Although SHSU is closed until September 5, the LEAP Ambassadors are hard at work, preparing for what is perhaps their busiest semester. With some forty events planned, and others sure to develop, the Ambassadors worked on organizing offices, marketing events, and planning activities–while also taking time to pose for a photograph or two.
A list of fall highlights is included below.
September 6: Ice-Cream Mixer (4-6pm, Come & Go, Holcombe Room) September 6: Pre-Law Meeting (6:00-7:30pm) September 9: Downtown Cleanup (9:30am-1:30pm—Main Street) September 16: HEARTS Garage Sale September 18: Mock City Council (6:00pm, City Hall) Sept 21-24: Texas Tribune Festival September 30: Mock LSAT (9am-1:30pm, CHSS) October 2: LEAP Hosts Author James Reston on Campus (9:30am) October 2: LEAP Hosts Author James Reston at Brazos Bookstore (7:00pm) October 3: First heART of Huntsville (6:00-9:00pm) October 4: LEAP Ambassadors Present to SHSU Retired Faculty and Staff October 7: LEAP Ambassadors Volunteer at Fair on the Square October 9: LEAP Ambassadors Host Authors Frankel and Rollyson @SHSU October 10: heART of Huntsville, Week 2 October 11: LEAP Film Screening: High Noon—introduced by Frankel & Rollyson October 14: LEAP Ambassadors Present to Colonial Dames October 17: heART of Huntsville, Week 3 October 19-21: LEAP’s Moot Court Team competes at TAMU October 20-25: LEAP Ambassadors in Washington DC for Statue Unveiling October 28: Scare on the Square November 2-5: LEAP Ambassadors at Caddo Lake with Mark Burns November 9: LEAP Ambassadors volunteer at Art Department’s Gala November 11: LEAP Ambassadors volunteer at HEARTS Veterans Gala November 28: LEAP Ambassadors participate in Tree-Lighting December 2: LEAP Ambassadors volunteer at Christmas Fair
During the final day of the Southern Legislative Conference, our last tour was to the Lazy Magnolia Brewery, located in Kiln, Mississippi. The tour started with a delicious lunch and Christina (the only 21-year-old ambassador) got a chance to sample the hard ice tea. Before the tour guide began to lead us, we had a few minutes to play some pool.
Once again, Makayla and Ryan, the masters of all games, demonstrated their astounding prowess.
Everyone finished eating their food, meanwhile, the owner of the brewery, Mark Henderson, began by telling his story. Lazy Magnolia was an idea he had after getting a beer-making kit for Christmas one year.
His wife, Leslie, helped make his dreams a reality, and that led to him providing us with a tour today!
There was a large room which contained the fermenting tanks.
A few of the workers were preparing to run the line, then box, and ship the beer. Mark Henderson explained all the moving parts which allowed us to understand the process of beer making without the kit. Another of the more interesting artifacts in the brewery, was the recreation of Amelia Earhart’s plane that hung from the roof.
The tour ended with Al Saucier telling us stories about his book, The Broke Spoke Moonshine Book. Inside the book are many facts about moonshine. For example, the story of the first moonshine high-speed race car. He shared many of his stories that inspired him to become an author. We headed to the bus and it felt bittersweet knowing this was our last tour for the SLC, but the state dinner was next and we couldn’t wait to represent the best state in the United States.
“Meet Me at The Crossroads” State Dinner, by Makayla Mason
The final night of the Southern Legislative Conference began with a cocktail hour.
We mingled with different legislators and had the opportunity to take a picture with Speaker Gunn of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
He informed us that he was originally a Texas man and had graduated from Baylor University in Waco.
While we mingled, we were informed that we would have the honor of representing Texas during the Parade of Flags. A few minutes before the dinner began, we met with the other representatives of the states and lined up in the order in which we joined the Union. This meant we were in the 13th position out of the 15 states that were represented. As we marched in to “Deep in The Heart of Texas” with our flag flying high, we couldn’t help but feel our Texas pride shine through us.
We made our way to the tables. Makayla and Beatriz sat with Oklahoma Representatives, while Christina and Ryan were seated with Mississippi Representatives. After a short introduction, presentations, and invocation, Speaker Gunn invited us to enjoy our dinner. We enjoyed a fresh salad with tangy and sweet Heirloom Tomatoes and Mississippi Watermelon. For our main course, we had Filet Mignon, Spicy Garlic Gulf Shrimp, Mississippi Grits, and Vegetables. Throughout the dinner, we were entertained by Pianist Bruce Levingston…
…who was praised by the New York Times for his “mastery of color and nuance.” We were honored, because he actually gave a shout out to us for being from Texas before he played his songs.
Also on hand was American Idol runner-up La’Porsha Renae…
…who certainly knew how to fill out a camera frame, and to belt out a tune.
An interesting dinner conversation quickly led our way to dessert where we enjoyed Mississippi Mud Pave.
While we walked away from the night, we realized how special and bitter- sweet the conclusion of the conference was. As the majority of the LEAP Ambassadors are graduating in the coming academic year and Ryan leaves for the University of Arkansas, the relation of finality hit a little too hard. The blow was softened, however, by a nice discussion with Levingston…
…and a nice goodbye to some newly-made friends.
Before the night ended, the LEAP Ambassadors threw a surprise party for Stephanie, who always goes above and beyond for every single one of us. We decided to get her a Mississippi themed cake to represent the great time we had at Biloxi, Mississippi as well as provide her with a memory she would never forget.
Everyone had a great time at the Southern Legislative Conference and it was sad that we had to go back to Texas the next day.
Our first day in Biloxi, Mississippi began in a typical LEAP fashion: getting to discover what the variety of local attractions the Magnolia State had to offer. Having gotten to Biloxi late last night, we were unable to even glimpse what this new state was all about, but today we took full advantage of what it had to offer.
Half Shell Oyster House, by Christina Perez
Our first stop was in a quaint, local restaurant called Half Shell Oyster House. Nestled in Mississippi’s downtown area, this refurbished bank turned restaurant, was a hidden pearl. Surprisingly enough, about half of the ambassadors had never tried oysters, so the main course of our cuisine consisted of just that, including both raw oysters and grilled oysters.
To make it even more of a MS treat, we had fried tomatoes and crab cakes, The first timers prepared their oysters, and together took their first bite. All were glad to try it, but some proved more adventurous than others.
Next, we decided to partner up and share a plate so that we could save some room for dessert. Beatriz and Christina ordered a Seafood Sampler which included oysters, crab cakes, shrimp, and two sides: Sweet Potato Crème Brulee and Fried Okra. I couldn’t wait to taste the scrumptious Sweet Potato Creme Brulee. Ryan and Makayla decided to also be adventurous by ordering a Big Easy Surf and Turf which included a 6 oz filet over a crab cake. Strong reviews were given on the variety of seafood plates and then it was time for dessert.
We all decided on the Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding and the Bananas Foster Cheesecake. The Bread pudding was made with cinnamon rolls and topped with Homemade Spiced Rum Sauce. Professor Yawn, being the bread pudding connoisseur that he is, began to compare it to other bread puddings. It was delicious. So delicious in fact, that many of the Leapsters ended up burning their mouths due to their impatience for another bite. Everyone left happy and with full bellies towards the next adventure which would be a good compliment to the food.
Chandaleur Island Brewery, By Makayla Mason
As part of the Southern Legislative’s Conference first event, we went to tour the Chandeleur Island Brewery. We were greeted at the entrance by some sweet artisan ice pops, handcrafted by Pop Brothers.
After a day in the hot sun, we thought the popsicles were heavenly! There were even some pleasant surprises such as an entire Oreo on the inside of the “Cookies and Cream” popsicle!
After enjoying our ice pops, Chris Vignes, the City of Gulfport’s Public Information Officer, gave us some of the brewery’s backstory, and he explained the City’s economic development philosophy and vision for the future.
Once behind the the bar, one of the owners supplemented the tour, and we learned about the interesting history behind the building, the background of the company, and process of composing the beer.
Instead it was meant to revive the interest in hand-crafted beer and be a place where families could relax. Bringing the community together was crucial to the existence of the Brewery. Their beer cans were designed by a local tattoo artist, which we all thought was an interesting fact! Over the years it has grown to be quite popular and in the 14 years of the Chandeleur Brewery bartender’s experience there has never been a fight.
Wanting to partake in the famous reputation of this Brewery, we sampled some of their beers (by “we,” we mean those of age). Out of the 5 samples that we could try, the popular vote went to the sweeter blueberry-flavored beer. After that, we played a couple of games ranging from Jenga…
…and Bean Bag Toss, or “Corn Hole,” as Christina and Ryan call it.
As part of the advertising the many treasures hidden downtown, we learned about Fishbone Alley.
Just a block away from the Brewery, this alley had a charm all of its own.
Once an plain-looking alley, it had gotten a touch up by many local artists from the area, decking it out in a variety pieces of art.
This also enhanced the community bonding that the Brewery was trying to promote.
This alley created a space where people from the community could get together for music, peace and quiet, expressing themselves through the medium of art, or some of the rather odd games the city sometimes hosted. The alley is a continuous project in which locals are excited to see grow.
Jet Ski Adventure, by Ryan Brim
After getting back to Beau Rivage from the Chandeleur Island Brewery, we still had some time before attending the welcoming reception. Quickly, everyone decided to take the extra time to change at the hotel into some more beach-appropriate attire and drive the short distance to a jet ski rental stand right off the beach. None of us had ever ridden a jet ski before, and we were very excited for the opportunity.
First, we paired up, with Christina being Makayla and Ryan partnering with Beatriz. We donned our life vests and waited a few minutes for the jet skis to get set up. After a 2-minute training, we were off. Time seemed to rush past us as we zipped every which way, skimming along the waves.
Both teams switched drivers, taking turns and experimenting with the jet ski until they felt comfortable on maneuvering the machine around.
It was easy to get the hang of, and a whole lot of fun!
Finally, our time was up. Sadly, we trekked across the sand back to the shore…
…and even found a small crab which Beatriz had accidentally taken for a ride throughout the entire jet skiing experience. After a couple more pictures…
…it was soon time to head back to the hotel to prepare for the day’s next event.
Opening Reception at Jones Park, by Beatriz Martinez
Thirty minutes later, the LEAP Ambassadors were headed on their way to Jones Park where the Opening Reception for the Southern Legislative Conference of 2017 was being held. Music reached our ears as we walked across the “Front Yard of Mississippi”. We were greeted by a very Southern “Welcome Y’all” sign at the main entrance of the Barksdale Pavilion.
Of course, we could not help but take a picture with it. As famished as we were, we decided to explore the tantalizing food options available. With a very Southern theme mixed with some of the more coastal delicacies, we were served Bayou rice, a variety of local seafood (no oysters this time), and of course some good old-fashioned barbecue. In the meantime, we were enjoying the night music by Bobby Rush.
With over 17 blues awards in his lifetime, 364 records, and 66 years in the musical career, Bobby Rush was a sight to behold. At his early age of 84, he had the crowd grooving to his music pulling in people of all ages.
Not only did he present himself like the “King of the Chitlin’ Circuit” that he is…
…but also did other king impersonations such as the “King of Pop” (Michael Jackson)…
and the “King of Rock and Roll” (Elvis Presley).
To end the evening with a bang, we were dazzled by a firework display that lighted the dark, night sky.
After celebrating the beginning of the Southern Legislative Conference, the Leapsters headed home to rest for the upcoming days filled with adventure.
John Nixon spent 14 years as a CIA Analyst, specializing in the Middle East. When Saddam Hussein was captured in 2003, the US Government turned to him to lead the interrogation of the former Iraqi dictator. His book, “Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein,” details those interrogations and reveals the authors’ subsequent misgivings about the nature of intelligence, the war in Iraq, and the life of a CIA Analyst. Professor Mike Yawn and his students spoke with Nixon about his experiences.
Mike Yawn: How did you work your way to a career with the CIA?
John Nixon: If someone would have told me in the 1970s that I would be working for the CIA, I wouldn’t have believed them. I had long hair, and I was an avid Grateful Dead fan—with all the baggage that comes with that. But my parents encouraged me to get a good education, and I did, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree and two Masters Degrees. I applied for the CIA and after an incredibly invasive process, I got a job as an Analyst. When I was hired, my first boss asked me how I liked the application process, and I said, “I hated it.” He said, “Yeah, it’s our version of child abuse.”
Mike Yawn: What advice would you give to students who would like to work for an alphabet agency?
John Nixon: As I mentioned, the background check is extensive, but a single mistake won’t sink you. They look at the whole picture—your work, your integrity, and your professionalism. You want that overall picture to be strong to be noticed. But I would also suggest volunteering, even when the job doesn’t sound interesting. I did that, and my supervisors found I was willing to do things for the team. The more experiences you have, the better positioned you are to take opportunities that arise.
Mike Yawn: Didn’t volunteering lead, indirectly, to you being the lead interrogator of Hussein?
John Nixon: Yes. I began my CIA career focusing on Iraq, but I had transitioned to Iran. The Agency needed volunteers to go to Iraq after the war began. It wasn’t a place a lot of people wanted to be, so I filled in. That led directly to me interrogating Saddam Hussein, and it allowed me to write a book about my experiences.
Mike Yawn: What were some of the inside stories you learned specializing in Iraq and Hussein?
John Nixon: Well, he had this dysfunctional family. There were rifts, jealousies, and backstabbing. It was almost like a soap opera. Hussein’s oldest son, Uday, had been hurt badly in an assassination attempt—he was shot 14 times—and he wasn’t the same afterward. He was addicted to drugs, physically disabled, mentally impaired, and the father-son relationship became tense at times. Uday was obsessed with collecting cars, and he had a very impressive collection of rare vehicles in a showroom. Well, Saddam became angry with Uday one day, and he had his security detail torch the showroom, destroying all the cars. All we saw on the monitors, however, was the smoke and fire, and we thought there might be a coup. In fact, Saddam was just teaching his son a very expensive lesson.
Mike Yawn: When Hussein was captured, one of the first items of business was to ensure it was, in fact, Hussein. How did you do that?
John Nixon: Hussein had tribal markings on his wrist and arms, he had a scar on his leg from the bullet wound, and he had a droopy lip. I also had about 30 questions I planned to ask him that only he would know, but when I walked in I thought, “That’s Saddam,” and I didn’t need all 30 questions.
Makayla Baker: As a CIA Analyst, what were your personal feelings as you watched 9-11 unfold?
John Nixon: I was in the middle of writing a paper on the Iranian Judiciary for the Agency. But following 9-11, no one ever read my paper, because no one gave a damn about the Iranian Judiciary. The focus was on terrorism. When I saw what happened on 9-11, my first thought was Hussein and Iraq, but a colleague said, “No, it’s Bin Laden,” and it was. I lived near the Pentagon, and when I saw the clouds of smoke, the image was distressing and the smell was overwhelming. It was an awful day, but in fairness we haven’t had a day like that since then, and a lot of people thought we would.
Jessica Mizell: How often did you go to Iraq, and what was it like living there?
John Nixon: I went to Iraq eight or nine times. I stayed in the Green Zone, which was the most secure place, but which still faced mortar attacks. People were killed there.
Mike Yawn: Why was the intelligence on weapons of mass destruction so wrong?
John Nixon: Well, there was a pervasive belief that Hussein had WMD, and that belief was held internationally, not just by the CIA. I also believed it, and I supported the war, although I now believe it was a mistake. When President Bush came into power in 2001 with the idea that something would have to be done about Hussein, he and his administration were quick to believe the worst reports on him. We also didn’t have a presence in Iraq, so we couldn’t get accurate information. This created a perfect storm of intelligence failure.
Joshua Nolen: Why did you leave the CIA?
John Nixon: I got to the point where I had done what I wanted to do. Over the course of the Iraq War, I was called in frequently to do a Presidential Daily Briefing. For two years, I briefed President Bush every Monday morning. The Obama Administration, on the other hand, wasn’t as interested in Iraq. In the first two years of his administration, we briefed the President once. The CIA became something of a piñata under the Bush and Obama administrations, and some of the blame was well deserved. But the President is always going to need good intelligence and the CIA has the best intelligence there is to offer. I’m very critical of the agency in the book, but I still recognize that we can do things better than almost anyone, provided we have the right leadership and resources.
Danielle Lieberman: What do you think is the best way to gain analytical skills after college, before starting your profession?
John Nixon: First, you have to read. Think about what you read, and try to apply to the world. Then, write. I encourage blogging, where you can develop your writing style and your reasoning abilities. You’ll need all of those skills in a high-level career.
We wanted to wrap up our trip to Houston with some additional memorable experiences. Despite extensive interaction with the artist (and Huntsville native) David Adickes in Huntsville, we had never visited his Houston art. That changed today!
We visited the “WE HEART Houston” sign that Adickes created several years ago. Although the site was clearly not created with parking in mind, it’s a lot of fun, and we made the most of it, with a LEAP, albeit one that was never perfectly choreographed by the entire group…
…
…but eventually we got a perfectly choreographed standing photo.
Perhaps our starving stomachs had gotten the best of us.
The culmination of our multi-cultural exploration was lunch at Peli Peli Kitchen. This South African fusion restaurant blends the foods of countries which have influenced African development to create flavor-rich dishes. Inspired by India, Holland, France, England, and American food, the menu includes naan tacos, banh mi, salads, and much more.
We tried the South African fajita, the hugenot porkbelly, and the peli peli shrimp tacos. Brian, our most adventurous Ambassador, even tried the braised oxtail. Everyone was impressed with the new types of food! For dessert, we all sampled Peli Peli’s signature sticky toffee cupcake, red velvet cupcake, and gingersnap chocolate cookies.
The end of lunch also marked the end of our Arts and Parks tour in Houston. It was a short weekend for students, but a long LEAP for our education.
The mission of the LEAP Center is to provide unique learning opportunities and implicit in this mission is the idea of learning about new cultures and disciplines. Cross-cultural and interdisciplinary learning were certainly central to our Houston “Arts and Parks” tour.
We began our 2nd day of the trip with a visit to the Herrman Park Japanese Garden.
We also marveled at an Isamu Noguchi residing in Ms. Moody’s guest room. Perhaps this recurring motif lead us to choose Azuma Sushi and Robata Grill for dinner.
We found this as a great opportunity for some of the students to try new things. For some of the LEAPsters, this was their first time to try sushi. We ordered an array of sushi rolls, noodles, and other traditional Japanese plates so that everyone would have a chance to fulfill their culinary curiosity.
More curiously, it was Makayla Mason’s first time to try ribs. We all ignored the fact that this Texas life-long resident had never had one of the state’s most iconic meals and recognized her adventurous accomplishment.
Empowered by this adventurous spirt, we took a drive down Houston’s still-roaring roads to visit the Houston Police Officer’s Memorial. Designed by Jesus Moroles, the memorial resembles a Mezo-American pyramid with its geometric outline and elevating levels. Rising in the middle the field, the structure commemorates the lives of fallen Houston police officers. Under the twinkling skyline of the city, we climbed the memorial to get a better view of the mesmerizing vista.
Such added adventures made for a late night, but with rain in the forecast, we were promised a late morning start, allowing us to get ready for a continuation of our multi-cultural adventure.
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Continuing a Cultural Adventure, Kaitlyn Tyra
Well rested and eager to leap into the day’s adventures, LEAP Ambassadors embarked on the final leg of our Houston Arts and Parks Tour. To begin our day, we drove to the Asia Society Texas Center. Established in Houston with the help of former First Lady Barbara Bush, the center provides community engagement for Houston residents of Asian heritage and those wanting to learn more about the culture.
Before entering the art gallery, we admired the architecture of Yoshio Taniguchi, a Japanese architect, and learned about the design.
Both inside and outside, Professor Yawn emphasized the horizontal lines traditional to that of Asian architecture while the building’s vertical lines incorporated American design into the structure. This was designed by Taniguchi to bind the American and Asian cultures together.
The first floor of the Asia Society houses a café, theatre, and art gallery. The gallery included numerous paintings by . Born in India, he earned his Masters in Fine Arts from Indiana University and now teaches at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Majumdar created works of abstraction. But unlike other artists specialized in this discipline, Majumdar depicts the convergence of cultures through his art work.
A prevalent motif is also theatre, as he has experience in this profession and uses it as inspiration. His paintings allude to this trade, and depict images of performers getting ready for a play or the proscenium of a theater.
Craving a more realistic representation of theatre, we entered the Brown Foundation Performing Arts Theater, adjacent to Majumdar’s art work. With walls lined with cherry wood panels and seats designed by Poltrona Frau, leather seat maker for Maserati and Ferrari, the acoustically rich theatre was spared no expense in order to achieve an excellent viewing experience. We had a chance to play around on the front stage and bounce on its Appalachian white oak floors.
And even though the ever present use of wood in the building’s walls and floors is an aesthetic pleasure, nothing compares to the beauty of the artwork we were about to see.
Upstairs in the Sarofirm Gallery, we had the opportunity to learn about modern Japanese bamboo art. A new form of art for many of the LEAP Ambassadors, we were amazed by the craftsmanship in every piece.
These artists, some of which come from families dedicated to this craft for generations, have mastered the technique to shape bamboo into whatever form they please.
The process requires a developed taste for perfection and a precision to delicately weave one of nature’s strongest natural substances.
Interestingly, many of these pieces had a functional purpose. For example, one of the artists made his piece so that it could function as a fruit bowl, while another crafted the bamboo to use it as a vase.
It left us with much to ponder.
It also capped off the Asian theme of our trip. Having seen work by Naguchi, visited the Japanese Gardens, eaten at an Asian restaurant, we now had an extensive exploration of Asian art and architecture. It wouldn’t be our last exploration of the trip, but it was one of our most fulfilling!
Nine of the ten Austin interns visited the gallery of the Texas Senate on Monday, May 22, 2017 to be recognized from the Senate floor. With Lt. Governor Dan Patrick presiding over the Senate…
…the session began with a prayer…
Senator Charles Schwertner, whose Senate district encompasses SHSU, drafted the resolution…
…worked with other elected officials…
…prepped floor leaders…
….and read the resolution from the Senate floor.
Nine of SHSU’s ten Austin Interns were able to make the recognition: Karla Rosales (Rep. Zerwas’s office), Christina Perez (Rep. Jim Murphy’s office), Brian Aldaco (Rep. Will Metcalf’s office), Alejandra Galvan (Sen. Lois Kolkhorst’s office), Beatriz Martinez (Rep. Armando Martinez’s office), Vincent Melore (Rep. Tom Oliverson’s office), Spencer Copeland (Rep. Larry Phillips’ office), Mitchell Sanchez (Rep. Todd Hunter’s office), and Kaitlyn Tyra (Senator Schwertner’s office). Kim Roach, who is interning for the Texas Association of Counties, could not attend.
The students’ internships will end in six days. At that time, three of the interns will start new jobs (Beatriz Martinez, Christina Perez, and Brian Aldaco), two of the interns will return to previous jobs (Karla Rosales, Kaitlyn Tyra), and four of the interns will officially graduate (Alejandra Galvan, Spencer Copeland, Kim Roach, and Mitchell Sanchez). Of the four graduating, Kim Roach will be going to the Bush School of Public Service; Alejandra Galvan is deliberating among three top law schools (Baylor, UH, and TAMU) who accepted her, and Mitchell Sanchez is leaning toward South Texas College of Law.
The resolution in its entirety can be seen here.
We have received tremendous support while completing our internships. Thanks to Senator Schwertner for the recognition, to President Dana Hoyt and all of SHSU for putting faith in us to do well, and to the Texas House and Senate offices (and Texas Association of Counties) for taking us in and making us feel at home for the entire session!
With only one more month to go in the legislative session is flying by, with the month of April flying by faster than Representative Stickland can call a parliamentary inquiry. Nonetheless, I have been able to explore and venture out into a city as diverse as it is weird. The best part of all is that I can work in one of the most historic sites in Texas, the Austin State Capitol.
I have the honor of working for Representative Armando “Mando” Martinez (we are both named Martinez, but we are not related!). An outstanding public servant, he happens to live and represent the city near my hometown.
He is a veteran at the capitol with more than 7 sessions under his belt and holds the position of Deputy Whip and Vice Chair of Transportation. It’s been a pleasure working for him this session, and I have had the chance to learn a lot while also being inspired by his hard-work and perseverance.
Because most of the staff come from the Rio Grande Valley, the area our office represents, we are all at home in the office. It is a good thing too because I can spend up to 18 hours in the Capitol office in a given day. My office hours start in the morning before the sun is up and end until the moon is high in the starry sky. Even though work days are long, I enjoy the hours since that is the time when there is a lot of peace and quiet.
As part of Representative Martinez’s team, my duties entail various responsibilities. My primary function is to manage Representative Martinez’s schedule and act as the office steward. To briefly explain this last duty, my desk is the first one that everyone sees. This position makes me in charge of greeting and helping people get to where they need to go. Apart from these responsibilities, I prepare bill booklets, analyze bills that go on the floor, and conduct research on Representative Martinez’s committees. Through these duties, I have witnessed the process by which a bill becomes a law, beginning in its infantile stage as a booklet, to being presented on the floor, and hopefully evolving into a law.
It has been a great experience to work at the Capitol because I have been on the front row seat while legislation is in the making. Not only did I see how the budget was passed last month in March, but in April I got to see the passage of SB4. On that April evening, the House Floor did not adjourn until 3:30am, which was unprecedented this session, unless you count budget night. It was a truly informational experience where we got to see more on how a bill can become a law.
However, my duties do not end at the Capitol. As a LEAP Ambassador, I still participate in many events. For three of the weekends, I traveled to Huntsville in order to participate in the Democrat vs Republican Charity Football Game…
….the Wynne Home Easter Egg Hunt…
and SHSU Founders Day.
And last weekend, I was participated in a particularly interesting event here in Austin.
In the city there’s the AustinBookstore Crawl, which is essentially a scavenger hunt across 13 predetermined bookstores across Austin. To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day in April 29, participants of the event must visit various bookstores and take a selfie with a list of books provided in the event. These pictures are posted on social media in order to enter a raffle with a grand price of $500 worth of book items. All in all, it was a great experience. It challenged me in more ways than one. And even though I do not have a car, I took 7 different buses and walked 3-4 miles to 9 different bookstores. Unfortunately, I did not win, but I did receive a great deal of knowledge and awareness of the bookstores surrounding the area. I even saw a George Rodrigue “Blue Dog” painting in Book People.
Because part of being a LEAP Ambassador is to delve into different cultures, it was rewarding to participate in this community event.
This past month of April has been one of the best experiences I have had in the 2 years of education in Sam Houston State University. I now understand the impact and change caused within myself due to the training I have received as a LEAP ambassador. Not only that, but I have also sought my own exposure to multiple experiences. Even better is that I have been able to expand my family at the Austin Capitol.
A prevalent motif is also theatre, as he has experience in this profession and uses it as inspiration. His paintings allude to this trade, and depict images of performers getting ready for a play or the proscenium of a theater.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 