in internships in the state capitol in Austin, TX. Students actively participating in the program as well as those interested in doing so were able to connect with the alumni, build networking relationships, and seek advice for job opportunities and internships for the coming spring semester.
Kaden Tucker, a 2025 Capitol Cat intern who attended the event, said, “Coming together at the Capital Cats Alumni Tailgate was a powerful reminder of the strong community and shared commitment we carry from campus to the heart of Texas government. It was inspiring to connect with fellow alumni who are making a difference every day, bridging the Bobcat spirit with public service. Events like this not only celebrate our roots but also strengthen the network and friendships that support us in our professional and personal lives. It’s a testament to how far we’ve come and the impact we continue to have for both the state, and the university.”
The event was coordinated by Vanessa Cortez Tanner, an alumnus who serves as Chief of Staff for State Representative Brad Buckley, and Morghan Armenta, a K-12 Policy Analyst with the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The Capitol Cats in attendance included Vanessa Tanner, Morghan Armenta, Kaden Tucker, Liliana Gonzales, Paige Williams, Emily Morgan, Michael Clarke, Chris Hosek, Tom Holloway, Matt Russel, Gray Rutledge, Jordan Berry, Nathan McDaniel, Hank Humphries, Olivia Alexander, Greg Bentch, Emily Bentch, Nick James, Sebastian Quaid, Bailey Quaid, Caitlin McCausin, Malu Gonzales Aranda, and Jake Kobersky. Faculty in attendance included Drs Ken Grasso, Howard Balanoff, Vance McMahan, Paul DeHart, and Ionut Ppoescu.
For more information about the Capitol Cats internship program, see the webpage here. Undergraduate and graduate political science majors interested in receiving academic credit for an internship should contact Dr. Vance McMahan at tvm20@txstate.edu. Undergraduate public administration majors interested in doing so should contact Dr. Susan Johnson at sj16@txstate.edu.
