Civic Engagement – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

City Proclaims “Citizenship Preparatory Day”

For nearly two decades, Sam Houston State University’s Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics (LEAP) and the Huntsville Public Library have partnered to help local lawful permanent residents prepare for the naturalization process.

On September 15, 2026, that work received special recognition from the Huntsville City Council. Before the city’s governing body—consisting of Mayor Russell Humphrey and eight council members—Mayor Humphrey read Proclamation No. 2026-25, officially designating the date as “Citizenship Preparatory Day.”

The proclamation recognized LEAP’s five-week Citizenship Preparatory Course, which helps participants prepare for the civics test, English-language requirements, and naturalization interview. It also noted the challenge of condensing years of American history and government into five class sessions.

The proclamation also recognized the broader value of the program, noting that LEAP and the participants “strive to better our community and the City of Huntsville.”

Following a prayer and–fittingly–a pledge of allegiance, Professor Yawn spoke, recognizing Nataly Elizondo (this year’s intern) and thanking council.

That improvement comes from both sides of the classroom. Participants devote considerable time and effort to pursuing citizenship, often while balancing work and family responsibilities. Meanwhile, SHSU students gain a greater understanding of immigration, citizenship, and civic service while helping their neighbors achieve an important goal.

Following the proclamation reading and Professor Yawn’s thanks, Mayor Humphrey graciously shook hands with each of the participants and volunteers.

For LEAP Ambassadors and program participants, the proclamation was a meaningful acknowledgment of their work. More importantly, it celebrated the determination of local residents seeking to become United States citizens—and the community members helping them along the way.

Behind the Mic with Governor Abbott

Written by Kayla Fleming

On August 25, 2026, LEAP students had the opportunity to speak with Governor Greg Abbott regarding a new policy for higher education. At the SHSU Woodlands Center, Governor Abbott met with several Sam Houston State University students, including LEAP students, Orange Keys, and select nursing students, before holding a press conference to announce the Texas Summer Course Tuition Discount Program. Thanks to the effort and generosity of President White, the President’s Office, and the Governor’s team, the event went off without a hitch.

When we arrived at the Woodlands Center, we received a warm greeting from President White. Likely sensing our nerves, President White, Dr. Johnson, and Ms. Alexander were friendly and encouraging, helping us prepare and relax before the event officially began. After being directed upstairs, we had the opportunity to chat about upcoming LEAP events with Emily Binetti, SHSU Director of Content Communications, while we waited for the Orange Keys and nursing students to arrive.

During the first half hour, LEAP students had the chance to speak with Representatives Swanson, Toth, and Holt. At President White’s request, the representatives shared advice about preparing for our futures. They emphasized the importance of gaining real-world experience, as well as developing strong reading and writing skills. Their advice offered a valuable perspective on the skills students can develop now to prepare for their future careers.

When Governor Abbott entered, he was nothing less than kind and well-spoken. He informed us about his new policy, which provides discounts for students taking summer courses. The plan will offer a $500 discount for students taking one to five credit hours and a $1,000 discount for students taking six or more credit hours. He responded to our questions with genuine interest and explained the ideas behind the policy in clear, accessible terms, which we all appreciated. After approximately 30 minutes of conversation with the Governor, we had the opportunity to take pictures with him before the press conference began.

President White opened the press conference by thanking Governor Abbott and highlighting Sam Houston State University’s achievements. Governor Abbott then thanked the university, the students, and the Representatives in attendance before officially announcing the policy. Several Representatives also spoke during the conference, but one particular speaker was especially close to our hearts: our very own Ruthie Passmore.

Though her remarks were brief, Ruthie’s words were impactful and insightful. She discussed the challenges tuition can pose for students, drawing from her own experience. As a student responsible for financing her education, Ruthie explained that the cost of tuition has required her to work three jobs. Her perspective provided a personal reminder of why policies aimed at making higher education more affordable can have a meaningful impact on students.

Although our time with Governor Abbott was short, the experience was worthwhile. We were given a behind-the-scenes look at the Governor’s schedule and an opportunity to see politics in action. More importantly, we were able to speak directly with elected officials, ask questions, and hear advice that we can carry with us as we continue our education and prepare for our futures.

The advice we received from the Representatives, along with the opportunity to meet Governor Abbott face-to-face, made the experience one that each LEAP student will carry with them long after the event concluded.

City Fellows Interns Showcase a Summer of Growth Through Final Presentations

After a summer of serving local government and nonprofit organizations throughout the Huntsville community, interns in the Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics (LEAP) at Sam Houston State University concluded the City Fellows Internship Program by presenting their experiences to supervisors, mentors, and fellow interns.

The presentations highlighted not only the projects each student completed, but also the personal and professional growth that occurred throughout the semester. Participating interns included Elizabeth Werts (Fort Bend District Clerk’s office)…

…Brittlyn Jackson (Huntsville Main Street)…

…Estrella Morales-Garcia (Wynne Home Arts and Visitor Center)…

…Tania Ramirez (Huntsville Parks and Leisure)…

…Allie Plunk (who completed internships with both The Altom Group and Old Town Theatre)…

…and Christine James (SAAFE House).

The event was well attended by many of the students’ supervisors and community partners, demonstrating the strong relationships that make the City Fellows program successful. Among those in attendance were Kristy Wheeler and Penny Joiner from Huntsville Parks and Leisure; Amanda Sewell and Olivia McCaughan from Main Street Huntsville; Angela Robinson from the Wynne Home Arts and Visitor Center; Tracy Stoudt and Colleen Garza from SAAFE House; and Marshall Altom of The Altom Group. Also attending were Brian Beasley, Assistant City Manager for the City of Huntsville, and Sandra Rodriguez, Human Resources Coordinator for the City.

Each presentation focused on a significant project completed during the internship. Indeed, this is one key aspect of the City Fellows program: the internships are project based. For Tania Ramirez in Parks, for example, that included coming up with activities for the City’s July 4th celebration and its accompanying parade (where the Parks department one the Spirit Award). The students also discussed the challenges encountered and the lessons learned along the way. Several students admitted they were initially nervous about speaking before an audience, with nearly half acknowledging that public presentations pushed them well outside their comfort zones. By the end of the program, however, each intern confidently shared the accomplishments of the summer and reflected on the skills they had developed.

Many of the students discussed overcoming personal limitations, whether it was learning unfamiliar office software, adapting to a professional workplace, or building confidence in communicating with coworkers and the public. Their stories illustrated that internships provide far more than workplace experience—they foster resilience, adaptability, and self-confidence.

One theme echoed by every presenter was a newfound appreciation for local government and community organizations. Whether engaging in the day-to-day work of the organization or through one of the City Fellows’ tours, the interns gained a better understanding of how many moving parts exist in local government and how each component has to have dedicated staff behind their mission.

It was, of course, icing on the cake to have many of those dedicated staff in the room while the presentations were being conducted, and the LEAP Center remains grateful to the City of Huntsville, SAAFE House, The Altom Group, the Old Town Theatre, and the Fort Bend County Clerk’s Office for providing students with rich opportunities.

Bingo and Board Games at the Walker County Senior Center

Written By: Nataly Elizondo

As summer came to a close, LEAP Students had the opportunity to spend another Wednesday morning volunteering at the Walker County Senior Center! The time we spend with the seniors of Walker County has quickly become one of our favorite volunteer activities this semester. Each visit gives us the chance to spend time together, make new memories, and enjoy the company of the wonderful seniors in our community.

We started the morning with several rounds of bingo, with Olivia and Brittlyn taking turns calling out the numbers. Though the game was intense, there were several winners that were able to take home the best prize of all: bragging rights. In fact, three of the wins ended up going to the same table! Everyone had a great time getting into the spirit of the game and cheering each other on.

One of the biggest surprises of the morning was seeing Grace Eronini, who stopped by after we had not seen her for a few months. As soon as she walked through the door, she was greeted with plenty of smiles and excitement. Grace also brought cupcakes for everyone, making her visit even sweeter—literally! It was wonderful to catch up with her, and it was especially heartwarming to see how much the seniors appreciated both her visit and the thoughtful treat she brought with her.

After bingo, we invited the seniors to help us record a short video celebrating The Wynne Home’s 20th anniversary and thanking them for their continued support of Meals on Wheels. It was a special opportunity to recognize the important role they play in our community and to celebrate such a meaningful milestone together.

Once we finished recording, the morning continued with plenty of conversation and activities. Many of the seniors spent time playing board games, working on puzzles, and visiting with one another, while the LEAP volunteers joined in and enjoyed the activities alongside them. One of the most highly invested in games was a fifty piece miniature puzzle painting of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. The tiny pieces proved a challenge for everyone involved, though it was eventually completed, much to our pride.

After lunch, we ended the morning by enjoying the cupcakes Grace brought for everyone before saying our goodbyes. We left the Senior Center with full stomachs, happy memories, and plenty of smiles, grateful for another wonderful morning spent with the seniors of Walker County.

City Fellows Get Behind-the-Scenes Look at Huntsville Fire Department

The Huntsville Fire Department does far more than respond to fires, and a group of City Fellows interns recently had the opportunity to see that firsthand during a behind-the-scenes tour led by Fire Chief Greg Mathis.

The City Fellows program, administered through the LEAP Center at Sam Houston State University, places students in internships throughout the Huntsville community while providing professional development experiences that introduce them to the people and organizations serving the city. This summer’s interns include Brittlyn Jackson, who is interning with Huntsville Main Street; Tania Ramirez, with Huntsville Parks and Leisure; Christine James, with SAAFE House; and Allie Plunk, who serves with Old Town Theatre and The Altom Group.

The tour began with a look into the department’s history, including a beautifully restored 1928 Huntsville fire truck and several artifacts that illustrate how firefighting has evolved over the past century.

From there, Chief Mathis explained that today’s fire chief wears many hats. In addition to emergency response, his responsibilities include budgeting, securing grants, overseeing personnel, and ensuring firefighters have the training and equipment necessary to protect the community.

As the group toured the station, they visited the department’s watch room, where emergency calls and alarms are monitored around the clock, and learned about the important role volunteers continue to play alongside career firefighters. They also had an opportunity to get some hands-on experiences with the equipment, including the firetruck.

We learned that Allie shouldn’t be trusted with sharp objects, and that Brittlyn might not be cut out to be a firefighter.

Chief Mathis emphasized that modern fire departments handle far more than structure fires. The Huntsville Fire Department maintains specialized capabilities such as a dive team and rope rescue team, allowing firefighters to respond to water emergencies, technical rescues, and other situations requiring specialized training. Of course, not every call is dramatic—sometimes firefighters are even called upon to rescue stranded cats.

Perhaps the most memorable portion of the visit came as Chief Mathis recounted some of Huntsville’s most significant fires. He described the devastating 1954 First Baptist Church fire and the 1982 blaze that destroyed Old Main at Sam Houston State University, illustrating how these historic events shaped both the department and the community it serves.

It was a fascinating afternoon, one that provided an education on how various aspects of the city were interconnected, the training that goes into emergency services, and the many roles played by the fire department–all of which enriched our internships and our education.

Many thanks to Chief Greg Mathis for the tour, the time, the history, and the education.

Christmas Comes Early: Bingo Fun with CASA

Written By: Kayla Fleming

Although the most wonderful time of the year is still six months away, CASA of Walker County brought plenty of holiday spirit to the Lowman Student Center Orange Ballroom during its annual Christmas in July fundraiser.

Organized by Laura Green, the fundraiser united hundreds of community members to support CASA’s mission of providing every child with a safe, permanent, and nurturing home.

CASA volunteers took great strides toward this mission this year, travelling more than 44,000 miles and contributing over 3,200 hours–all in the service of children!

This year’s “Christmas in July” event offered similar support. Terrence Bell–SHSU Alum, local Pastor, and Huntsville High teacher–called 15 rounds of Bingo; Victoria White (Assistant Dean of Students) announced raffle winners; and auctioneer Kevin McMillan led an exciting auction intermission. In all, the event raised some $160,000 for CASA (CASA will release its official and final results later this week), providing needed support for its volunteers and staff.

After placing our tickets for the raffle and grabbing delicious Hawaiian inspired food sponsored by Dealer Solutions Automotive, Jolie Godfrey Mortgage Team, Dr. Victoria Hsiao, and Dr. Glenda Read, it was time for the game to begin! Greg Smith, Director of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home and this year’s presenting sponsor, opened the evening with a prayer.

Although LEAP students had much of the ups and downs of the other participants, we were ultimately shut out of this year’s winnings, much to the dismay of some competitive members.

The Woodwards won twice and Stephanie won one of the raffles!

It was also fun to see the many winners throughout the evening, which offers a good reflection of the fun that was had by all.

While bingo provided plenty of excitement, the children’s art auctions were the highlight of the evening. Before each piece was auctioned, volunteers walked around the room, holding the artwork high while a video highlighted aspects of the art (which was often very touching) and the child who created it, and then the bidding began.

It was truly remarkable to see the members of our community getting into bidding wars to support CASA and the children they represent.

Mayor Russell Humphrey was, as always, impactful, spending thousands to buy three pieces, giving two back to the children that made them. Tim Rushing was also a strong supporter of CASA, purchasing multiple art pieces and donating tens of thousands of dollars. The auction did not just touch hearts though; it broke records, raising more than $50,000 in total.

Particularly moving was the presence of some of the adoptive parents on hand, couples who were in the process of adopting CASA children.

Seeing them interact with their children’s CASA advocates and the bidders on their children’s works of art was a highlight of the evening.

Just before the last rounds of bingo, Elliott Herzlich on behalf of Elliott’s Jewelers gave out Hawaiian flower Christmas Ornaments so that everyone could go home with a prize, whether they were lucky enough to win something or or not.

Any time you have good people coming together for a good cause, we see familiar faces. Marshall Altom and his wife, the Woodards, President White and Elliot Herzlich, Jason Brandolini and his wife, Victoria White and Jalon Berry, Lois Stehlik, our old friend Macey Schank (who still volunteers for CASA, despite graduating), and the Slaters.

This added to the already festive aspect of the evening, sending us all home with Christmas spirit–and the children of the region in better hands, the hands of loving families, the committed CASA advocates, and caring community members.

The Best of Salt Lake City: A LEAP Perspective

By Mike Yawn

The LEAP Center follows a rigorous process in planning trips, ensuring maximum learning, fun, and reward. The trips are scheduled such that the conferences take priority, while supplementary activities enhance learning, knowledge of others’ cultures, and the expansion of professional networks–with fun sprinkled in.

When things go well, the students take ownership of this process, and this was one of the many happy outcomes of this trip. After a year-long moratorium on LEAP travel, the students prepared well for the trip (taking a photography course and watching a documentary on one of the conference’s keynote speakers), maintained a good attitude despite long days and little sleep, and stayed up-to-date with the blogs and photo editing.

In light of the above and with a little reflection, they offered their favorites of the trip:

Conference Sessions:

This had the least consensus, probably because there was much to like and the students attended different sessions.

Probably the favorite was the “policy tour,” in which the students had a chance to deep-dive into a policy area–including a tour–led by experts. For Isis, Allie, and Jacob, this was the crisis center, in which the students learned of techniques to allow social workers to take over many of the processes involving low-level criminal conduct by people struggling with mental illness. For Robin and Olivia, the tour explored water issues in the West and one of the things Utah is doing to combat shortages, while also involving a wetlands tour on an airboat.

The students also enjoyed “Getting the Right Response,” which also involved crisis response by mental health and law-enforcement personnel. They also enjoyed meeting the keynote speakers, particularly Elizabeth Smart and Evy Poumpouras.

Restaurants:

Central by Saffron Valley was on all five students’ “best-of” lists, and it was the top choice for four of the students.

The food was, in every way, excellent, and amid all the appetizers and entrees, there was not a bad (or even so-so) choice.

Caputo’s was a strong second. appearing on four of the students’ choices. Their sandwiches were impressive–all tasty–and their shop selection was excellent. We wish we could have stayed longer and tried their food classes. Rounding out the top three was Plates and Palates, which had great service and sandwiches in Bountiful, UT.

Coffee:

For coffee, “Ten” ranked first. We had two visits there, and both times, the staff were pleasant, responsive, and helpful, and their coffee was excellent. Also top-notch was the Honeysuckle Coffee Co, which has great service, coffee, and pastries. King’s Peak was perhaps a distant third, while still recommendable. Their coffee is good, while their pastries and service are not up to “Ten’s” standards. On a trip of this nature, coffee shops are much sampled, and we went to the above shops on two occasions. In addition, we went to “The People’s Coffee,” which was adequate, and we also visited “Roots” and “Publik”, although we declined to try their coffee when the baristas indicated that it wasn’t fresh–and didn’t offer to make a fresh cup.

Non-Conference Activities

Beyond the conference, there was even less consensus on the most rewarding activities. Some thought Park City was the most interesting…

…the Capitol Tour had a lot of support, with a majority of the students believing that Utah’s Capitol was, overall, more polished, cohesive, and interesting than the Texas Capitol.

The students also enjoyed the trip through the Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway, where the temperatures were twenty-five degrees cooler than Salt Lake City, the scenery was beautiful, and there was an adventure around every corner.

Advisor’s Wrapup

This was the first trip where the students managed to organize their time and energy in such a way as to finish their blogs on time, edit all their photos, and post on social media daily. Olivia McCaughan did a great job facilitating the many tasks that go into making the trip work; Allie did a great job editing the blogs; Jacob and Allie took the lead on editing photos, but everyone edited some photos; and Robin and Isis proved versatile, editing photos, writing blogs, compiling lists, asking questions.

The result was a broad-based learning trip, with leadership lessons built in. The students explored other cities’ downtowns, city halls, and libraries; met numerous legislators and policy experts, promoting their leadership and potentially helping to prepare them for the Austin Internship Program; toured two Museums and one educational center; heard the Tabernacle Choir, one of the ten best choirs in the world; sat in on numerous policy sessions; took thousands of photos; saw numerous animal species for the first time; and managed to complete a 2.5 mile round-trip hike–with a 1,000 foot elevation gain–all in six days!

The students’ teamwork was impressive and effective, with student leadership helping to maintain morale, ensure logistical efficiency, and meet all deadlines, which, in turn, helped make this an excellent trip!

Voices of Resilience: Closing the Conference with Purpose

Written By: Isis Hollis, Robin Houghton, and Allie Plunk

Throughout the conference, LEAP Ambassadors have had the opportunity to learn about policy from esteemed legislators and guest speakers, but on our last day, we got to experience a much more personal session, hearing from activist Elizabeth Smart, the CSG Justice Center on mental health, and attending the closing dinner.

Elizabeth Smart

Before we heard from today’s remarkable keynote speaker, there were a few mentions and introductions from Chair Senator Todd Weiler (UT) and Chair-Prospect Senator Löki Tobin (AK). Together, they previewed next year’s CSG West meeting, which will be taking place in Alaska! Following a short “sizzle reel” for the state, Chair Senator Todd Weiler (UT) introduced Elizabeth Smart.

Smart was abducted from her bedroom at the age of 14 and survived nine months in captivity before being rescued. Though it was law enforcement that put her captors behind bars, there would be no story to tell had it not been for her resilience. It was incredibly inspiring to hear her story, and how she pushed through the darkness around her by focusing on positivity. Even though terrible things were happening to her, she reminded herself constantly throughout her abduction that things could always be worse. It was this strategy, as well as remembering the unconditional love of her family, that kept her going.

Smart also touched on the incredible difficulty she had finding value within herself during and following her captivity. Because she hadn’t been taught the difference between consensual sex and rape, she felt like she had done something horrible. It took her a long time to be able to rationalize that she hadn’t been the one to do anything wrong. I appreciated her candor and that she made it clear that recovery after something so terrifying was a long process.

Now an advocate for safety and sexual assault victims, Smart has used what happened to her for as much good as she can. This resilience and compassion is something we all admired. She was an incredible speaker, and we felt honored to have been able to listen to her.

CSG Justice Center

Following Elizabeth Smart’s moving speech, we attended a session on the CSG Justice Center, and their approach to mental health advocacy. Ernest Stevens, former San Antonio police officer and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) member, current Managing Director of Behavioral Health at the CSG Justice Center, Madeleine Dardeau, CSG Justice Center State Initiatives Program Director, and Leanne Huff, Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) Act specialist, had a panel discussion about the implementation and development of MCOTs, as well as CIT Trainings and help line 988.

The key point was the pressing need for more CIT trained teams to go out and address people with mental health problems. Stevens stated that if you send an untrained officer to deal with mental health crises “there will always be a gun.” Many people struggling with mental health have been shot or killed by officers unable to deal with their problems, and this is exactly what the CSG Criminal Justice center is trying to stop. At the core of this session was a statistic: officers spend only 8 hours learning about mediation techniques, which is something they are supposed to use every day, as opposed to a whopping 20 hours learning to use a gun, which many officers only discharge a few times.

Another factor in this issue is the stigmatization of mental health problems. If we can make people unafraid to get the help they need, then we won’t have as many suicides or overdoses. This issue is becoming something that is particularly close to a few of our hearts, and we hope that in the future we can be a part of the solution.

Dinner

We ended the conference with fun in a closing dinner hosted at the Natural History Museum of Utah, which was just as beautiful of a venue as it was informative. After ascending the stairs, we were greeted with a wall of fossils, crystals, flora, and taxidermy that stretched from floor to ceiling, immediately captivating several Ambassadors.

The dinner also featured a local band, by the name of The Bombshell Flowers. A high-energy indie rock group, their layered harmonies added a relaxed, yet tasteful atmosphere.

For dinner, we had tri-tip steak, cauliflower, asparagus, mashed potatoes, and salad, followed by desserts of fruit tarts and banana pudding.

While the dinner was good, it was the museum that was truly memorable. We spent a lot of time exploring the exhibits, each highlighting an important aspect of Utah’s natural history. We even discovered that Allie is likely descended from the Allosaurus, which is where she gets her t-rex nature!

As we left, we managed to grab a shot of the breathtaking views from the museum terrace.

From dinosaurs to rock formations to earthquakes, Utah’s Natural History Museum was a wonderful place to close out the conference.

Conclusion

Our final conference day left us with a lot to think about, looking at the world through new eyes. We all admired the incredible work people like Elizabeth Smart and the CSG Criminal Justice Center are doing for those struggling with mental health and sexual assault.

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