Meet The Students

Frank Carni II is a junior attending the Honors College at UTSA. As a junior studying Political Science, Frank is interested in the defense of our country especially within the intelligence community. In his free time, Frank is an avid amateur golfer as well as an all around sports lover. He plays and watches just about any sport you can think of and stays physically active. Frank will be attending the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minneapolis.

“Attending the Republican National Convention is an amazing opportunity that any Republican, especially a student of politics,
would cherish. I hope that this behind the scenes experience will
enhance my excitement for American politics and open new doors for
my future involvement within the political spectrum.”


Hilda Moeller is a junior at UTSA majoring in History. Hilda will be attending the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minneapolis.

“The world of politics is fascinating. To attend a national convention has to be an extraordinary learning experience. To write about an experience is a good way of assimilating it. Any good experience is better if shared with others. TWC is kind, not only by sponsoring two students to attend the conventions, but also to offer the way in which our experience can be shared with the
viewers of this area.”-- Hilda Moeller



April Sanchez is a senior at UTSA, majoring in Communication
with an emphasis in Public Relations. She is also minoring in Politcal Science and Legal Studies and plans to attend law school in the fall of 2009. April is originally from El Paso, Texas. Sanchez will be attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver Colorado.

“I am excited about attending the Democratic National Convention because it will be one of the most historic moments in American History, and I will have a rare and opportunistic vantage point from which to view the convention. I am
also excited to be able to share this perspective with the local, state, and national community, and I hope that my insight will be unique, relatable, and will help peak an interest in the constituency to vote in November."



Peter E. Sebesta is a sophomore at UTSA majoring in Architecture who hopes to one day become a licensed architect or possibly open an architecture firm. Originally from Austin, Texas, Peter is interested in going to the lake, designing, playing soccer, spending time with friends, playing Xbox 360, and pretty much anything academic-oriented. Peter will be attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

“I have been honored by UTSA and Time Warner Cable to be on
the sidelines of history in the making. At the convention I will gain a greater understanding of the political system and gain greater insight on the views of the Democratic Party.”-- Peter
E. Sebesta


Matthew Shelton is a sophomore at UTSA majoring in political science. He’s lived in San Antonio his entire life and graduated from St. Anthony Catholic High School. Matthew’s goal is to graduate from UTSA and then go to law school in Austin. From there he hopes to enter the political field to eventually work his way up to federal politics. Matthew will be attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

“I'm excited to be attending this event because I have a strong
interest in politics, and not only is it the first presidential election I can vote in but it is also a historic even in American politics. I will also be able to learn so much about how these
elections are run.-- Matthew Shelton

Meet Their Professor

Amy E. Jasperson (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor of Political Science, Director of the Media & Elections Studio at UTSA, and a political analyst for local, national, and international radio and television news sources on the 2008 presidential campaign. She teaches courses on American politics and political communications and has published research on these topics, including recent work on political communications and the youth vote in the 2004 presidential campaign. She is excited to be leading a group of Honors students who will participate in a non-partisan academic program through The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars at the Democratic and Republican Conventions.

“The opportunity to be on the ground in the convention cities, witnessing, participating in, and surrounded by grassroots politics-in-action is a hands-on experience that will shape these students as citizens for the rest of their lives. UTSA is grateful to Time Warner Cable for their generosity in supporting our students to attend both the Democratic and Republican convention programs.”--Amy Jasperson

An alumnae member of Leadership San Antonio, she also received the San Antonio Business Journal’s Forty-Under-40 Award for Rising Stars in 2003. She was awarded the UTSA President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Core Curriculum Teaching for her work in American Politics and Government courses and she has been recognized by Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and she is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wellesley College in Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Art History (magna cum laude).