JEFFERSON CITY — I always enjoy sharing the political process with students. This legislative session, my office is privileged to have two college interns serving the 21st District. My staff and I are always thrilled to have some new faces helping around the Capitol, and our current interns, both serving in part-time capacities, are capably handling those responsibilities.

Dayna Marinan, a part-time intern, is the daughter of Tom and Cindy Marinan of Lee’s Summit. She is a junior at the University of Central Missouri, and will graduate in May 2015 with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Criminal Justice. Dayna is an active student at UCM, and enjoys spending her time with future UCM students and international students. She is a student ambassador for UCM and loves giving campus tours to future and international students. Although she loves working with domestic students, her true passion is working with international students, helping them become better acquainted with Warrensburg and UCM. She has worked at the UCM International Center for two years and spent a semester abroad in the Czech Republic studying Central European Politics. She is also the vice president of Study Abroad Student Association and is an active member in her sorority, Sigma Kappa. Dayna enjoys international travel and plans to attend law school after graduation. She hopes to one day live overseas, practicing international law.

Laura Hough is the daughter of Kathy Hough and the late Ron Hough of Lebanon. She is a senior at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and will graduate in May with degrees in both International Studies and Anthropology. Laura was a four-year member of the Marching Mizzou Color Guard, attending all MU home football games, and this season was excited to attend the SEC Championship Game and the Cotton Bowl. She is also a member of Tau Beta Sigma, a service organization with the MU school of music. She served as the study abroad blogger for the MU International Center during spring 2013, finishing her semester abroad in Italy. She enjoys writing, photography, and traveling. Laura is passionate about education issues and international affairs, and plans on pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs next fall.

Our interns work closely with my staff, attending hearings and committee meetings, fielding constituents’ questions via phone and email, drafting and editing news releases, and conducting tours of the Capitol for visitors from our district.

In addition to college internships, this office also offers opportunities to high school students who would like to job-shadow for a day, in order to better understand lawmakers’ roles in the Capitol. Interning or job-shadowing in a government office is a great way for students to learn about government processes, public policy and issues affecting Missourians. Many students can earn academic credit through their university while gaining a professional experience. If you are interested in applying for a legislative internship or to job shadow for a day, please go to my website at www.senate.mo.gov/pearce, click “Apply to be an Intern” under the Constituent Services tab, and fill out the application.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.