The Fourth of July came early at the Walker County Senior Center as LEAP students and volunteers gathered to celebrate with local seniors! We arrived around 9:30 a.m., ready for a fun day filled with games, prizes, and music. The event allowed us to spend time with members of the community while helping to create a festive holiday celebration.
We kicked things off with our regular game of Bingo. Before the game began, Luke and I helped pick out prizes for the winners. It was exciting seeing all the different prizes we had to pick from, and knowing how happy they would make the senior citizens. With Brittlyn and Olivia calling numbers, we added in a few bonus rounds in celebration of the upcoming holiday!
As Bingo wrapped up and lunch preparations began, Brittlyn gave an amazing performance of The Star-Spangled Banner. We all loved her performance and gave her a huge round of applause as the National Anthem concluded. Throughout the morning, everyone enjoyed spending time together by taking silly pictures, playing checkers, and even competing on the Wii. It was so much fun seeing people of all ages laughing and talking to one another.
Before lunch started, we had one more special reason to celebrate… it was Ron Mendliski’s birthday! Everyone gathered around to sing Happy Birthday, and Ron smiled as he blew out his candles. As lunch was served, the LEAP students and volunteers took group pictures with Dottie Fulton, Director of the Lions Club, and Meals on Wheels: Walker County CEO, Stacey Loll. By the end of the event, this celebration was about much more than bingo and prizes. It was about building connections, sharing joy, and making the Fourth of July special for everyone!
Even with summer kicking into gear, LEAP students have managed to stay active in furthering their understanding of public affairs! Recently, we were honored to hear former Vice President Mike Pence speak on his new book, What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience at an event hosted by The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston.
In his book, Pence advocates for enduring conservative principles over the appeal of big-government populism within the Republican Party, and we were all thrilled to receive signed copies at the start of the event.
The night began with Sandija Bayot, the Chief Development Officer of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, introducing Kenneth Tubman, the Chairman and President of PPA Resources, who offered a glimpse into Mike Pence’s “multifaceted” career. Pence took the stage alongside exceptional Ronan O’Malley, Chief Programs Officer, who served as the moderator for this event.
Pence opened by highlighting the foundation 1960 Conservative text, The Conscience of a Conservative, by Barry Goldwater, which inspired his decision to write his new book. He discussed how politics in America are going through a dramatic change, and brought up modern marginalization of traditional values.
Pence reflected on his role as a member of the Republican Party, discussing how he went from being a Democrat to a Conservative after realizing that he wanted the values he grew up learning from his grandparents for himself. Pence also spoke about the importance of economic freedom and how he thinks that it is “morally wrong” to look at his children and grandchildren and say to them, “the debt is your problem, not mine.”
As the audience portion of the discussion began, Pence was asked what advice he would give to young people interested in politics. His answer was both simple and impactful, especially as students with an interest in the law: “Show up, don’t wait to get asked.”
Wrapping up, Pence reminded us that the American people are some of the most caring and innovative people, stating that America deserves to have a government just as good as its citizens.
The event ended on a memorable note as we were able to meet and take a photo with Mike Pence, who expressed his confidence in our generation by calling us the “future of politics.”
We concluded the evening with a delicious dinner and dessert from Katz’s Never Kloses, where we shared our thoughts and reflections from the event, a wonderful end to a fantastic and informative evening.
A LEAP trip wouldn’t be complete without exploring various different cuisines. This past weekend we tried everything from Mediterranean bowls to French pastries!
To prepare for a fulfilling day at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, LEAP Students had the opportunity to eat at Craft Pita, which serves farm to table Mediterranean cuisine. To start, we split the Mezze (a set of small, shareable dishes) Sampler. The hummus, babaganoush, and the turnips were crowd favorites. For some of us, it was our first time having a full mediterranean meal, and it did not disappoint.
Craft Pita is known for its inclusion of Tex Mex influence in otherwise traditional mediterranean food. One example of this was the Lebanese Tacos. Made with falafel, a meat alternative of spiced, mashed chickpeas, the dish surprised us with its complementary flavors. Aside from this exciting dish, we also enjoyed salads, wraps, and hummus bowls!
To finish off the meal, we ordered three deserts for the table: the Turkish Coffee Brownie, Lemon Mint Ice Cream, and Pistachio Ice Cream. The brownie was rich and delicate, while the ice cream was light and refreshing. The lemon mint was a surprising favorite, and we could not stop going back for more. Overall, Craft Pita only added to our wonderful weekend in Houston and prepared us for the exciting day ahead.
Our last stop in the diverse city of Houston was Common Bond Cafe on Sunday. The cafe had a pleasant atmosphere and delicious food! Nearly all of us went with the grilled cheese but we mixed it up with the sides. Robin and I had the tomato soup while Allie and Olivia had the fries. The fries had a unique thin, crispy texture that was very enjoyable.
Not only was the food great, but so were the pastries. I had the strawberry cheesecake muffin that was both photogenic and sweet. Of course their most famous pastry, the Kouign-amann, was a must on our list of things to try. It was buttery and flaky, similar to a croissant but had a crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on the bottom.
After we finished eating, Professor Yawn took us on a tour of some of the famous sculptures located in the Woodlands. Luckly we were able to stop and get a selfie infront of a massive James Surls sculpture.
Both spots, though different in many ways, added even more fun to our trip by expanding our palates and knowledge of different food cultures and artwork around the world!
On the first day of our LEAP Retreat, LEAP students travelled to the Alley Theatre for a performance of Stephen King’s Misery. To make this event even more memorable, we were joined by several alumni which gave us a group of 19 people!
The story follows author Paul Sheldon (Chris Hutchinson), who has finally written what he thinks will be his masterpiece when he gets into a car accident that shatters his legs. He is rescued by his self-professed “number one fan,” a woman by the name of Annie Wilkes (Elizabeth Bunch). At first, she acts normal enough, but things very quickly take a turn for the worst. Married in real life, the actors gave a wonderful performance, leaving us wondering how they manage to create such believable characters while still going home together each night. Having just seen the movie a few weeks before, it was very interesting to see the difference in the details and presentation of the story as it was adapted for the stage.
One of the most striking elements of the play was the set. Split into three distinct parts, the set rotated on a turntable to create a seamless transition between the room where Paul is held captive, the rest of the house, and outside. We were all astonished by the level of detail that went into the set, from the numerous images of Paul Sheldon, to the inclusion of a working staircase. Another practical piece of the performance that we enjoyed were the special effects. We had a good time figuring out how they incorporated stage blood and prosthetics to enhance the gorier elements of the story.
Having finally finished the Misery trifecta– the novel, movie, and play– I found the differences between the three mediums incredibly striking. The novel contained much more prosaic passages, as well as backstory and lengthened character development, especially for Annie Wilkes, than either the movie or play. The movie, however, shifted and condensed elements of the novel, such as the addiction that Paul develops to the pain medication Annie provides him and his reliance on imagination to endure his captivity, while adding in the perspective of the town Sheriff that is investigating his disappearance. The play retains many of these elements, several lines of dialogue taken directly from the movie, though Annie’s characterization relies on much more of the actor’s discretion, removing much of her backstory entirely. Despite these differences, each preserves the core of the story: the dangerous, disruptive nature of obsession.
Overall, Misery proved to be a fascinating example of how a story can evolve across different mediums while retaining its central themes. Both entertaining and thought-provoking, it was a memorable highlight of our retreat and gave us a deeper appreciation for the art of adaptation.
LEAP was back at it, and this time, the ambassadors were exploring the vast halls of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. As we navigated through the galleries, surrounded by countless masterpieces, my attention was drawn to the same three paintings that always seem to capture my imagination.
First, there is Vincent van Gogh’s The Rocks (1888). Looking at it up close, the heavy, swirling paint strokes made the entire landscape feel alive, like you could actually feel the rough texture of the stones and the whipping southern French wind. Also, van Gogh’s painting is an excellent example of Post-Impressionism. Though some artists like Claude Monet dedicated themselves to catching the quick shifts of atmosphere and light, Post-Impressionists such as van Gogh sought a more profound connection through their work. Feeling that the earlier movement remained somewhat on the surface, they instead transformed the canvas into a space for intense personal symbolism and the expression of raw, internal emotional landscapes.
Next, Piet Mondrian’s Composition with Grid #1 (1918) offers a completely different emotional experience. Its clean, interlocking blocks of gray and warm ochre create a sense of deep quiet and absolute order that instantly calms my mind. Finally, that peacefulness gets beautifully shattered by Willem de Kooning’s Untitled V (1975). This massive canvas felt like pure, chaotic energy; the messy slashes of white, red, and yellow were like a sudden explosion of coastal light and water. Together, these three pieces took me on an emotional rollercoaster from restless energy to total calm and back to beautiful chaos.
While we were there, we learned more about artists we were already familiar with, like Picasso and Jesús Moroles. We learned about Cubism, which was co-founded by Picasso: this basically breaks down objects and figures into geometric shapes. We also learned more about Jesús Moroles’ signature style, which balances raw, rugged, untouched stone surfaces right next to immaculately smooth, polished sides.
Beyond the specific works we analyzed, simply walking through the halls allowed for moments of quiet reflection and discovery. It was a reminder that art has the unique power to connect us not only to history and culture but also to our own inner thoughts and emotions. Overall, our trip to the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston was an incredible journey into the past and present, and it’s definitely worth your time if you’re in Houston!
After lunch, the Ambassadors marked the climax of the retreat by visiting the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, home to artwork spanning 5,000 years of history and containing works by notable artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Anish Kapoor, and Vincent Van Gogh. Guided by Professor Yawn, we explored the transition from Realism to Modern and Contemporary art, deepening our understanding of the way art developed over time.
As we explored the Contemporary art section of the museum, I found my eyes locked onto The Kiss by Edvard Munch. The vertical lines of the trees seem to box the viewer in with the couple as they embrace, making the intimacy of the moment feel almost overpowering, and that was ultimately what drew me in. I found this piece to be my favorite work in the museum.
The use of light as a medium was explored in many artworks, such as the exhibitions by James Turrell that connect each building in the museum in a series of tunnels. Light, unlike most pieces of art, transforms the entire space it occupies, making it a uniquely immersive medium. This is especially the case in Yayoi Kusama’s Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity. The moment we stepped inside, it felt like we were one step from falling into an endless void of light. While only lasting a minute, the feeling of awe while inside her exhibition stuck with us for much longer.
After a few group exhibits, I immediately made my way over to the Islamic art collection. For most Americans, the first images of the Middle East that come to mind are ones of conflict and instability; for some, it is the only image they have. Beyond the headlines, the Middle East is abundant in artistic heritage. What intrigued me most was the significance of calligraphy in Islamic culture, specifically in transcribing the Qur’an. In Islam, the depiction of living beings is seen as idolatry, so for the calligrapher, the detail and attention taken when transcribing the Qur’an reflect the beauty of the holy word and are a form of devotion for the artist. People often have the impression that art is drawn, but Islamic calligraphy proves that it can be written as well.
While each Ambassador had their own favorite works, our visit to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston increased our understanding and appreciation of art and made us excited for exhibits to come.
Even though it’s summer, LEAP Ambassadors still find ways to stay engaged! This past weekend, the ambassadors kicked off a fun trip to Houston by enjoying good food and appreciating artwork from an array of talented artists.
Picos, a restaurant known for representing the 7 regions of Mexican cuisine, has been a favorite among LEAP Students so we decided to start there for lunch! The diverse flavors and famous Mole (a traditional Mexican sauce filled with spices, nuts, and sometimes chocolate) appealed to many of our senses. The presentation of the food matched the complexity of taste including the Carne Asada A La Tampiquena, which Jacob noted had a savory but spicy flavor, and the seafood enchiladas that Kayla mentioned had a surprising umami flair. Robin tried the red Mole to which she quickly understood why it is a staple at Picos!
After a fulfilling lunch, we viewed art from both new and familiar faces at the Foltz Gallery! The current exhibition on display is Controlled Collisions featuring the works of Dual, J. Paul Jackson, and John Forse. Allie and I particularly enjoyed the textured, natural feeling of J. Paul Jacksons’ pieces.
The eye-catching exhibitions are not the only thing the Foltz Gallery has to offer, they specialize in supporting Texan artists, many of them local to the Houston area. The ambassadors recognized David Adickes, Charles Pebworth, Lee Jamison, and even got to meet Micheal Roque Collins! For many of us, it was our first time in an art gallery and the experience left us even more excited for the artsy weekend ahead!
People often ask, “What do LEAP students do?” It’s difficult to answer, because LEAP students do many things, and many of the things they do differ day-to-day–as a recent twenty-four-hour period demonstrates.
Misery can be Fun(if you are a movie goer!)
With finals over and the summer session not quite underway, LEAP students opted for a little fun, with some popular culture and historic knowledge thrown in. Thus, we went to River Oaks Theatre to see “Misery,” a 1990 film directed by Rob Reiner, written by the great William Goldman, and starring Kathy Bates and James Caan and, of course, based on a book by Stephen King.
This trip was motivated in part by the desire for a fun group activity, but it also ties in to our upcoming visit to The Alley Theatre to see “Misery.” As a very pleasant surprise, we ran into the stars of the play at the theatre! Chris Hutchison and Elizabeth Bunch were there to see the film in advance of their play version (begins at the end of this month!) and also to do a post-screening discussion of the movie and play.
It was a nice night-cap to a fun and, at times, frightening movie, which seemed to be universally enjoyed by the students, and a nice tool to amp-up the anticipation of our June 12 attendance at the Alley.
Chris Hutchison, Elizabeth Bunch, Ashley Winstead, and Keaton Patterson Discuss “Misery”
Commissioners CourtCan Also Be Fun (if you aren’t a Commissioner!)
We were able to get back to Huntsville before it was too late, which was a good thing because we had a fairly early morning scheduled. LEAP students regularly volunteer at the Senior Center, and with May being “Older Americans Month,” the Walker County Commissioners Court prepared a proclamation recognizing “Older Americans” and the Walker County Senior Center.
This was a good opportunity to teach the students about local government, the difference between a “consent agenda” and a “statutory agenda”, and why the County Judge–who is not a judge in any traditional sense–is called “Judge.”
The program was brief and pleasant, with LEAP students standing alongside Senior Center Board members and the Executive Director, Stacy Loll, for a photo. For the students, it was a positive introduction to local government, and it was a chance for the students to meet the Commissioners Court, some of them for the first time!
Trials Can Be Interesting (if you aren’t the defendant!)
The Commissioners Court meeting was brief, which was convenient because the students had the opportunity to stop by the District Court and watch the first day of trial in the case of The State of Texas v. Kenneth Eugene Giddens. The defendant was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of retaliation/obstruction.
All the students were able to stay for the voir dire, which was fascinating. Malori Martin was at her best, relating with the potential jury, discussing the law, and providing an effective overview of the prosecution’s view of the case. For the defense, Rane Riley was also effective, offering different graphics to explain the defense’s view of “reasonable doubt,” while also reminding the potential jurors that family conflict are common, suggesting perhaps, that not all such conflicts need to lead to criminal justice outcomes.
Mikaela Baires was able to return and watch the trial for the whole day, which provided her with some unique opportunities…
Brittlyn Jackson headed for lunch; Professor Yawn had to get to KBTX to do an interview;
…Nataly Elizondo headed to the Senior Center, where she often volunteers.
LEAP is Fun and Interesting (most of the time!)
In less than a full day, LEAP students made the most of their unique opportunities, engaging with popular culture–literary, cinematic, and theatric–participating in local government and volunteerism, and watching their criminal justice system at work.
In many ways this day will be different from the days to come, which includes participating in the Lions Club’s “Flag Project,” a tour of Huntsville, and a World Affairs Council event. But each of these days will bring new learning opportunities, high-quality civic engagement, and enjoyable community building–all of which form the core of the LEAP experience.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 