Civic Engagement – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

LEAP Alumni Panel: Life, Skills, and Careers

Who is more professional than the current LEAP Ambassadors? Not many, but if there is a group that can lay claim to this designation, it is LEAP Alumni. Over the twenty years of the group’s existence, there have been approximately 60 students who can lay claim to the title of “Junior Fellows” or “LEAP Ambassadors.” These students have been very successful, and last Friday, they returned to campus to impart some of their knowledge to current SHSU students.

Megan Chapa Martin, who now has her own law firm, moderated the panel…

…which featured: Daniel North, partner at a major law firm in Chicago…

…Ademide Adedokun, who works as external relations for Immigration Services…

…Megan O’Flaherty, who worked for Arnold Ventures…

…and Melva Gomez, Deputy Political Director for Governor Greg Abbott.

They, along with about 60 current students, met to discuss career skills, aptitude, and strategies.

Martin steered the conversation to the first major skill all panelists agreed that LEAP help them develop: navigating interviews. Ademide Adedokun emphasized the importance of bouncing back, describing one of her early setbacks, and how she learned from it. Melva Gomez encouraged students to mitigate their weaknesses by working to improve in weak areas, while developing their natural strengths. All agreed that internships are one of the key ways that these strategies can be implemented.

All agreed that students should begin with foundational skills. Adedokun stressed the importance of reading and writing, noting that while AI might enhance these skills, they will not replace them. O’Flaherty stressed skills such as organization, managing expectations, and meeting deadlines–all of which relate to self-management, professionalism, and taking responsibility.

While all of these skills can be applied to the various fields represented on the panel, different occupational categories have different workloads. When North began his practice, for example, he was expected to bill more than 2,100 hours per year, and this often meant working 60-70 hours per week. An intense work-load is also true of campaign work, particularly as Election Day draw nears, and operatives may work up to 100 hours per week.

By contrast, Ademide pointed out that, in the federal workforce, 40-45 hour work weeks are the norm. In non-profits, the work week can vary wildly, depending on the size of the organization and whether it is primarily a programming office. In thinking about what’s best for them, students will need to think hard about their work ethic, their work-life balance, and what a “successful life” means to them–questions worthy of the philosophers that adorn the beautiful Peabody Library.

Successful employees, irrespective of career, learn from their mistakes; take responsibility for their employees and work productivity; and combine hard skills, soft skills, integrity, deep knowledge of your industry, and an impressive work ethic.

Once the formal panel was done, students had the opportunity to ask one-on-one questions with each panelist. Some shared with Ms. Gomez and Mrs. Martin how much of an inspiration they are to current first-generation students. Mr. North and Ms. Adedokun chatted with students about the opportunities provided by LEAP for out of state work, which also caught the interest of many. Others bonded with Mrs. O’Flaherty over their experience on the cheer team here at SHSU or their interest in non-profits. In short, there was something for everyone.

Internship Informational: City Fellows, Sam Houston Austin Internship Program, and Washington, DC

SHSU students visited the historic Peabody Library on campus while learning about internship opportunities in Huntsville; Austin, TX; and Washington, DC. The learning came from reliable sources: Professor Mike Yawn and several former interns who had intern and worked everywhere from Huntsville to Capitol Hill.

Daniel North worked on Senator Claire McCaskill’s campaign and in her Capitol office before going into law. Ademide Adedokun also interned on Capitol Hill before working as a staff aide, and then moving into the executive branch. Israel Gallegos, a current SHSU student, spent Spring 2025 interning for Congressman Morgan Luttrell. Also on hand were current students Makenna McDaniel and Michelle Cardenas, both of whom completed the SHAIP program in 2025, working for Representative Will Metcalf and Governor Greg Abbott, respectively.

The programs are described below:

City Fellows

The City Fellows program is for students who would like to have a part-time internship while still attending classes in Huntsville. Students earn academic credit while working 15-20 hours per week (paid at $10.00 an hour) on a project for a local government office, non-profit, law office, or business.

These internships are project based, meaning that the agency is seeking an intern who can complete a semester-long activity. This might include offering recruiting instructors and offering programs for activities; conducting a salary survey for various jobs across the state; planning a large event; working on a marketing campaign for a new undertaking; or implementing an audit of government services. The application for summer internships opens April 1, with interviews in late April.

Daniel, Ademide, and Michelle all did City Fellows internships before moving to Austin and/or DC for higher-profile internships.

SHAIP

The Sam Houston Austin Internship Program was created by President Dana Hoyt in 2012, and Professor Yawn began implementation that year.

The timeline for this program is:

September 1: Applications Open
October 1: Applications Close
Early October: Students are selected for interviews
Mid-October: Panel Interviews
Early November: Students interview at Austin offices
January 3-June 1: Students intern in Austin

Selected students gain a scholarship of up to $8,000, earn six hours of academic credit, gain valuable skills, and great networking opportunities. It is a full-time experience, as recalled by Makenna McDaniel: “You begin by working about 40 hours per week, but by the end of session, that can end up being 80 hours a week. But if you are hard-working, it is an invigorating experience.”

The Chancellor’s DC Internship

The Chancellor’s DC Internship program was officially launched just weeks ago, and it involves selecting ten students from across the Texas State University System’s four-year institutions. Each student selected earns six hours of credit and a scholarship of up to $10,000 for the semester, while spending the semester in Washington, DC–a major draw of the experience. “It was a great opportunity to be in DC,” noted Israel Gallegos, “and work in the capitol building while also getting to experience the broader environment.”

The timeline for this program is:

February 2: Applications Opened
March 1: Applications Close
Mid-March: Interviews
Late-March: Follow-Up Interviews
Early April: SHSU selects up to five applicants and send their applications to the System Office
Late April: The System Office Reviews Applications
May: The System selects ten students
Fall Semester: Students work in DC

“This opportunity,” noted Ademide Adedokun, “can change lives. It changed mine, and I spent the next 13 years of my life in Washington, DC.”

Concluding Thoughts

Of course, students applying for any of these programs should have good grades, be disciplined, punctual, engaged, professional, and be coachable. For all of the programs, the more activities students participate in, the better chance they will have to demonstrate the qualities cited above. Academically, students will need a 2.8 or better (almost always better) to be competitive in the application process. For the SHAIP and DC programs, competitive applicants will have GPAs in the 3.5 and up range.

“For almost anything you want to do,” noted Daniel North, “having experiences like this–in the field and around people with amazing skills–will benefit your career, expand your horizons, and enhance your success.”

Fun, Games, and Education: Volunteering at the Senior Center

With the first month of the semester almost complete, LEAP is thoroughly ensconced with volunteerism across the community and, especially, at the Walker County Senior Center, where there is much fun to be had.

Nataly Elizondo and Bailey Hopkins at the Senior Center

Our routine is straightforward: introductions, five games of Bingo, and then selecting from myriad games at different tables. But the possibilities are numerous, fun, and intriguing.

We began again with Bingo, this time with Nataly taking the lead as most other volunteers sat at the tables.

Normally a quiet sort, Nataly flashed some smiles, enunciated loudly and clearly, and had great teamwork with her co-host Mikaela Baires. She even received some cheers from the congregants.

Of course, not as many cheers as the winners.

Following the Bingo game, students sat at different tables, interacting with seniors and other volunteers. In some cases, such as Ashton’s, it meant learning new card games from others at the table…

…and eventually she won, making everyone happy!

At other tables, the students taught the seniors new games.

And all the games were new for Mikaela, whose family doesn’t play cards.

While there, we ran into a familiar face: Dottie Fulton! Ms. Fulton is one of our favorite people to plant flags with for the Lions Club Flag Project, and we relish each time we get to see her.

One of the things that LEAP students soon learn with volunteering is that many of the same people show up at diverse venues: people who donate their time and resources do so across a variety of causes, and they are the individuals who make communities better places to live.

And, of course, that is exactly what makes the Senior Center a worthy place to donate time and money.

Multi-Platform Media Exposure with LEAP

The LEAP Center works hard to provide students with skills that will be beneficial to them in myriad careers. This includes soft skills such as punctuality, interpersonal, teamwork, and collaboration, but it also includes skills such as software, writing, and media relations.

Of course, part of the media experience is running our own blog and social media platforms, but we also rely on outside news agencies to assist. In the past, media relations has included interviews with print media, such as Postcards…

….or television…

…but every semester, the LEAP Center also sits down with KSAM’s News Director Larry Crippen, for an “Around Town” episode.

This semester was no different, and this past week, we met with Crippen to discuss our experience at Chilly at the Lodge, as well as upcoming events such as our 20th Anniversary Celebration, the Wynne Home’s Empty Bowls, the Wynne Home’s Easter Egg Hunt, the 10th Court of Appeals, Citizenship, and some hoped-for trips.

You can hear the whole program below.

It’s always nice to meet with Mr. Crippen and to help get our events out to the public, but a key aspect of this is to teach students the skills they will need in the working world.

Many thanks to Larry Crippen and KSAM for covering our events!

The Rise of Africa’s Youth: Insights from Ambassador Michelle Gavin

By Allie Plunk

On February 2, LEAP students Zackery Isaacks, Mikaela Baires, Luke Hempfling, and I accompanied Professor Yawn and former Junior Fellow/LEAP Ambassador Ademide Adedokun to the Junior League of Houston to hear Ambassador Michelle Gavin speak about the rapid changes occurring in African politics– and what that might mean for the futures of African youth.

After Jahan Jafarpour, the Director of Programs, offered a brief introduction…

…our favorite moderator, Ronan O’Malley, began the interview, discussing some of the ideas Ambassador Gavin explores in her book, The Age of Change. One of these is the concept of a “demographic dividend,” which means a big boost to national productivity due to the increase of labor force and decrease of dependents, and this is occurring in a large number of Africa’s 54 countries.

While young people are gaining power in numbers and entering the job market, older generations are still running the government. Ambassador Gavin highlighted the example of Paul Biya, the President of Cameroon, who has been president for forty-three years, and he was just re-elected in October for another seven-year term. While some may political stability, others may see the potential for corruption and a stale–rather than dynamic–political culture.

Such regimes, according to Gavin, may not last much longer, as the African youth are becoming increasingly urbanized and have more resources to be connected. Under such circumstances, political organization becomes possible and real change can occur.

There are models of successful democracies in Africa, and if young people use countries such as Botswana as models, it is realistic to think that democracy can spread. Botswana has maintained peace and stability by electing good leaders, preventing corruption, and using their greatest natural resources (diamonds) wisely. In terms of governance, they use “Kgotla meetings,” something akin to “town halls,” which allow citizens to bring questions and concerns to community leaders. This provides for a sense of interconnectedness, promotes accountability, and allows for clear and frequent communication.

Following the talk, Maria Guarache swept us up to see Ambassador Gavin, and we were able to get photographs and our books signed, capping off a wonderful program.

And, to further enhance the evening, we joined Ms. Adedokun at ChopnBlok for some African food. Many of us had never tried African food before, so it was a nice way to add even more educational aspects to the field trip, while also learning more about Ms. Adedokun and her career, her perception of African politics, and a little bit of LEAP history, all wrapped into a top-notch meal by a James Beard Award-winning chef.

Fun and Flavor: Chilly at the Lodge Festivities

It was a cold and windy day, but that didn’t stop LEAP students from doing what they do: volunteering, having fun, and learning a little. Over the course of a thirty-hour period, students helped organizers of “Chilly at the Lodge” set up their two-day chili competition, did an afternoon tour of vendors and chili cooks, and also served as chili judges.

Chilly at the Lodge–Set Up

Chilly at the Lodge was founded to provide community fun, while also raising funds for the Josey Scout Lodge, one of a small number of Huntsville structures on the National Historic Register.

The more money the organizers save, the more funds can go to the good cause of maintaining the structure. Thus, LEAP students–Jacob Wessels, Luke Hempfling, Michelle Cardenas, and Brittlyn Jackson–found themselves on the grounds of the Lodge at 6:30am in 28-degree weather.

This early morning stint involved assisting cooks with moving equipment and items from their vehicles to the grounds.

The effort soon warmed us up, and the friendliness of the cooks enhanced the warmth further.

Following a short break to hear competition regulations from Don Cullum (a champion chili cook and one of the organizers of the tournament)…

…we continued our work helping vendors move their equipment to the grounds. In all, there were approximately 80 vendors and chili cooks.

We capped our 2.5-hour volunteer stint with a surprise tour of the grounds, led by Gene Roberts. This tour included a visit to the Caretaker’s Cabin, which not even Professor Yawn had seen! It was a fitting end to a rewarding morning.

Fun at the Chilly Fest

With a bit of a break in the morning, some of us returned with a new crew to enjoy the chili, the food, and the entertainment that is the hallmark of Chilly at the Lodge.

All of us–Victoria McClendon, Stephanie Fors, Mike Yawn, Gavin Dimen, Kayla Fleming, Michelle Cardenas, Isis Hollis, Allie Plunk, Robin Houghton, Marley Hendrix, and Nathan Barron–enjoyed the different vendors, with a special fondness for honey, baked items, and, for a couple of us, leather goods.

We also really enjoyed the music, especially the work of Steve Idlett, who performed a nice mix of music, including a “A Good Day to Die.”

But, of course, what we most enjoyed was the chili…

…(with the exception of Victoria, who, as a judge, could not interact with the cooks, lest she form opinions that might bias her “blind judgment” in the official contest). In all, we had about 80 samples of chili, trying almost all of them: the good (a lot), the bad (very few), and the chili with skittles (thankfully, only one).

When the day was over, we had a nice surprise, a tutorial from Don Cullum on how to cook chili, adding an educational flair to an afternoon of fun.

The Judging

The serious side of the chili contest is judging, and fortunately, you don’t have to be a chili expert to be a chili judge. This is a role LEAP Ambassadors have enjoyed for the past three years, and we continued the tradition this year.

Following a training by the ever-present Don Cullum, we began our judging process.

In all, we judged three categories: two rounds of Traditional Red and one round of Vegetarian. The Vegetarian was the easiest because there were only eight entrants, which means that a judge can get by with about 15 spoonfuls of chili.

The Traditional Red, however, had 18 entrants, which meant that, at a minimum, we were consuming at least one spoonful of a dozen and a half different bowls of chili. But this first foray into the chili tasting is really just to rule out bowls. A second round of tasting is necessary to taste the five or six bowls you think are in the running for first, second, or third place. And then, at least for some judges, a third round of tasting is needed to help suss out the top three in order. So, we had quite a lot of chili!

And this doesn’t even count the palate cleansers that are mandated between each sample–tortilla chips, sour cream, and water.

Of course, this is only part of the fun. While we were judging, we had a chance to run into some of our favorite people: Thomas Leeper, Dr. Gene Roberts, Mandy Dunbar, Judge Tracy Sorensen, Derrick Birdsall, Paul Trevino, and Jennifer Alexander, not to mention event organizer Karla Christian.

It was, in all, a wonderful way to spend a winter weekend in Huntsville, TX.

LEAPing into Learning with the HISD School Board

By Kayla Fleming

The spring 2026 semester has begun, and it didn’t take long for LEAP students to be back in full swing. After a week of planning for upcoming events, volunteerism in the community, and promoting “Empty Bowls,” we made our way to the January meeting of the Huntsville Independent School District Board of Trustees.

President Ken Holland kindly met with us more than half an hour ahead of the meeting, providing insight into the Board, its operations, its annual budget (approximately 117 million), and what was on the agenda for the evening.

While the agenda didn’t formally include us, President Holland did introduce us as “special guests” to the audience, which was a nice way to begin the evening. What was nicer, however, was to see faces familiar to us from our other work in the community. Shannon Hollis, HISD’s PIO was there, as was Assistant Superintendent Paul Trevino, both of whom we had worked with during M*A*S*H*. Tom Waddill, with whom we work on the Lions Club Flag Project, was there with his team of young journalists (Huntsville High Yearbook and “The Hive”, who were recognized for their productivity.

Other recognitions included Ms. Shotwell (Educator of the Month) and Ms. Tiffany Matchett (Employee of the Month), as well as recognitions for campuses with best student attendance and best faculty attendance; a group of student leaders–all of whom, we were impressed to see, stood up to receive their award and walked up to trustees and shook their hands.

Stewart Elementary was recognized for having a 92.41 percent student attendance rate during December…

…and Principal Ashley Fisseler accepted that award. Huntsville Elementary received recognition for having the highest staff attendance (more than 96 percent!), and Principal Natalie Barrett accepted the award.

As part of School Board Appreciation Month, Matt Lahey, the Director of Media at HISD, presented a video featuring interviews with the School Board. We had a chance to learn things such as Trustee Amanda Burris’s favorite teacher was Debra Dean (Calculus) ; Ken Holland enjoyed listening to the Downton Abbey soundtrack; and Sherri Odom had lived in both Hawaii and Panama growing up; Tracy Stoudt’s philosophy is, “I can’t make a difference from my couch;” and Rissie Owens could sneak to her grandmother’s house, which was across the street from her school, allowing her to “take recess anytime I wanted to…”

This was a great way to learn about the sitting board members, and to see examples of what motivates people to civic leadership.

Following a short recess, the Trustees got down to the serious business of governing the School District.

This involved a lengthy consent agenda, dispatching items such as the minutes in a quick vote; updates by Asst. Superintendent Dr. Nkrumah Dixon on partnerships with SHSU’s College of Education and grants;

…a vote on whether to adopt SB 11, which involved carving out school time for “religious text reflection” (the Board voted no, unanimously); and a year-end audit report by Celina Cereceres of Whitley Penn. In the latter update, we had a chance to learn about the different funds the District relies, operating reserves, and the different categories of compliance. We also learned that HISD received excellent marks!

With their primary business complete, the Trustees went into recess for Executive Session, with a planned evaluation of Superintendent Scott Sheppard. Before their recess, however, we had a chance to speak with several of the Trustees who thanked us for coming. It was a perfect end to an educational and welcoming introduction to the Huntsville Independent School District Board of Trustee meeting!

Highlights from the Senior Center

Just before classes began, LEAP students took advantage of their last moments of free time to volunteer at the Walker County Senior Center and to learn more about the Meals on Wheels Program, while also contributing to their ongoing work on the Empty Bowls program.

Stacey Loll, the Director of the Walker County Senior Center, introduced the students–Mikaela Baires, Jacob Wessels, Katie Wilson, Brittlyn Jackson, Nataly Elizondo, and Crystal Hearren–and Professor Yawn, and shortly after, they began enjoying various games.

The games soon gave way, however, to the bowl-glazing, when Angela Robinson of the Wynne Home dropped off dozens of bowls to be glazed.

As noted elsewhere on our blogs, the bowl-work is part of the Wynne Home Arts & Visitors Center’s “Empty Bowls” program, which encourages the arts while also feeding the hungry. It’s a multi-stage process, with City staff and volunteers getting grants to pay for supplies, for artists to lead classes on ceramics, and then a glazing and painting process.

These bowls can then be purchased–along with lunch–on March 4 at the Wynne Home, with the funds going, appropriately enough, to Meals on Wheels!

This type of work exemplifies intergenerational bonding or, in social capital terms, “bridging capital.” Basically, it brings people of different backgrounds and ages together for a common purpose. And while bowls, bingo, and other games were part of the fun, the common purpose was simply to enjoy the day and each other’s company.

Whatever the importance of bowls, we learned that nothing gets in the way of Bingo, so promptly at 10:15am, we set aside our bowls for the moment, and with Katie and Mikaela volunteering to serve as Bingo callers, got down to some serious business.

We soon found out how serious: several of the participants offered helpful suggestions on how better to fill the role of Bingo Caller. The suggestions helped, and Katie and Mikaela soon proved to be expert callers.

While Katie and Mikaela toiled away, the other LEAP students got to sit back, enjoy the games, and make new friends.

No matter their role, however, it was fun for all the volunteers, and we hope, for the regulars as well.

Following the games, we engaged in various activities: finishing bowls, playing more games, doing interviews for Postcards Magazine, and having lunch.

But our day wasn’t over, because we were also there to learn more about the Senior Center. We got a tour of the building, where we saw the impeccable cleanliness of the kitchen (they get one of the highest health-inspection ratings in the city), the offices, and their conference room.

Beyond the daily games and fun, the Senior Center utilizes volunteers to drive meals to more than 200 people who face food insecurity. The volunteer drivers follow the same route each “shift,” which allows them to provide not only a familiar and friendly face to individuals who may be lonely, but it also gives them the opportunity to notice apparent changes in health. “Our drivers,” notes Loll, “may be the only person our seniors see over a period of days or even weeks, and it’s important they have that interaction.”

The interaction and the education was also important to us. We learned a lot about the mission and operations of the Senior Center, the community groups and volunteers that support it, and the Center’s current needs–all while making new friends and having fun.

The Senior Center can always use volunteers or donations. To learn more, contact Stacey Loll at staceyloll@mowwctx.org or call (936) 295-6151. To donate, go to this site, where you can support a worthy cause!

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