Travel – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

A Final Taste of New Orleans: PCAS/ACAS Day Four

Our final morning in New Orleans was spent exploring the things that local businesses had to offer, which was a wonderful end to our trip. After several busy days of attending conference sessions, exploring the city, and learning about the history and culture of New Orleans, it was nice to have a slower morning before leaving the city. Rather than rushing from one activity to another, we were able to take our time, enjoy breakfast together, and do some last-minute shopping before beginning the drive home.

Breakfast and Shopping

Written by Allie Plunk

For breakfast, we stopped by Café du Monde, which is well known for its beignets. Since Café du Monde is such a recognizable part of New Orleans, getting the opportunity to actually eat there felt like an important part of our final morning in the city. The line was much shorter than anticipated, so we were very quickly able to order and enjoy our beignets and cups of both hot and iced café au lait, a type of coffee served with milk.

The beignets were definitely worth the stop. Covered in powdered sugar, they were sweet, warm, and messy in the best possible way. There was something especially fitting about ending our time in New Orleans with a food that is so closely associated with the city. After spending the past few days learning about New Orleans through its history, literature, architecture, and culture, we were able to experience one of the city’s most recognizable foods for ourselves.

Following breakfast, we browsed through the French Market, where many of the shops are run by local businesses. The market gave us one final opportunity to experience the creativity and individuality of New Orleans before leaving. Instead of purchasing souvenirs from large chain stores, we were able to look through items made or sold by local artists and businesses. There was a little bit of everything, from artwork and photographs to jewelry, decorations, and other handmade goods.

I bought a deliciously scented lavender soap and two perfumes, while the other LEAP students bought various items such as photographs, illustrations, and jewelry. It was fun seeing what everyone chose because our purchases were all so different. In a way, the things we decided to take home became small reminders of our individual experiences in New Orleans.

Once we had shopped to our hearts’ content, we headed straight for Baton Rouge for a tour of the state capitol. Although it was difficult to leave New Orleans after everything we had experienced there, the Capitol gave us one more opportunity to learn about Louisiana before our trip came to an end.

Louisiana State Capitol

Written by Isis Hollis

A staple in every LEAP trip is visiting state capitols! The style, features, and experience are different for each building, but the Louisiana State Capitol proved to be filled with some of the most dramatic history.

Before getting into the history, there was the architecture carefully put together under Huey Long, who later served as both Senator and Governor. The building is 34 stories high, making it one of only a few skyscraper capitols in the United States. With 26 different types of stone, mostly marble, the Art Deco style is prominent throughout the building, with long columns and intricate designs. Bronze can be seen across many different surfaces on the inside, including the doors, floors, and walls.

The Capitol’s design immediately made it stand out from the other state capitols we have visited. Rather than the traditional appearance that many people associate with government buildings, the Louisiana State Capitol has a much more imposing and modern appearance. The height of the building alone makes it difficult to miss, and once inside, the amount of detail throughout the building makes it clear that the architecture was meant to communicate a sense of importance and power.

A mural painted by Jules Garron depicts the abundance of the earth surrounding Louisiana and fills the south and north walls of the main entrance. On either side of the elevators, large white marble cups with champagne-like bubbles serve as a token of friendship from the French. These details added another connection between the building and Louisiana’s larger cultural history, especially considering the strong French influence that can still be seen throughout the state.

As mentioned, the history of the Louisiana Capitol is filled with drama unlike many others. Huey Long, former Senator and Governor, was assassinated in what used to be the executive hallway of the building. On September 8, 1935, Governor Long was shot by Carl Weiss. The marble in the floor, columns, and walls surrounding the hall still contains the original bullet holes from the incident.

Seeing the location where such an important event happened made the history feel much more real. It is one thing to learn about a historical event in a textbook, but standing in the same place where it occurred gives the story an entirely different weight. The Capitol was not simply a beautiful building that we were touring; it was also a place where major events in Louisiana’s political history had actually taken place.

There is also, in the Senate chamber, what is known as the “pencil in the ceiling,” which is actually a shard of wood. The wood got there from a bombing that occurred in 1970. Ironically, the bombers, who placed the TNT near the box in the chamber, were from Texas. This was another example of how the Capitol seemed to have a story hidden around every corner. Even small details, such as a piece of wood stuck in the ceiling, could be connected to a much larger part of the state’s history.

We also learned about the unfortunate history surrounding Louisiana politics, as the state has consistently dealt with political corruption. Governor Long was nicknamed the “Kingfish,” and his controversial political career even inspired a movie about his corruption. Learning about these events provided an interesting contrast to the cultural experiences we had throughout the rest of our trip. New Orleans is often celebrated for its music, food, architecture, festivals, and unique cultural identity, but the history behind the state is much more complicated.

Despite this complicated history, Louisiana has kept its rich culture intact, creating a beautiful atmosphere that was further emphasized by the Capitol. The building itself seemed to represent many of the contradictions we encountered throughout our trip: beauty alongside violence, tradition alongside modernity, and celebration alongside a complicated past. Visiting the Capitol gave us one final opportunity to see how history continues to shape the places we visit.

Conclusion

After leaving Baton Rouge, our trip was officially coming to an end. What began with our arrival in New Orleans had taken us through conference presentations, discussions about literature and culture, historic sites, local businesses, food, and experiences that we could not have gotten from a classroom alone. Our final morning was therefore a fitting conclusion. We were able to enjoy the local culture one last time, take home a few pieces of New Orleans with us, and end our trip by learning more about the history of Louisiana.

Although we were leaving the city, the experiences from the trip gave us plenty to bring home with us. From the conversations we had at the conference to the places we visited and the things we learned along the way, the trip showed us how much can be learned when we step outside of the classroom and experience these subjects firsthand. New Orleans was more than just the location of our conference. It became another part of our education, and it was a memorable way to end our LEAP experience.

LEAPing into New Orleans Culture and Cuisine: PCAS/ACAS Conference Day Two

Exploring the Southern Gothic

Written by Ruthie Passmore

We started off the second day strong by attending our first session, which was about Southern Gothic Transformations and Reimaginings; the conversation was led by Chair Stephanie Graves, who was accompanied by Rachel Pittman, Anne Bertram, and Jennie Lightweis-Goff. We got to hear about Appalachian Gothic Cinema, Southern Gothic within social media, a piece discussing the film adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and research discussing the differences between the three adaptations of Cape Fear.

First, Rachel Pittman presented her paper, “Deep in the Bone,” which explores Gothic themes in Appalachian literature and highlights the region’s historical economic lag. From her findings, I interpreted Appalachia in literature as fundamentally isolated and decaying, a key part of the Southern Gothic. I found it very interesting how literature seems to interact with the culture and folklore of a place with such a rich history.

Anne Bertram then discussed the impact of the Southern Gothic on popular culture. By sharing various TikTok videos, Bertram demonstrated how the genre is depicted online, highlighting artist Ethel Cain and the film Sinners as key reasons why it keeps growing. Additionally, she emphasized the irony that the vast majority of people interested in Southern Gothic online are young, teenage females from Russia, though the genre emphasizes its location in the South United States as a defining feature.

Moving forward, we heard from Jennie Lightweis-Goff, who covered John Berendt’s novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She noted that the story takes place in Savannah, Georgia, where the main character Jim Williams kills Danny Hansford. Since this novel is based on a true story, it led her to discuss modern true crime, claiming that much of today’s true crime coverage is fraudulent, and that true crime capitalizes on tragedy itself, turning real loss into a profitable trend.

Finally, Chair Stephanie Graves shed light on the three different adaptations of Cape Fear, first examining the 1962 version, moving on to 1991, and lastly the new series that came out in 2026. Across all three iterations, one thing remains constant: Max Cady remains the antagonist. She went on to explain that the differences among the three alter the central Gothic relationship. For instance, in the 1991 movie, Bowden represents Cady as his criminal defense attorney, unlike in the 1962 film, where he is not his attorney. This complicates the conflict in the story, giving Cady a motive for his crime, because in this adaptation, Bowden suppresses evidence that would have been able to lessen Cady’s sentence.

Though I was previously unfamiliar with these works, it was a wonderful opportunity to gain new insights, and I thoroughly enjoyed attending!

Sports & Video Games

Written by Robin Houghton

Isis and I decided to sit in on the panel discussing Games, Fans, and Fandoms for our conference session. Led by chair Vlada Botoric, all three panelists discussed the use of media, mostly video games, in fostering community and culture.

Vlada Botoric began with his presentation on LEGO fan cultures and the concept of peripheral fandom, a term he defined as a subordinated fan community experience, where members are deprived of access to their objects of fandom.
Botoric explained that although material conditions and accessibility of LEGO products affected creativity, across cultures such as Japan and Mexico, they still managed to create unique cultural expressions with LEGO products.

Next, Cheryl Briggs presented on digital communities, particularly through the VR exercise game Supernatural. Supernatural is unique from most exercise media as its VR platform allows the user’s body to produce the experience, rather than simply being a passive participant. The formatting creates a workout experience that turns exercise into play — but it was its multiplayer feature that turned Supernatural into a way to develop community. Briggs detailed how scheduling routines with people through Supernatural also turned the platform into a community of friends that also helped keep her and thousands of users motivated to continue exercising.

Finally, Dr. Tom Attah presented on how culture, particularly of the American South, can be depicted through video games. Using the game South of Midnight, Dr. Attah discussed how, compared to most media, video games turn a cultural witness into a performer of the culture, using the characters as functions to tell a story. Players gain agency when experiencing the cultures represented that could be otherwise inaccessible without the means to travel to those locations. Attah concluded that video games should be treated as a form of cultural expression similar to music or literature. With more and more people regularly playing video games, the cultural impact of the games people consume can no longer be ignored.

We found the session to be an enlightening discussion on the connection between community, video games, and fandom that left us more curious about the ways we connect with individuals and cultures through technology.

Lunch at Cafe Reconcile & Hansen’s Sno-Bliz

Written by Allie Plunk

Following the morning’s sessions, we had time for a little fun and food! We had initially planned to eat at Cafe Reconcile, a restaurant known for its community outreach and internship programs for disadvantaged youth. Facing an hour-long wait, we decided to eat dessert first, and headed to Hansen’s Sno-Bliz!

Hansen’s Sno-Bliz was unlike any snow cone shop we’d been to. The ice that made up the core of the “snow-bliz” was soft and fluffy, almost the texture of ice cream. The flavor choices were unique too, offering selections that ranged from cardamom and ginger cayenne to cream of chocolate and coffee.

We all tried different combinations of flavors, though our favorite was probably Stephanie’s ginger and cardamom snowbliz, topped with condensed milk. Some other delicious combinations were strawberry and chocolate cream, banana and chocolate cream, and cardamom and chocolate cream with ice cream.

After dessert, we headed back to Cafe Reconcile for lunch, where we enjoyed a variety of dishes! I had the Reconcile Cheeseburger, which featured a massive onion ring atop a classic cheeseburger. A few other favorites were the fried chicken, the red beans and rice, and the portobello po’boy.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience and a delicious lunch that allowed us to try new things, as well as twists on familiar favorites.

Experiencing Culture at the New Orleans Museum of Art

Written by Isis Hollis

Following our delicious lunch, we had the opportunity to visit the New Orleans Museum of Art. We were able to explore some of the major forms of art LEAP typically sees, such as impressionism, expressionism, and modernism, in addition to some of Louisiana’s characteristic folk art!

With three floors to explore, we started on the second with Professor Yawn as our guide. Something we don’t see often in the museums we visit is decorative art. Many people know this as Tiffany lamps or floral vases, but we were able to see this in various forms. The Eames chair, most popularly known for its modern look, is one of the many decorative art pieces we saw. One of my favorite decorative art pieces was a Tiffany vase adorned with intricate flowers. It caught my attention specifically for its variety of colors in the glass and its unique shape. Another notable piece was an intricate stair railing by Louis Sullivan, who’s credited with designing the first-ever skyscraper!

Another highlight from the second level was impressionist art. Many of us particularly like the impressionist style and the range of moods that it can encompass. My favorite piece, In the Garden, Giverny by Frederick C. Frieseke, is an American impressionist piece depicting a woman walking through a garden with flowers and a wall of greenery behind her. One of my favorite features was the cool-toned colors and pops of white throughout the painting.

On that same floor were pieces by Jackson Pollock, Picasso, and Monet.

What was perhaps our favorite exhibit was a life-sized cabin titled America, by Will Ryman. Created entirely out of symbols of American industrialization, such as iPhones, bullets, lightbulbs, and even chains, it proved to be an incredibly thought provoking piece that asked us to reflect on the impacts that rapid industrial growth have had on America.

After our guided exploration, we got to view the other parts of the museum on our own! Allie, Ruthie, and I looked at the Asian art, including Japanese, Indian, and Chinese pieces. Allie and I liked many of the Japanese pieces, specifically the Byobu art. Byobu pieces are traditional Japanese folding screens, often painted with intricate landscapes, portraits, or animals.

Overall, the museum strengthened connections between the artists we’ve seen before and gave us a better look into art throughout different times in different parts of the world.

Press Street Train Stop and Heard Dat Kitchen

Written by Allie Plunk

As a conclusion to our busy day, we ordered delicious meals from New Orleans hidden gem Heard Dat Kitchen! While our food was being prepared, we paid a visit to the Press Street Railroad Yards, the site of the train stop made famous withthe arrest of Homer Plessy. This culminated in the court case Plessy v. Ferguson, which established the “separate but equal” ruling that was later overturned by Brown v. Board of Education, 1954. There was a beautiful mural in honor of the amazing steps towards civil equality that have been made over the years, featuring figures like Ruby Bridges.

After our train “pit” stop, we headed over to Heard Dat Kitchen, eager to eat. Sitting outside at tables while we enjoyed our food provided a New Orleans atmosphere that paired well with our meals.

Some of our dinnertime favorites were the creamy Superdome, a blackened fish dish with mashed potatoes and lobster sauce, and the Heard Dat Pasta, a crawfish pasta topped with fried shrimp and green onions.

Following our deliciously seasoned meals, we enjoyed bread pudding, many of us trying it for the first time! The delicious, nutty dessert was well-liked by all the LEAP students and provided an excellent close to an excellent day.

Conclusion

Our second day in New Orleans gave us the opportunity to experience the city from several different perspectives. From exploring Southern Gothic literature and the cultural communities surrounding video games to enjoying New Orleans cuisine and examining art from around the world, we continued to discover how culture can be expressed through many different forms. Each experience gave us something new to consider and helped us better understand the history and creativity of the city around us. After such a busy and exciting day, we are all looking forward to seeing what our next day in NOLA brings!

The Final Day of the Texas Tribune Festival

Although our time at the Texas Tribune Festival was coming to an end, LEAP students finished out the week strong! The last day featured a wide array of panels, including Texas Health on the Line, Free Markets, Free Ideas: Austin and Heterodox Thinking, and much more. From Congressmen to new culinary experiences for us all, the last day of The Texas Tribune Festival was one to remember.

Our Time with Our Representative

By Kayla Fleming

Our last day at the festival was off to a strong start as LEAP students got to meet Congressman Pete Sessions. Editor-in-Chief at The Waco Bridge, J.B. Smith asked questions ranging from Sessions’ childhood and involvement with Baylor University to water policy and future growth. Sessions was born, raised, and resides in Waco, Texas. He has been representing District 17 in Congress since 2021. He attributed a lot of the rise of Waco over the years to President George W. Bush moving near there. He mentioned the success of infrastructure and his plans for clean water in the future.

Sessions gave a glowing review of Baylor University, highlighting its rise in research. He mentioned how Baylor has been conducting research on the long-term effects on soldiers in different environments, particularly extreme environments. He explained how he is trying to make sure the military will receive any information that he can get to them revolving around it.

Clean water is a large priority for Sessions. He said that in the past, the need for clean water was urgent, but never like it is now. “Water isn’t just for drinking anymore,” he said, citing agriculture, data centers, and industrial demands that strain clean water access.

In the final quarter of the session, Representative Sessions answered audience questions. With each question, it was very clear how much he genuinely cared about his constituents. He said he loves to answer people’s questions and will usually stay as long as he can to do so.

At the end of the event, we had the opportunity to take a selfie with him! After the photo, he informed us that he was at the homecoming football game and took a video with us for President White. He made it a point to shake each of our hands, a gesture that left a lasting impression on us. He was funny, personable, and a well-rounded, likable person. It was my favorite session of the day, and a highlight for the rest of our group.

Optimism and Advocacy with Congressman Michael McCaul

By Ruthie Passmore

Following Representative Pete Sessions, the second session kicked off with U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, who offered a look back at his twenty-two years in Congress. Gabby Birenbaum, the Washington Correspondent for The Texas Tribune, led the conversation with questions about his career. For most of us, this was the highlight of our day. There was a wide variety of topics that were discussed: from his work in childhood cancer to his opinion on the future of Congress.

Advocacy took center stage early in the conversation as he discussed his impactful work with the Childhood Cancer Caucus, a group he co-founded in the U.S. House of Representatives, to raise pediatric cancer awareness. It works together to spread awareness for pediatric cancer. He began answering by stating that he and his wife worked together on the idea of providing a voice in D.C. for the children with cancer. He also mentioned that he hosts the annual Childhood Cancer Summit to spread awareness for advocates, survivors, and healthcare professionals.

When asked what gives him hope for the future of Congress, he highlighted his optimism as the primary reason. He grounded this perspective by noting how the Founding Fathers got America right in the beginning, by securing independence and drafting the Constitution. He believes that those same principles are still achievable today. Looking ahead, he emphasized that true legislation cannot be effective without bipartisan collaboration to pass meaningful legislation. He stressed the importance of working for the American people, rather than your ego or political party. I liked the fact that he mentioned that he was an optimist, and I believe that is a valuable trait that has assisted him in his time in Congress.

At the end, we were all able to meet and talk to Congressman McCaul. I had the opportunity to ask him what he considered to be the most rewarding moment of his two-decade career in Congress. His response caught me by surprise as he said that it was when Grimes County secured the agreement with SpaceX, which will bring about more job opportunities to his district. Before heading to our next event, we got to take a photo with him!

The lessons he learned from his twenty-two years in Congress were interesting and insightful. They will certainly help us prepare for our own future and the future of the country.

The Second Space Race

By Victoria Reich

After the morning sessions and a flavorful lunch, a couple of us decided to go to ‘The New Space Age’ featuring speakers Abraham Loeb, the director of The Galileo Project and a professor at Harvard University, and Eric Berger, a Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica with Matt Ewalt moderating the panel.

Abraham Loeb and Eric Berger began by giving an overview of the political state regarding space exploration and how nations are now in what they called “the second space race.” It is specifically for nations to not only get back to the moon but also create a sustainable and consistent presence. It was then followed by explaining how competition is a good motivator for making advancements to science. I found their view of this situation very intriguing and how it was significant enough to give it the title “the second space race”.

The panelists also spoke about how a lot of the current space initiatives are led by the private sector, such as SpaceX, and how government-run programs such as NASA have taken a backseat due to obstacles including funding cuts and budget issues.

Furthermore, Abraham Loeb advocated that space exploration should be a priority and proposed a $1 trillion budget, to expedite space exploration for the scientific discovery of what exists beyond our now very limited understanding.

This session, although not related to most main political issues at this time, still covered a very real and relevant topic to Texas politics. It gave LEAP students a chance to understand the relationship between government-run programs, the private sector, and much more. This information, along with the rest of the panels, will better prepare us for future internships, jobs, and help make us more well-rounded individuals.

Panels to Palates

By Isis Hollis

Though the Texas Tribune Festival came to an end, our food adventures were far from over.

Skipjack Oyster offered most of us many new experiences (especially Ryan, who tried five new foods)! We started out with appetizers including the Kennebec Chips & Salmon Dip, consisting of hot smoked salmon, chive and Boursin. It had a rich, creamy, and complex flavor, which paired well with the salt of the chips. We also had Guacapoke: a mix of ahi tuna, guacamole, sesame seeds, and wonton chips. Along with both dips, we also shared the Brisket Burnt Ends, which provided a perfect sweet and savory blend.

Before our entrées, we, of course, had to try oysters. For Ruthie, Ryan, and me, it was a new but slightly intimidating food. However, we were pleasantly surprised at the well-balanced notes between salty and succulent.

Our entrees came out shortly after! Three of us got the Lobster Avocado Salad, which I found to be sweet and fresh. I enjoyed the avocado sauce, and the roe gave it a bright touch! Roe was another one of the foods that was new to some of us. Ryan and Kayla split the Linguine and Clams, in which the creamy sauce was a perfect complement to the brine of the clams.

For dessert, per our server’s recommendation, we went with Key lime pie and Red Velvet Bread Pudding. The Red Velvet Bread Pudding was rich and warm, which paired well with the cream cheese ice cream on top. The table’s favorite was the Key lime pie with its sharp and tangy lime! The crust and meringue paired with the filling to create a dessert that was bright in both texture and flavor.

Skipjack was a great way to end the Texas Tribune Festival and develop more adventurous palates. Although our time in Austin is nearing an end, we can’t wait for what awaits us.

Surveying the Policy Landscape: Day 2 of the TTF

After a thrilling first day at the Texas Tribune Festival, LEAP students were excited for more. Day two promised interesting panels, a trip to the LBJ Presidential Library, the Texas Capitol and a chance to broaden our culinary horizons.

A look into the Texas Republican Agenda

By Ruthie Passmore

To start the day, several of us went to see “The Texas Republican Agenda.” The panel consisted of Texas State Representatives Daniel Alders of House District 6, Jeff Leach of House District 67, and Mitch Little of House District 65, with Renzo Downey serving as the moderator. As a group, the representatives emphasized core Republican values while maintaining respectful dialogue with audience members holding differing views, of which there were many.

One key focus was on property taxes, and the possibility of a “tax-swap” was raised, with sales taxes replacing property taxes. While the concept was received positively in principle, it would require major restructuring.

Another fascinating question was what other ways Republicans are looking into helping with health care (and general life) affordability. Representative Alders noted his service on the Texas House Select Committee on Health Care Affordability, emphasizing the committee’s focus on developing policy solutions that offer more relief options for Texans.

Representative Little responded by stating that the less the government spends, the more money there remains for citizens.

Representative Leach particularly impressed me by handling questions with poise. When asked about committee chairs within the 2027 legislation, he replied by acknowledging his constituents. He expressed that voters are not asking about committee chairs; they are asking about property taxes, education, and affordability for all Texans.

At the end of the discussion, the audience had the chance to ask questions, and many expressed displeasure at the Republican agenda. The panelists were polite, but they remained firm in their priorities for the next session.

We were able to take a picture with all three panelists and have a meaningful exchange with Representative Alders. He stated that it has become harder for people of opposite parties to have productive conversations because of how polarized we are. (As a side note, the students who attended had different views on politics, and we managed to discuss the issues of the day without rancor.)

Along with other students, I enjoyed getting the opportunity to talk with Representative Alders. For some of us, this was our favorite panel of the day, and incredibly informative.

Both Sides of the Aisle

By Victoria Reich

LEAP students had the pleasure of attending ‘Legislature on Both Sides’ with Representative Ann Johnson of Houston, Representative Eddie Morales of Eagle Pass, Representative Shelby Slawson of Stephenville, and Representative Cody Vasut of Angleton, with Cassi Schredder moderating.

The panel started by briefly explaining how the legislative session runs and introducing the speakers. The representatives discussed how the dynamics might change should Democrats see a significant increase in numbers following the November election. Cassi Schredder brought up public-school funding and reform, a hot topic on both sides, as well as property taxes. It was nice to hear both parties discuss their differing plans while remaining respectful of the other side. I was surprised to see just how much the opposing sides agreed on key baseline issues. It was clear each representative wanted to do what they thought was best for their constituents.

Representative Johnson pointed out that having to spend money each session to make property taxes more affordable is not a sustainable solution and stated that a fundamental change in Texas is necessary. Representative Slawson conversely mentioned changing the appraisal cap when property taxes were brought up, explaining that this could help fix the concerns related to property taxes, affordability, and local governments’ budgets. Representative Vasut advocated for tighter restrictions on tax breaks for data centers, including making them ineligible for sales-tax exemptions or abatements.

After hearing questions from Schredder, the panel answered audience questions. Balancing thorough answers and strict time restraints was a challenge, but one the Representatives handled with ease.

The panel especially emphasized the importance of working across party lines. Members of the other party are not the enemy; ultimately, everyone is there to serve the people of Texas. I appreciated the panelists’ point that collaboration is essential not only for getting things done, but also for developing the strongest possible solutions for the state.

Three Perspectives on the Future of Higher Education in Texas

By Mike Yawn

At the Texas Tribune Festival, Texas Tribune reporter Sneha Dey moderated a discussion about the changing landscape of higher education in Texas. The panel featured Harrison Keller, president of the University of North Texas; Mike Flores, chancellor of the Alamo Colleges District; and Sondra Barringer, a professor of higher education at Southern Methodist University. Their comments offered three perspectives on what colleges and universities should accomplish—and how they should demonstrate their value.

Keller emphasized the connection between higher education and economic opportunity. He argued that universities had a responsibility to ensure that students developed skills that translated into good jobs and a positive economic return on their education. At UNT, he said, programs had been evaluated based on student demand, employer demand, institutional costs, and “time to value.” He also stressed that universities needed to work more closely with community colleges and employers as workforce needs and technology changed.

Flores focused on access, student success, and economic mobility. He described community colleges as essential partners in developing the workforce Texas needed and highlighted investments in academic advising, tutoring, basic-needs assistance, and career and technical education. He viewed Texas’ outcomes-based funding model as an important way to support institutions in helping students succeed.

Barringer offered a broader institutional perspective. She agreed that workforce preparation and student outcomes mattered, but emphasized that universities also contributed through research, public service, and solving problems in their communities. She raised concerns about the unintended consequences of funding formulas and political mandates, particularly for academic programs, research, faculty recruitment, and academic freedom.

Taken together, the panelists portrayed higher education as an institution facing competing demands, with some of the most challenging demands being political in origin: demonstrating economic value while maintaining its broader responsibilities to students, communities, research, and society.

Old School: Lamar Alexander

One of the more refreshing sessions was with Lamar Alexander, former Governor and Senator of Tennessee, and also former Secretary of Education. Now 86, Alexander is still sharp, and he discussed his career working with ten Presidents (!).

He said nice things about many of those presidents from both sides of the aisle, and he noted that you don’t have to be moderate to work with people with different belief systems. He worked with President Obama, while not agreeing with many items on his policy agenda. But, he noted, there are always things that overlap, and members of both parties should be willing to work on those things.

During Q&A, Alexander also indicated he would not vote for Ken Paxton, observed that Obama might have been the smartest President he worked with, suggested that President George W. Bush was the most “normal” President he worked with, and expressed his greatest satisfaction as having a long career in politics and leaving with his “integrity and family intact.”

From Teacher to President: The LBJ Library

By Ryan Snow

Following our exciting day of compelling panels, we had the oppurtunity of learning about President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) at the LBJ Presidential Library. Our journey through the library started with LBJ: An Introduction: a 10-minute film about LBJ, including his life before his presidency, the start of it and how he shaped the world during it.

LBJ started in his early life as a teacher in Cotulla, Texas, a rural Hispanic town. This led LBJ to focus on feeding the poor and increasing access to education. Unfortunately, even after all the successes LBJ had in his presidency, such as his Great Society plan and civil rights improvements, he believed they would be overshadowed by the failures in Vietnam. Throughout the museum, LBJ was continuously expressing his guilt over the Vietnam War and conveying how he felt trapped.

The library had a multitude of interactive activities, including listening to a wax LBJ recite humorous stories…

…while also getting “The Johnson Treatment” from a life-sized poster of him.

LBJ, like many presidents before him, had secret recording devices in the White House phones allowing us to listen to conversations with senators, representatives, and other important figures. During his time in office there were over 640 hours of recorded conversations between him and others.

We also got to see unique artifacts of Texas history on display, such as the oldest known photograph at the Alamo and Sam Houston’s Inaugural Address as President on October 22, 1836.

The library also included an exhibit dedicated to JFK’s assassination and LBJ in office after such dramatic events. Although LBJ stepped up and enacted life-changing policies, he always expressed his sorrow for JFK. “I wish to God there was something that I could do, and I want to tell you that we were grieving with you.”

Lyndon B. Johnson was described as compassionate, relentless, persuasive, collaborative, and practical. Visiting his library has taught us how to never give up, and that no matter how much you do, there is still much to be done. LBJ served as an inspiration we can take with us into our personal and professional lives.

Texas Capitol Tour

Students recently had the opportunity to explore one of Texas’s most iconic landmarks during a tour of the Texas Capitol led by LEAP Center Professor Mike Yawn. The tour offered students a closer look at the building’s architecture, artwork, and fascinating stories from Texas history.

Professor Yawn highlighted the portraits of Texas governors, using them to share stories about some of the state’s most colorful political figures. Students learned about Pappy O’Daniel, Ma Richardson, John Connally, and, of course, Sam Houston.

The tour also featured several important works of art, including the dramatic painting depicting the Surrender of Santa Anna following the Battle of San Jacinto…

…and a portrait of legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett. Students viewed Elizabet Ney’s statues of Texas heroes Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin, gaining a better appreciation for both the figures and the artist who portrayed them.

Even the Capitol’s smallest details provided opportunities for discovery. Professor Yawn pointed out hinges bearing the Texas seal and door knobs decorated with the famous Texas star.

Although the TX Senate was closed, we did have a chance to see the House of Representatives, which included a portrait of Sam Houston.

Students also learned about the Capitol’s massive expansion, which ultimately tripled the size of the original building, offering much more office space, albeit underground.

And with this exploration of the Capitol and its extension, we worked up a hunger, prompting us to turn toward Fresa’s to satisfy.

Dinner at Fresa’s Chicken Al Carbon

By Brittlyn Jackson

After the Capitol tour, we headed to Fresa’s Chicken Al Carbon to unwind and enjoy some delicious Mexican cuisine. With three locations throughout Austin, we visited the South First Street location, where we enjoyed our meal in Fresa’s outdoor dining area.

We kicked off our dining experience with four appetizers: the Mexican Street Corn, Totally Loaded Queso, Classic Guacamole, and Guacamole Especial. Both guacamole dishes were delightfully fresh and creamy, served with chips that were a perfect combination of salt and crisp. The Loaded Queso had a light kick and was filled with black beans, guacamole, chorizo, pico de gallo, salsa bruja, and, of course queso. My personal favorite appetizer was the Mexican Street Corn, which was tangy and topped with plenty of fresh lime juice.

After sharing the appetizers, we moved on to our main course, which offered a diverse range of dishes. There was Ahi Tuna Tostada, a colorful dish featuring raw tuna, cucumber pico, cabbage, avocado, chipotle mayo, pickled shallot, and chile crisp. Many of us got the more popular option, the El Rey tacos. They featured slow-cooked beef brisket, cabbage, pickled jalapenos, chipotle mayo, cilantro, and fire-roasted red salsa, served on flour tortillas.

Fresca’s options did not stop there, featuring bols, wraps, and more. The Primo Bol was a wonderful, savory choice. It had agave-lime chicken, sweet potato, black lentils, lacinato kale, avocado, pickled apple, and a tart lemon vinaigrette. The apples added a fresh flavor to the dish, and the sweet potatoes created a nice contrast between the sweet and sour flavors, providing a perfect blend.

We ended our evening with a light debate on some of the panels we attended, and the issues discussed by the speakers throughout the day. The Texas Tribune Festival provoked insightful conversations and furthered our political understanding. LEAP students had a wonderful time and are ready for more!

LEAP Fall Retreat: Sights and Meals

Written by: Robin Houghton, Jacob Wessels, Allie Plunk, and Olivia McCaughan

The LEAP Ambassadors kicked off the fall semester with a retreat to Houston, where we spent the day exploring the city, trying new foods, and making memories together. From gourmet twists on familiar favorites to cultural dishes from around the world, our meals gave us plenty of opportunities to discover something new. In between bites, we explored Buffalo Bayou Park, admired Houston’s art and memorials, experimented with photography, and even caught up with some LEAP alumni.

The Kitchen

To begin our retreat, we stopped by The Kitchen, located in The Woodlands, which gives a gourmet twist to classic foods. We started off with their rich Truffle Mac & Cheese Gratin, Parmesan Truffle Fries, and our personal favorite appetizer: Crispy Brussel Sprouts. We also tried their Dirty Chai Shake and the Strawberry Banana Smoothie, which were the perfect refreshments during the hot August evening.

One of the highlights of The Kitchen is their ability to put interesting twists on familiar dishes, and this strength was proven true as all but one of the Ambassadors ordered a steak/beef dish. Isis and Jacob ordered the Steak Bowl: tenderloin served over flavorful farro and fragrant vegetables; Allie ordered the Tenderloin Cobb Salad and found the inclusion of palm hearts to be a welcome surprise. Kayla ordered the Blackened Salmon Salad, Robin enjoyed the Cowboy Burger, and Olivia had the American Burger. While the sauce on Olivia’s burger wasn’t a personal favorite, we all agreed the steak was wonderfully cooked and perfectly tender, regardless of what we ordered. The Kitchen delivered a delicious balance between comforting, healthy, and elevated that made the restaurant a place to remember.

Buffalo Bayou Park

During our time exploring Houston, the ambassadors visited the Houston Police Memorial, which honors the brave officers who lost their lives while serving and protecting the Houston community. The memorial gave us a chance to slow down and appreciate the sacrifices made by those who dedicated their lives to keeping others safe. The architecture of the memorial was incredibly notable: a layered pyramid, with almost perfect symmetry. We were surprised to find grass growing on each layer! At the very top was a plaque, listing the names of the fallen officers. It was a meaningful stop and an important part of our time exploring the city.

Afterward, we stopped at Buffalo Bayou Park for what we thought would be a short pit stop. However, we quickly learned just how vast and beautiful the park really was. Our first stop was the Johnny Steele Dog Park, where we watched some pups run around and play. It was really fun watching them splash through the water and chase each other, although at times I was worried their roughhousing might turn into a brawl!

We then continued down the street and saw Tolerance on Harmony Walk by Jaume Plensa. Made up of the letters of eight different alphabets, formed like people, these pieces showcased the diversity of people from different languages, cultures, and backgrounds. It was a great reminder of how our differences can come together to create something beautiful.

After that, we walked across to the overpass and noticed that there were locks attached to the bridge. The locks were an homage to the famous love-lock tradition seen on bridges around the world. We then tried to take slow-shutter photos of the cars passing underneath us to get an idea of how the shutter speed can affect the look of a photo.

Using a similar technique, we even managed to make one of the ambassadors look like a ghost (or, more like a ghost than usual)!

In the end, Buffalo Bayou Park turned out to be an amazing place to spend time, enjoy nature, and get out and explore!

Post Market

Our first dinner in Houston was spent at a familiar favorite: Post Market. The food hall offers a variety of cultural cuisine, with options varying from African to Asian meals. We also met up with a few LEAP alumni for the night, sharing the meal with Ademide Adedokun, Quinn Kobrin, and Justin Bieser and his wife, Chelsea.

After scoping out the options, we ordered our food from a variety of restaurants, most of us opting in for ChopnBlok‘s west African cuisine. A few of the most popular dishes among the LEAP Students were the Motherland, a delicious blend of rice, curry, vegetables, and a similar dish called the Trad, made with chicken, jambalaya, vegetables, and plantains. We were certainly not disappointed with our selections, finding the unique blend of spices and flavors delicious. Robin decided to explore some of her own cultural heritage, opting for a Filipino meal from Soy Pinoy. After ordering the Lechon, a dish made of deliciously seasoned pork and atchara, she was pleasantly surprised to find that they included the crunchy, roasted skins! Robin was not the only one to branch out, however, Olivia enjoyed Asian food from Nikubol, ordering the Truffle Beef Cube bowl, a delicious mixture of vegetables, beef and sauce.

Our new adventure at Post Market allowed us to delve into culture on our retreat! We were thrilled to get to enjoy the rich variety of cuisine offered in Houston.

Cochinita & Co.

Since the LEAP Ambassadors were in Houston, we couldn’t help but stop at the new location of one of our favorite restaurants, Cochinita & Co., to see if it held up to the original, and we were not disappointed!

This time, we started our meal by sharing elote and guacamole with totopos. It was the perfect way to begin lunch while we discussed some events for this coming up semester. Allie, Isis, and I got the Pollo Adobado tacos with rice and beans. We agreed that the chicken was very tender with a great flavor, while Jacob and Kayla chose the shrimp tacos. Robin tried the Tinga de Hongos tacos, giving us plenty of different dishes to enjoy around the table.

We also made sure to save room for dessert! We shared a concha, marranitos, and a chocolate chip cookie, ending our meal on a sweet note.

From delicious meals to unexpected adventures, our Houston retreat gave the LEAP Ambassadors plenty of opportunities to explore, learn, and spend time together as the new semester began. Whether we were trying new foods, discovering Houston’s art and history, experimenting with photography, or simply enjoying each other’s company, every stop gave us something to remember. We’re excited to bring the energy and ideas from our retreat back to SHSU and can’t wait to see what the upcoming semester has in store!

LEAP Fall Retreat: The Girl on the Train

Written by: Isis Hollis

During our retreat in Houston, LEAP students and alums visited the Alley Theatre once again to watch a performance of The Girl on the Train! Based on the bestselling novel by Paula Hawkins and the Dreamworks film adaptation, the play proved to be another memorable addition to LEAP’s theatrical experiences.

The Girl on the Train follows Rachel Watson (Elizabeth Bunch), an alcoholic whose life has begun to unravel following her divorce. One morning, Rachel receives a visit from Detective Gaskill (David Rainey), who informs her that a woman named Megan Hipwell (Emily Neves) has gone missing. Rachel immediately becomes invested in finding her. Although she has never met Megan, Rachel used to see her and her husband from the train each morning and imagine that they lived a perfect, happy life. With Megan now missing, that illusion is shattered, and Rachel becomes determined to uncover what really happened. The list of suspects is long: from a therapist, Dr. Kamal Abdic (Christopher Salazar), to Rachel’s ex-husband Tom Watson (Chris Hutchison) and his new wife, Anna (Michelle Elaine), to Megan’s husband, Scott (Dylan Godwin–an SHSU Alum), to even Rachel herself.

The story takes us through an exciting series of twists and turns, leaving many of us surprised when the mystery finally came to a close. Kayla and Tania were particularly surprised by the ending, while others, like Britlynn, managed to figure out the twist early. Afterward, we had a great discussion about our reactions to the play, and many of us agreed that it had earned a place among our favorite Alley Theatre productions.

The British accents of the characters also caught some of us off guard, especially those who had previously watched Misery at the Alley. Elizabeth Bunch and Chris Hutchison, who played Annie Wilkes and Paul Sheldon in that production, returned as Rachel and Tom. Many of us find the husband-and-wife duo particularly fascinating to watch because they seem to have a knack for playing characters who either despise each other or are completely obsessed with one another—and sometimes both! Their dynamic creates an interesting on-stage chemistry that made their performances especially memorable.

My favorite aspect of the play was the set. I really enjoyed the way that the stage had been designed to move; parts of the stage raising and lowering to reveal or conceal furniture that changed the scenery. They also utilized a catwalk-like structure above the stage to demonstrate the terrace of Megan’s home, which allowed Rachel’s memories to be displayed over the action of scene below. One of Olivia’s favorite parts was how they portrayed the moving train, through lights and set. Towards the end of the play, the technical team even utilized projection to create train tracks that ran across the stage.

Overall, the combination of story, acting, and creative set design made The Girl on the Train a great watch. We are all looking forward to our next opportunity to experience another Alley Theatre production together!

Many thanks to alums who joined us: Ademide Adedokun, Justin and Chelsea Beiser, and Quinn Kobrin–and to Ademide’s friend, Andrea Alexander.

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!

Exploring Salt Lake City: From Books to Byways

Written By: Robin Houghton, Olivia McCaughan, Allie Plunk, and Jacob Wessels

On our second day in Salt Lake City, LEAP Ambassadors enjoyed a fun-filled day of learning and exploration, from seeing sights from the Salt Lake City Library, to visiting Park City, to taking a scenic tour of Utah’s more natural features.

SLC Library

LEAP Ambassadors started the day by exploring the Salt Lake City Library. Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie (who also designed Crystal Bridges Art Museum), the library is as much a work of art as a center for community.

The building is uniquely shaped into a triangle with a curved base. This specific shape was chosen to let in the most light through the predominantly glass structure, helping naturally keep the library cool in the summer and warm in the winter according to the differing curves of the sun’s path. Mirroring this curve is an outer wall, inlaid with spaces that businesses can rent out, and a curved amphitheater within the courtyard.

My favorite floor was probably the first floor. Walking into the library, we were greeted by a piece called Psyche, created by Ralph Helmick and Stu Schecter. It is made up entirely of small hanging books and butterflies, strung in the shape of a head, a play on the Greek word for both mind and butterfly.

Elsewhere in the Library, I was fascinated by the massive volume of CDs, especially those of local artists featured in the audio section, a good example of the library exposing people to new cultural horizons while also supporting the local community. Speaking of which, there was also a place to buy stickers designed by local artists and a seed check-out kiosk where locals could take seeds to plant in their home garden. The concept is that, after the harvest, “borrowers” would return some seeds from the plants they grew. I also admired (and was jealous of!) the incredible resources the creative lounge had to offer, including leathercraft, sewing machines, audio recording, and even a soldering station!

The roof, featuring 360-degree views of Salt Lake City, was a close second place in my ranking. We were able to see both the mountains and the top of city hall from the same spot.

As we left, we were all able to come to the same conclusion: the Salt Lake City Library has all the functions of a proper community center, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Caputo’s Market & Deli

Following our library adventure, we stopped for lunch at Caputo’s Market & Deli for authentic Italian cuisine and specialty foods. Founded in 1997 by Tony Caputo, the deli has become a local institution by bringing high-quality imported European products and traditional Italian flavors to Utah.

We were able to enjoy a variety of dishes. The Caputo, Roasted Reds, Mortadella Mami, and Hot Pastrami each highlighted the quality ingredients and classic combinations that have been staples of Italian delis for generations.

Many of us couldn’t resist browsing Caputo’s famous chocolate selection. We shared and sampled an assortment of chocolates, including one decorated with edible flowers that was as beautiful as it was delicious. We also enjoyed several unique flavors, including Vietnamese Coffee, Orange with Sea Salt, Cardamom, and Chili Chocolate. Personally, my favorite was the Vietnamese Coffee. It captured the bold flavor of coffee without overpowering the chocolate.

By preserving the culinary traditions of Europe while also introducing them to new audiences, Caputo’s has become an important part of Salt Lake City’s diverse food culture. The experience reminded us that food has the power to connect people with history, culture, and one another.

Park City

Our next stop was Park City, Utah‘s Main Street, an idyllic strip of shops, restaurants and cafes. It was discovered in 1868 when soldiers stationed in Salt Lake City traveled from Big Cottonwood Canyon to find silver. After silver mining slowed and miners began to move on to other lands in search of more minerals, the town became a leading state in winter sports, which led to the creation of Park City’s Historic Main Street. The street is now home to over 200 unique businesses, including 50 one-of-a-kind restaurants.

As the Huntsville Main Street Coordinator, it was very interesting to see how Park City’s Main Street compared to our own. During my walk through town, many things caught my eye: the vibrant landscapes, the numerous souvenir shops, and the distinctive Main Street Trolley. Combining all of these elements created the perfect environment for a wonderful day of shopping and visiting with friends and family.

After visiting this thriving Main Street, I have been inspired to bring many of these aspects back to Huntsville. This Main Street is definitely one for others to look to for guidance on their next project for bringing the community together.

Scenic Byway

After exploring Park City’s Main Street, we spent the afternoon taking a scenic drive through the Wasatch Mountains. In contrast to the previous night’s rigorous hike, this drive was much less exerting, allowing us to take plenty of photos of the beautiful flora and fauna of Utah.

We began near the top of the Wasatch Mountains, where the cooler weather allowed us to see a vibrant array of wildflowers, which complemented the surrounding mountains. We stopped to take in the quaking aspens (which we were surprised to learn all share the same root system), and to enjoy even more beautiful views!

Further down the mountain, in Big Cottonwood Canyon, we saw Silver Lake, which features a short trail ideal for spotting a diverse array of animals. Almost immediately, we spotted a few squirrels and chipmunks around the visitor center, making them perfect practice for photos. 

Things got more exciting as we walked down the boardwalk, almost immediately spotting an osprey diving for prey on the lake. We also observed some less predatory birds, such as sparrows and ducks. We even got to see a beaver swimming around the lake!

As we moved onto the surrounding trail, we spotted a few robins in the underbrush. About halfway around the lake, we saw a grazing deer and managed to snag a tricky photo of a dragonfly. The greatest sight, however, was near the end of the trail, where we managed to catch glimpses of a moose!

After taking a multitude of photos- and filling up a camera memory card- we made our way back to the hotel, happy with the day’s pursuits.

Pretty Bird Chicken

Once we were back, we ordered dinner from Pretty Bird, the self-professed best chicken place in Salt Lake City! Owner Viet Pham is a world-renowned chef, who retired from fine dining to set up Pretty Bird and explore his version of the Nashville spicy fried chicken. We enjoyed the flavors and spices of the chicken, but the fries and the street corn weren’t our favorite dishes. Still, it was an interesting addition to our Salt Lake City culinary experience.

Conclusion

Our second day in Salt Lake City was well-spent, filled with learning, exploring, and some lessons to take with us, back to Huntsville, our home towns, and in life. As the day concluded, most of us agreed that Salt Lake City, Utah was one of our new favorite places!

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