Once or twice a semester, the LEAP Ambassadors are privileged to attend Rotary meetings, and when we do, we often bring the guest speaker. Such was the case a few Wednesdays ago, when we brought in Jean Becker, who taught important lessons, not the least of which is, “Character Matters.”
That may sound a little anachronistic in 2024, but Ms. Becker knows of what she speaks. Working with President George H.W. Bush for more than two decades in his post-presidency, Ms. Becker was witness to massive fundraising for people in crisis; bipartisan coalitions to help others; and some amazing and high-profile acts of kindness.
And she was right at home, because Rotarians do much the same in their community.
Michelle Spencer, President of Rotary, greeted Ms. Becker, who then participated in the “pinning” of Lydia Montgomery, who was recognized as a “Paul Harris Fellow.”
Following a bit of Rotary business, Ms. Becker took the podium, describing various “points of light” she had seen during her 25-year career with the Bushes.
She not only shared her direct observations, but also those of Prime Minister John Major, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, former President Bill Clinton, former President Barack Obama, and other luminaries.
Ms. Becker has a great sense of humor, and she often left the audience crying from laughter–although some of her more poignant stories brought tears of sadness. In short, she has a wonderful way with words.
But she also is a master of non-verbal communication. Throughout her discussion, she might pause to cast a withering glare, perhaps while discussing those who cannot put down cell phones…
…at other times, she might jab her finger in the air to punctuate a point…
…and pity the fool who is the subject of her disapproving stare.
But it is all in good cheer…
…as captured by Ms. Becker’s engagement with the audience, her regard for others, and the wisdom she shares with a smile.
This positivity was reciprocated by the many in the audience who stayed after to get a photo…
…to share more stories…
…or just to say thanks for an afternoon well spent.
Murray Smither transformed Texas art through his many roles as an artist, gallerist, and private art dealer. His influence touched multiple generations of artists and collectors, leaving an enduring mark on the state’s creative community. The Murray Smither Collection, now exhibited at Sam Houston State University, presents an impressive array of Texas art spanning from the mid-twentieth century through the 1990s; this remarkable collection was made possible by Dean Ron Shields, Gallery Coordinator Frank Graham, and John Smither among many others.
The collection includes powerful work by Frank Jones, whose story captures Smither’s compassionate spirit. Their friendship began in the 1960s during the Prison Art Shows at Huntsville Penitentiary, where Smither served as a judge in the Prison Art Show and Jones was incarcerated. After awarding Jones first prize in 1964, Smither maintained their connection until Jones passed away in 1969.
Also featured were works by renowned artist James Surls, whose relationship with Smither began in the 1960s when Surls, then a student, showed Smither his artwork. Years later, Surls went on to exhibit his sculptures at the Smither Gallery on Allen Street in the 1970s!
Moreover, certain pieces caught our attention immediately. Saara gravitated toward an untitled work by Paul Schumann, admiring its elegant flowing blue water.
I found myself drawn to the inventive lamps and decorative items crafted from popsicle sticks and matches; their electrical plugs left me wondering if they might actually light up.
During the exhibition, Dr. Michael Henderson, Professor of Art and Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Media, spoke warmly of Smither’s legacy while acknowledging John Smither and the Smither Estate for their generous donation.
Linda Pease, beloved former director of the Wynne Home Arts and Visitors Center, shared stories of Murray’s giving nature. “He did not only give first and second chances, but third chances as well,” she recalled.
Artist Bill Haveron, whose work is in the collection, added his own testimony, describing how Smither’s introduction to James Surls and Charmaine Locke led to a life changing exhibition opportunity for him.
Further, one of the day’s highlights was spending time with Ralph and Linda Pease. Everyone was delighted to wish Ralph a happy 90th birthday (he had celebrated about a couple of months prior)! Not to mention, Linda wore an eye-catching piece that had us all amazed: a Pebworth necklace (Cinthia was speechless).
As always, we were reminded that, done well, art is more than just about aesthetics; it also brings people together. In addition to seeing the Peases and Dr. Henderson, LEAP Alum Victoria McClendon and her boyfriend Nick were there; President White was there, perusing the art and mingling with the crowd; Ken Holland, HISD Trustee, was there, in between other events planned for the day. It was a day of fun.
The Murray Smither Collection is more than just artwork; it tells the story of one man’s dedication to Texas art. Through these carefully curated pieces and the memories shared by those who knew him, we see how Murray’s genuine character and unwavering support helped shape generations of artists and their work.
The moot court competition in Fort Worth was a great experience that challenged our critical thinking skills (or the extent of them, anyways) and gave us a chance to grow as advocates. Fort Worth was the perfect host city, combining a world-class law school with a great cultural scene and history.
For the competition, we stayed at the Hilton in downtown Fort Worth, where President John F. Kennedy spent his final night—which was definitely not a good omen for our performance. The competition itself was held at Texas A&M’s School of Law, which happens to neighbor the Philip Johnson-designed Water Gardens.
As one of LEAP’s favorite architects, Johnson’s work always stands out, and the Water Gardens is an immersive way to experience architecture and ease both law students and moot court competitors’ nerves.
When we had time to explore, we made the most of it. We ensured to make a stop at the Richard Haas mural downtown in Sundance Square.
In the same area, we were lucky enough to stumble across works by James Surls…
…Lichtenstein, and Noguchi—all in one building! Just around the corner, we also found an Alex Katz…
…and Jesus Moroles sculpture.
One of my favorite stops was the Sid Richardson Museum, where we got an extensive look at the works of Frederic Remington and Charles Russell. Both are staples of Western art, but the range of their work was impressive. The museum also gave us a chance to try our hand at some art of our own, offering postcards for visitors to draw and send.
This ties to Remington, who was not well-versed in writing, and would use illustrations to communicate when words fell short. While some of us had more success than others (we’ll leave the details out), it was a fun and creative way to engage with the experience we shared at the museum.
The trip wasn’t just about law and art—we also enjoyed a range of food experiences. While I stayed on the safe side with a soufflé (my first, and it was great!), Maggie stepped up as the group’s culinary adventurer, trying calf fries, escargot, and quail all for the first time. One of the best parts of LEAP trips is the chance to try new things, and this trip was no exception.
After the competition ended, we headed to Dallas. We made a quick stop to see a giant eyeball sculpture…
…which was interesting to say the least, before heading to Thanksgiving Square, another Philip Johnson design.
The Square offers myriad interesting features, including a Norman Rockwell mosaic…
…a “ring of thanks,” which has an echo feature…
…and, of course, Johnson’s beautiful Chapel.
The spiral design, and the beautiful stained glass capture the “infinite upward reach of the human spirit”.
We ended the trip with a visit to Dealey Plaza, the site of JFK’s assassination. Seeing the Grassy Knoll and the surrounding area was a very fitting end to our adventures in DFW.
Overall, this trip showcased what LEAP is all about: taking multidisciplinary experiences—law, art, history, and food—and tying them together in a way that broadens our understanding and appreciation of the world. Fort Worth and Dallas proved to be the perfect destinations for this, with plenty of firsts, surprises, and connections along the way.
Sometimes unusual things happen, and one of those happened last night, when we found out that we had made it to the “Sweet Sixteen.” This is our first time at Moot Court, and we were expecting to observe–not participate in–day 2 of Moot Court.
Thus, it was early this morning that we arose and prepared–as much as one can prepare at the last minute–for another round of Moot Court. Our opponents were from TCU, Reagan Stephens and Dominic Mendlik, and they were highly ranked.
We soon saw why. Mr. Mendlik…
…and Ms. Stephens…
…were very polished, articulate, and they knew the facts of the case.
For our part, we did the best we could, and we probably performed better during this round than we had all tournament. Maggie was more fluent in her delivery…
…and Olivia did well responding to and, at times, deflecting questions.
The judges, too, were excellent. We had three judges, and they all knew the case, brought different perspectives to the case, and they provided good feedback. Their questions were very good, designed to see whether we knew our facts and could think on the spot.
But, with this level of competition, we saw the writing on the wall…
…but, even as we obtained our results, losing in a split decision (2 ballots to 1), we very much believed we ended on a high note.
With another hour or so before we needed to leave, we watched the next round of coin flips…
…and then we split up and volunteered to be bailiffs, providing us with another perspective on the tournament and allowing us to learn from those with more experience, skill, or both.
It was enlightening–and it was also somewhat gratifying to see that Mr. Mendlik and Ms. Stephens won their next round (the Elite Eight), and the next round (the Semi-Finals), and lost in a split decision in the finals. They will be going to the Preliminary Nationals, and that is a well-deserved berth.
Our experience in Moot Court was overwhelmingly positive. Although we and our coach were beginners, we learned a lot, and it’s almost certain to benefit us as undergraduate students, preparing for law school, in law school, and in the “real world.”
We received much help along the way. Godfrey Blacin spent a lot of time organizing a scrimmage, and this was very helpful to us. Tournament Officials and other coaches also went out of their way to welcome, especially Kinzie Craig Hall, Jennifer Ellis, Kimi King, and Anne Dutia. On campus, Dr. Gene Roberts and Dr. Diana Brown proved very helpful on approaching justices and working on our logic; Stephanie Fors provided logistical support and overall advice; Victoria McClendon-Leggett was generous with her time and support; and students such as Saara Maknojia, Michelle Moya, Emely Garcia, and Jacob Wessels showed support along the way. And many thanks to Madison Cawthon for serving as bailiff!
While most students are pleading for extra credit at the end of the semester, LEAP students were pleading their cases, literally, in moot court. Facing off against teams that came from eleven different universities across four states to compete in the South / Texas Regional American Moot Court Association tournament held in Fort Worth, with its rich history and home of Texas A&M University’s Law School. This tournament is one of sixteen regionals across the United States that will help select the top U.S. moot court team.
LEAPsters depart SHSU for their first moot court tournament
This was the first time in seven years that SHSU fielded a team. Olivia Discon and Maggie Betancourt stepped up this fall to engage in weekly meetings, much “homework,” and a lot of learning to serve as Bearkat mooters. They also received help from Dr. Diana Brown (COBA, SHSU), Dr. Gene Roberts (SLMS, SHSU), Victoria McClendon-Leggett, Stephanie Fors, and Maddie Cawthon–the latter serving as bailiff, and a potential mooter in future years.
Day one of the contest was an all-day affair, a Saturday of three rounds. For Olivia and Maggie–team 419–this involved facing off, first, against Kathryn Dearing and Julia Daniel from the University of North Texas, one of the most active universities in the moot court universe over the past two decades, largely a result of the efforts of Dr. Kimi King. This year, King was on hand, along with Dr. Adam Whitten, both of whom served as coaches for their two UNT teams.
The SHSU team was designated as representing the petitioner, in this case a “William DeNolf,” who may, or may not, be responsible for recklessly goading a Ms. Bronner into suicide.
With the fate of DeNolf in their hands, Betancourt and Discon took turns arguing his case to two “Supreme Court Justices” (actually, law-school professors).
Tackling issue one (the 5th Amendment), Betancourt began, using her nine minutes to argue that the State violated DeNolf’s protection against self-incrimination when using biometric access to the contents of his phone.
Olivia Discon, meanwhile, argued the second issue (1st Amendment), making the case that the State violated DeNolf’s freedom of speech by criminalizing the case for suicide.
They were countered by Daniel and Dearing, who ably argued that the State was justified in their steps to access and regulate DeNolf’s speech.
Delving deep into the cases and the record, Daniel and Dearing demonstrated a strong grasp of the material, and they edged out the SHSU team, winning both ballots.
For their second round, the SHSU students faced Ethan Ellis and Amanda Parker-Chavez of Lamar University. With their first round jitters somewhat abated, the LEAP students performed better this time, winning both ballots.
The third round, then, would likely determine whether the LEAP/SHSU team would make it the “Sweet Sixteen,” a prospect that, no doubt, brought back some of those early jitters.
In this round, which featured the most aggressive of the judges and a “hot panel,” Discon and Betancourt split the ballots, finishing 3-3.
The outcome of this contest was, however, withheld until the Day-One reception and awards, hosted by TAMU Law. Following a discussion of the law-school’s many merits…
…the crowd eagerly awaited news on the leading orators and the teams moving on to day two of the competition.
The top orators were chosen first:
Ashlyn Dodson (UNT)
Quinn Kelly (UNT)
Jordan Peterson (Berea College)
Kylie Kinsella (TCU)
Dominic Mendlik (TCU)
Kaitlyn Allen (TCU)
Landon Reffitt (Benedictine)
Jeffrey Schremmer (Benedictine)
Collin England (Benedictine)
Jacob Hahn (Benedictine)
Following these congratulations, Ann Dutia read off the list of teams competing in the “playoffs,” the “Sweet Sixteen.” Reading in “no particular order,” Dutia listed team numbers…443…437…402…and, finally, after seven teams were announced, we heard “419.” The SHSU students made it to the second day of competition.
Maddie, who served as bailiff for the rounds, look bemused…
…Maggie beamed; and Olivia, in her way, looked equal parts ill and gratified.
With the results in hand and an unexpected day of competition ahead of us, we walked back to the hotel. Along the way, we ran into a reminder of Fort Worth’s rich history, statues of Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and the “Hole in the Wall” gang, a scene that prompted a selfie.
It also prompted a little gratitude. While we were anxious about the showdown looming the next day, at least we wouldn’t face the fate of Butch and Sundance–who were shot to death in Bolivia. It’s a small thing, we know, but it reminded us that Moot Court is a cause Worth taking, on a trip Worth making!
After an afternoon filled with costumes and candy at Huntsville Main Street’s Scare on the Square…
…we decided to take our Halloween festivities to the next level by heading to the Haunted Trails at Kate Barr Ross Park. Put on by the Huntsville Parks and Leisure Department, Haunted Trails is like a haunted house…just with way more trees, a few extra screams, and no escape until you reach the end.
Our very own President of the LEAP Ambassadors, Cinthia Villareal, who’s also an intern with the Parks Department, helped organize this outdoor fright fest, so of course, we had to show up and support her creative take on community engagement (read: gleeful terror).
As a group of brave individuals (and maybe a few reluctant ones), we wandered through eerie scenes, from a haunted psych ward to a creepy scarecrows, with each turn holding horrors in and of themselves.
The group was doing fairly well throughout. Well, that was until the clowns.
Michelle, who had been playing it cool all night, took one look at the clowns and immediately shrieked. To my recollection, she went as far as to say “Anything but clowns!”
Naturally, this drew them right to her, making her and Saara the undisputed scream queens of the evening. It’s safe to say Michelle didn’t enjoy the clown house much.
Chrissy, however, in her classic stoic style, strolled through the whole thing dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, barely batting an eye at the frights around her.
Of course, with Chrissy, you can never quite tell what’s happening in her head!
Haunted Trails was a hilariously spooky way to cap off our Halloween celebrations, and we were all proud to support Cinthia in her haunting (and slightly twisted) community efforts. The event was a fun reminder of how Huntsville, with the help of local SHSU volunteers as actors, brings out the Halloween spirit in ways that are frightfully good for everyone involved.
This year, the LEAP Ambassadors had the opportunity to celebrate Día de los Muertos at the Wynne Home Arts Center in Huntsville.
The historic home was adorned with decorations, and tables were filled with traditional treats like sugar skull cookies, pan de muerto, and refreshments.
At the heart of the celebration was an ofrenda honoring Mike Countz, a beloved community leader and Justice of the Peace, whose memory was warmly celebrated.
Dahlia Harrelson opened the event…
…and she soon turned it to Dr. Crimm, a respected historian and community figure, who offered an in-depth look at the origins and meaning of Día de los Muertos.
She explained how the holiday blends pre-Columbian and Catholic traditions, centering on the idea that death is not an end but a connection to our ancestors.
Through ofrendas and symbolic decorations, families invite the spirits of their loved ones back, honoring their lives with personal items, favorite foods, and marigold flowers.
Dr. Crimm’s insights gave us a thoughtful look into the holiday, emphasizing that Día de los Muertos is about celebrating life and keeping memories alive.
Following Dr. Crimm’s presentation, we heard from Patti Countz, widow of Justice Mike Countz, whose ofrenda was displayed prominently.
She shared stories about her husband, painting a picture of his life and the impact he made on the community. Mike Countz was born in Orange, Texas, in 1951, and he moved to Walker County, where he became a star athlete and graduated from Huntsville High School in 1969.
After earning his BBA from Sam Houston State University, he built a distinguished career in criminal justice, starting with the Texas Department of Corrections and eventually becoming the Justice of the Peace for Walker County’s Precinct 2.
Known for his humor, his love for golf and poker, and his unwavering devotion to his family, Mike Countz was the ultimate “girl dad,” who proudly attended every recital, game, and family event.
His legacy extended beyond his public service; he was a beloved member of his church and community, a dedicated Elvis fan, and a friend to many.
His wife’s stories brought the ofrenda to life, filling the room with both laughter and fond memories of a man who gave so much to his family and community.
This event highlighted the Wynne Home’s role as a vital space for cultural education in Huntsville…
…giving students a hands-on connection to a meaningful tradition and an appreciation for the ways we honor those who came before us.
Every year, the LEAP Ambassadors come together to participate in and volunteer at the annual Scare on the Square, hosted by the Huntsville Main Street Program. This year was no different!
In keeping with our tradition of selecting a new theme each year, we decided to dress as the cast of The Wizard of Oz!
While we didn’t officially set the level of creativity for our costumes, some of us went all out, while others kept it simple but stayed true to the “heart” of the theme—except for our very own Tin Man, who cleverly carried hers in her shiny silver purse!
Before the event started, we were visited by McKenna Nonnenmann, the Main Street Intern for the fall semester.
She shared her experience of assisting in organizing this year’s Scare on the Square, something she enjoyed planning from start to finish. Angela Robinson, the Event Coordinator for the Wynne Home Arts and Visitors Center, and Amanda Schillaci, the Main Street Program Manager and the organizer of the event, also stopped by to greet the group and see the setup.
As always, students from Professor Yawn’s classes participated in the event, bringing even more fun to the festivities.
The University 1101 team showed their Halloween spirit by dressing up as the characters from Scooby-Doo. They set up a game of “Spin for Cornhole,” which proved to be a popular attraction.
Simultaneously, the team from the Local Government class, which consisted of Roberto Cardenas, Kayona Denver, Logan Skelton, and myself, was also tuned into the action. For those looking for a bit more difficulty, we hosted a ring-toss game which attracted kids and even parents. Some even participated multiple times in hopes of winning extra Halloween treats!
Scare on the Square is a wonderful opportunity for local businesses, organizations, and the community to come together, enjoy each other’s company, and play fun games.
This year, the event exceeded expectations, providing a safe and enjoyable space for children to celebrate Halloween and make lasting memories.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 