Category: Travel

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.

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!

LEAP Eats: Pita and Pastries

Written by: Kayla Fleming and Isis Hollis

A LEAP trip wouldn’t be complete without exploring various different cuisines. This past weekend we tried everything from Mediterranean bowls to French pastries!

To prepare for a fulfilling day at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, LEAP Students had the opportunity to eat at Craft Pita, which serves farm to table Mediterranean cuisine. To start, we split the Mezze (a set of small, shareable dishes) Sampler. The hummus, babaganoush, and the turnips were crowd favorites. For some of us, it was our first time having a full mediterranean meal, and it did not disappoint.

Craft Pita is known for its inclusion of Tex Mex influence in otherwise traditional mediterranean food. One example of this was the Lebanese Tacos. Made with falafel, a meat alternative of spiced, mashed chickpeas, the dish surprised us with its complementary flavors. Aside from this exciting dish, we also enjoyed salads, wraps, and hummus bowls!

To finish off the meal, we ordered three deserts for the table: the Turkish Coffee Brownie, Lemon Mint Ice Cream, and Pistachio Ice Cream. The brownie was rich and delicate, while the ice cream was light and refreshing. The lemon mint was a surprising favorite, and we could not stop going back for more. Overall, Craft Pita only added to our wonderful weekend in Houston and prepared us for the exciting day ahead.

Our last stop in the diverse city of Houston was Common Bond Cafe on Sunday. The cafe had a pleasant atmosphere and delicious food! Nearly all of us went with the grilled cheese but we mixed it up with the sides. Robin and I had the tomato soup while Allie and Olivia had the fries. The fries had a unique thin, crispy texture that was very enjoyable.

Not only was the food great, but so were the pastries. I had the strawberry cheesecake muffin that was both photogenic and sweet. Of course their most famous pastry, the Kouign-amann, was a must on our list of things to try. It was buttery and flaky, similar to a croissant but had a crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on the bottom.

After we finished eating, Professor Yawn took us on a tour of some of the famous sculptures located in the Woodlands. Luckly we were able to stop and get a selfie infront of a massive James Surls sculpture.

Both spots, though different in many ways, added even more fun to our trip by expanding our palates and knowledge of different food cultures and artwork around the world!

Mooting in Miami

After a summer of study and two additional months of practice, LEAP’s Moot Court team made their way to Fort Lauderdale (which, in fairness to the title, is near Miami) for the Sunshine State Regional Moot Court Tournament–part of the American Moot Court Association’s annual national competition.

AMCA Board Member Ben Rathsam Kicking Things Off

The Moot Court Process

The Moot Court process has many moving parts, but the steps are straightforward:

  • Each team has two members, with one tackling the 14th amendment (equal protection) and one tackling the 1st amendment (speech);
  • Teams then register for one of 18 regional tournaments across the US;
  • Teams then compete in the tournament for which they registered, and if they qualify, they move on to a “Preliminary National Tournament” and, if they qualify again, the National Tournament.

Teams are evaluated on four broad categories: Knowledge, Courtroom Demeanor, Response to Questions, and the Clarity and Logic of the Argument.

Michael Dass from NSU

Moot Court at Sam Houston State University (SHSU)

SHSU begins its Moot Court involvement shortly after AMCA releases the Case Problem (May 1). Over the summer, Professor Mike Yawn teaches “How to Win in the Courtroom,” using the Case Problem (and the ancillary 20 other cases) as the curriculum, and culminating with live “hearings.”

In late August or early September, official tryouts are held, and students compete for team spots. The LEAP Center selected five participants this year, making up two teams and a “spare:” Team One is Madison Thurkettle and Allison Lindle; Team Two is Ashton Droll and Maddie Cawthon. A fifth student, Katie Wilson, made the team, but lacked a teammate.

All of these students committed to weekly practices during September and October, with the goal of being prepared for today’s tournament.

The Sunshine Tournament

The Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University hosted the Sunshine Tournament, giving 64 students the opportunity to travel; visit a law school; perform in front of judges, bailiffs, and tournament organizers; and meet other pre-law students from across the country. AMCA Representative Ben Rathsam introduced the event, and Shepard Broad Law Professor Marc Consalo provided additional guidance, helping orient the students, and focusing their minds.

Day One, to use a sport analogy, is the “regular season,” and it consists of three rounds for each team. The first round began at 2:00pm, with Thurkettle and Lindle representing the petitioner and competing at a team from Central Florida; Droll and Cawthon also represented the petitioner, and they competed against a team from Nova Southeastern University. In subsequent rounds, SHSU teams faced competitors from Stetson University, Benedictine College, Liberty University, and the University of Tampa.

Moot Court Self Care

Katie Wilson, although not competing this year, travelled with the team, proving herself an expert navigator, and a quick-learning photographer.

Competing

Although the students have been involved in more than a dozen formal practices and numerous individual practices, the real thing brings a fresh sense of nerves.

“For me, the first round was the worst,” noted Madison Thurkettle, a Junior at SHSU, and a first-time competitor in Moot Court, “and I was able to loosen up in the subsequent rounds.”

Allison Lindle, Thurkettle’s teammate, agreed: “The first round was nerves; the second round, we were able to see some success; and by the third round, we were hitting our stride.”

Only Known Photo of Thurkettle Smiling While at a Podium

For Ashton Droll, who did debate in high school, nerves weren’t a huge issue. But there was still the adapting to representing different parties in different rounds and learning the idiosyncrasies of the different judges. In Round One, for example, one judge gave Droll an average score of 87.5; another gave her an average score of 99.25.

At times, the judges’ feedback can be contradictory. One judge told Maddie Cawthon that she “sometimes got lost while answering questions.” The same round, a different judge told her: “Great responses to questions.” A frustrated Cawthon lamented: “they can’t both be correct.”

Outcomes

One of the outcomes of tournaments such as this is seeing the competition from other schools. Getting students out of the classroom and seeing high-achieving students from other schools is a key part of moot court, and in this setting, there were many strong students representing top universities across the nation.

For Lindle and Thurkettle, it was a steep learning curve, one punctuated by some near misses. On the final round, for example, they lost two ballots by one point each ballot. It was a tough round. Nonetheless, they both had strong showings. On one ballot, Thurkettle averaged a 98; on the same ballot, Lindle averaged a 97.5.

Droll and Cawthon similarly saw some close calls. Two of their ballot losses came from margins of 10 points or less (out of 1600), but they were in the running on every ballot–and this consistency helped them break into the Sweet 16. Indeed, they were seeded 11th out of 32 teams!

This was a victory not only for Droll and Cawthon, but for the entire SHSU delegation. As Katie Wilson noted, “I’ve spent the last couple of months with these girls, and it was rewarding to see them grow and have the opportunity to compete in front of real judges. I am already getting excited for next year’s case!”

Wrapping Up

But, of course, there is at least one more round in this year’s tournament for Droll and Cawthon, a prospect making for a long night (thankfully, Daylight Savings Time will add an hour…). But whatever that outcome, the tournament–and the organizers, judges, and volunteers–has provided the thrill and stress of competition, exposure to new places and people, and the opportunity for growth.