PRAIRIE VIEW- Texas State Representative Senfronia Thompson was selected as the spring 2012 commencement speaker. Commencement was held at in the William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Health and Physical Education Building. Thompson represents the Northeast Houston and Humble areas and has earned the distinction of serving longer in the legislature than any other woman or African-American in Texas history. She is currently serving her 20th term. In her established career, Thompson authored some of the state’s most notable laws including the first-ever alimony law, the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act, laws banning racial profiling, the state’s current minimum wage law and laws creating drug courts. Her oversight has led to major reforms in child support enforcement, human trafficking and penalties for sex offenders.