by Olivia Discon
To celebrate the legendary Sam Houston’s birthday, Sam Houston State University (SHSU) puts on a fabulous annual event to honor the former president of Texas and to bring light to the great things going on at SHSU.
Organized by the President’s Office, under the leadership of the incredible Tabitha Shanley, Jennifer Alexander, and Dr. McCartney Johnson, the LEAP Ambassadors have been fortunate to assist at the event over the years.
A number of Texas representatives, senators, legislative staff, and key figures, along with SHSU alumni, are invited to take part in the celebration in our state’s capital.
Although Houston’s actual birthday is March 2, we celebrated a bit early, a function of scheduling obstacles and venue selection. Speaking of which, the event was held in a stunning historic home, a perfect for networking and catching up with those who care greatly about our university.
President White briefly took the stage to pay tribute to Sam Houston, the man, acknowledging that while he may not be the conventional hero, it was his wit, passion for others, and brilliance that made him a true leader.
As LEAP students, we strive to exemplify the values of our university: service to others, doing things the right way, and having fun while doing it. Sam Houston had one maxim: “…do right and risk the consequences.”
This is also, of course, an appropriate principle for Sam Houston State University, whose mission it is to offer accessible, high-quality. The years go by, seasons change, but the value of education lasts a lifetime and, through the impact of generational transfer, even beyond.
Friendships also can last a lifetime, and the friendly, hospitable culture of SHSU was on full display.
For us, this meant deepening ties to our fellow students, the SHAIP interns, who were enjoying the event after a day’s work at the Texas Capitol.
Even better, we had the opportunity to reconnect with former LEAP and Junior Fellow alumni, seeing generations of the LEAP Center at Sam Houston shine.
The program has fundamentally changed lives, shaping not only the communities we serve as LEAP Ambassadors but also those we impact beyond. LEAP and SHSU cultivate public servants, and this event was a powerful reminder of that.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 