Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Madison to Chicago: A Midwest (Architectural) Journey

University of Wisconsin Law School

Ilexus Williams

Before leaving Wisconsin on day five of our Midwestern Journey, the LEAP students, both of whom have aspirations to become attorneys, toured the University of Wisconsin Law School.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, University of Wisconsin Law School

The Law School, which is considered a top-tier law school nationally, was founded in 1868. It has concentrations in business law, criminal law, estate planning, family law, international law, labor and employment law, and real estate law. The School motto, which both of us found to be significant is “law in action.” This motto is practiced throughout the entire program. There are numerous opportunities to give students hands-on experience with the law, including 14 in-house clinics–such as their Family Court Clinic, Immigrant Justice Clinic, Criminal Appeals Project, and Federal Appeals Project. They even have the Wisconsin Innocence Project, which is a clinic that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals.

They also have three student journals: Wisconsin Law Review, Wisconsin International Law Journal, and Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender, and Society. In student journals, law students will take articles that law professors or other professionals in the legal field have written and will give their review of the article. Interestingly, in the Wisconsin International Law Journal, one of the professors helped write the constitution for South Africa after the abolition of Apartheid.

The University of Wisconsin Law School has a Law Library, which we were warned we would spend many hours in. Oddly, we would rarely use the copious amount of books that lined the shelves and would rely, instead, on many online resources and carrels for study space.

Next, we headed to the Quarles and Brady Reading Room, which is another popular study spot.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, University of Wisconsin Law School

This room has a notable mural by John Steuart Curry titled “The Freeing of Slaves”.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, University of Wisconsin Law School

The University of Wisconsin Law School also has more than 36 student organizations. A few of those organizations include Women’s Law Student Association, Wisconsin International Law Society, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Latino/a Law Student Association, and the Black Law Student Association. Additionally, there are both Moot Court and Mock Trial teams. We even were able to see where the teams practice.

The University of Wisconsin Law School is filled with interesting traditions. At every homecoming football game, third year law students will run from the north end of the football field to the South end of the field with bowler hats and walking canes. The students attempt to throw their canes over the goalpost. If they catch the cane on the other side of the goalpost, then it is said that he or she will win their very first case.

Overall, we enjoyed our first law school visit and we may even consider becoming future Badgers!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, University of Wisconsin Law School, Maggie Denena, Ilexus Williams

Sadly, this concluded our Wisconsin visit. Just like that, we were on the road again headed for Chicago!

Frank Lloyd Wright homes(Chicago Frank Lloyd Wright District)

Before we made it to Chicago, the LEAP students stopped by the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District in Oak Park, Illinois. We decided to hunt, on foot, for Mr. Wright’s homes. There were many Frank Lloyd Wright look-alikes, but we managed to spot many of Mr. Wright’s original well-known Prairie Homes and even some of his early Queen Anne Style homes.

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We also stumbled across Ernest Hemingway’s Birthplace!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Oak Park IL, Ernest Hemingway, Maggie Denena, Ilexus Williams

Chicago

Maggie Denena

Getting back into Chicago was a mess; I’ll never complain about Houston traffic again! We stayed at The Palmer House Hilton Hotel, which is located between State Street and Michigan Street, in the middle of all the action. We had an Architectural Tour of Chicago (by boat!) scheduled for 7:30 that evening, so after we got our stuff moved into our rooms we headed straight into the crowded streets and started walking towards the river.

It was a nice crisp walk, and I am thankful I remembered to grab my jacket before we left the hotel. Despite being in June, the temperature was in the 50s with wind. We were doing the Chicago Architecture tour with Chicago’s First Lady Boat Tours. This tour is considered a “must do” by most tourists and locals. The tour was 90 minutes, and we had a volunteer speaker to teach us about some of the architecture and buildings unique to Chicago. I really enjoyed being able to go in the evening and seeing the city after dark, which really gave a different perspective to the Chicago skyline; it was like something from my imagination.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture

We learned that one of the things that sets the city’s architecture apart from other cities is the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 that burned for 3 days and leveled over 3.3 square miles of the city. The fire is said to have been started when “Daisy the milk cow” kicked over a kerosene lamp in her barn (this may be a legend…) leaping across the polluted river, the town and water burned like wildfire.

Despite the devastation, it turned out well for Chicago. The rebuilding occurred at a time when technological innovations allowed the city to rebuild with new materials and, notably, much taller buildings than previously. Talented architects and builders moved to Chicago to get part of the action. The result was a brain gain, followed by skyscrapers and other innovations.

Along the tour, we saw the early skyscrapers…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture

….some Art Deco….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture

….and a whole lot of postmodern or contemporary architecture, including the Willis Tower…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture, Willis Tower

…and the Marina Towers…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture, Marina Towers

…which were the setting for a notable scene in Steve McQueen’s “The Hunter.”

We finished the tour by going out to Lake Michigan…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture

…and getting a just-after-sunset tour of the beautiful city skyline.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture

Our tour guide was articulate and knowledgeable about the city’s history of architecture and development. Overall, the boat tour was a great experience and it is definitely something I would do again if I find myself in Chicago again.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture

After exiting the boat, we began the walk back to our hotel, stopping to take some pictures in front of Trump Tower, but that was mainly for my benefit.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture, Trump Tower

We headed towards the Ghirardelli store where we each ordered a sweet drink. Even though it was the end of June, I still ordered a hot chocolate because of the colder conditions up north than we have been experiencing here in Texas. Professor Yawn ordered a chocolate shake that looked delicious, and Ilexus ordered a drink that was basically melted Ghirardelli chocolate in a cup.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Ghirardelli

She was generous enough to let me try the rich chocolaty drink. My hot chocolate really hit the spot, especially after spending the chilly evening on the boat.

Our next stop on the way back to our hotel was to Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate which was finished in 2006.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture, Anish Kapoor, Cloud Gate, Maggie Denena, Ilexus Williams

The sculpture is located in Millennium Park and took two years to complete. Popularly known as “the Bean”, visitors can walk under the sculpture’s 12-foot arch. Normally, there is a large crown around the Bean, but since we went at night there weren’t too many people around. I honestly enjoyed it more because we had more time and space to take some fun pictures of each other and appreciate the art.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Architecture, Anish Kapoor, Cloud Gate, Maggie Denena, Ilexus Williams

It is a stainless-steel structure that was designed to mimic the reflection and movement of liquid mercury. Showing a distorted reflection of the city’s skyline, it provides a cool perspective for photographs.

Anish Kapoor also designed the Cloud Column in Houston, Texas, which the LEAP Ambassadors have visited!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Houston TX, Anish Kapoor. Cloud Column

And, on a trip last summer with the LEAP Center, I was able to get a good picture of his Upside Down, Inside Out design at the Phoenix Art Museum.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Anish Kapoor, Phoenix Art Museum

And the LEAP Ambassadors again had a chance to see Kapoor’s work at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Anish Kapoor, MASS MOCA

But, back to this trip, we also had a chance to enjoy Jaume Plensa’s “Crown Fountain” sculptures…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Millennium Park, Jaume Plensa, Crown Fountains, Ilexus Williams, Maggie Denena

…which are 50 foot tall digitized faces, that, in addition to having water trickle down the front of the sculpture, also occasionally have water spouting of the faces’ mouths.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Millennium Park, Jaume Plensa, Crown Fountains

With the reflecting pool in between the two sculptures, we were able to get some especially nice photographs!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Millennium Park, Jaume Plensa, Crown Fountains, Ilexus Williams, Maggie Denena

It was a really beautiful park…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Millennium Park, Jaume Plensa, Crown Fountains, Ilexus Williams, Maggie Denena

…and a fun way to be introduced to Chicago.

Meandering Through Madison

Following yesterday’s travel day, we were ready for a full day in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin. To that end, we began with brunch, followed by a full day of learning. But this being Wisconsin, where protest is not only tolerated in the city, but actively encouraged, our first site was a number of “handmaids” descending on the capitol…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol, Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood

DLux

For our first full day in Wisconsin, we started our day with brunch at Dlux, which is about half a block from the Wisconsin State Capitol. Being from the hot state of Texas, we jumped at the opportunity to enjoy our food outside without melting in the process. Our food choices included more classic Wisconsin fare…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, DLUX, Ilexus Williams

…such as Cheese Curds…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, DLUX

…the Salmon Burger, the White Bean Burger…

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…and some truly wonderful shakes!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, DLUX

After brunch, the Leapsters headed to view their third Frank Lloyd Wright Structure!

Monona Terrace Tour

After having a quick brunch, the Leapsters toured the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. The Monona Terrace was designed by the architect we have studied throughout our entire trip: Frank Lloyd Wright. Frank Lloyd Wright has designed more than 1,000 structures. However, during his lifetime, he was only able to complete 523 structures. Out of Mr. Wright’s 1,000 designs, the Monona Terrace was one of the structures he was unable to see through to its completion, at least during his lifetime.

In 1938, Frank Lloyd Wright designed a building that would establish a clear relationship between the Wisconsin State Capitol and Lake Monona. Local newspaper articles called it the “dream Civic Center.” His original plan for the design included an auditorium, rail depot, marina, courthouse, and city hall. Mr. Wright proposed his plan to the County Board, but his plan failed to pass.

Mr. Wright went through many obstacles that prevented his plan from coming to fruition. In 1941, the citizens of Madison approved Mr. Wright’s plan for an auditorium. However, World War II halted his plan again. In 1955, after the conclusion of the war, Madison citizens approved a bond referendum that allocated 4 million to create a civic center. The location of the building was selected and Mr. Wright was approved as the architect. In 1957, the project was stalled by the passage of a bill that reduced the height of a building on Monona Lake to 20 feet. In 1959, the bill preventing this project was appealed. However, on April 9, 1959, Frank Lloyd Wright died at the age of 91 in Arizona. From 1966 to 1990, the city of Madison proposed many plans to complete Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision, but all failed. However, in 1992, the city turns Mr. Wright’s civic center idea into a convention center. This plan for the building was approved by voters and funding for the building was secured. Finally, in 1994, after almost 56 years, the construction for Monona Terrace began.

In 1997, 59 years after its initial proposal, Mr. Wright’s vision was realized.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Monona Terrace, Frank Lloyd Wright

The Monona Terrace currently serves as a gathering place for conventions, weddings, banquets, etc.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Monona Terrace, Frank Lloyd Wright

The Monona terrace is the third Frank Lloyd Wright structure that the LEAP Students have viewed. We will not call ourselves experts, but we have picked up on key features that make a Frank Lloyd Wright Structure a Frank Lloyd Wright Structure. The first and most evident is the use of a hue of red Mr. Wright calls Cherokee Red. This color can be found in many places throughout the building such as the walkway leading to the front entrance, the carpet, furniture, etc.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Monona Terrace, Frank Lloyd Wright

Also, Mr. Wright is well known for utilizing what he called organic architecture. He believed in creating structures that compliment its environment. He emphasized the relationship between architecture and nature. His use of organic architecture can be found specifically in his repeated use of halfmoon shapes. Halfmoon shapes were used to create door handles, light fixtures, and chandeliers. The most obvious use of this shape is in the windows, which give a great view of Lake Monona.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Monona Terrace, Frank Lloyd Wright

We also recognized Frank Lloyd Wright’s use of compress and release to help lead you through the building. Frank Lloyd Wright also incorporated domes within the building to pay homage to the Wisconsin Capitol, a motif that is particularly evident in the Guggenheim-like stairwells…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Monona Terrace, Frank Lloyd Wright

Additionally, the LEAP students were excited to see that the Monona Terrace is a LEED certified building.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Monona Terrace, Frank Lloyd Wright

Another interesting fact, in the creation of the Monona Terrace. a Richard Haas mural was covered.The LEAP Students like to think of this as a collaboration between Frank Lloyd Wright and Richard Haas. We took some time to find the mural after our tour.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Richard Haas

Haas created this mural in the 1980s, but it was covered up a little more than a decade later, to make way for a design by Frank Lloyd Wright, leaving only some dimly-seen vestiges of Haas.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Richard Haas

First Unitarian Society of Madison

The First Unitarian Society of Madison was established in 1879, in Madison, Wisconsin.The Unitarian meeting house is a church that practices Unitarian Universalism. This religion places an emphasis on uniting people of different ethnicities, ages, political identities, gender, and spiritualities. The congregation of this church is very diverse and come from different walks of life. However, all Unitarians share 7 core principles that they value that bonds their congregation as one. Unitarians believe that every person has worth, and they accept individuals for who they are. Also, they believe in growing through a personal search for truth, working for justice, and they believe that everything is interconnected.

Speaking of things being connected, Frank Lloyd Wright had a direct relationship to The Unitarian Society of Madison when he was commissioned to build their new church. Frank Lloyd Wright was a member of the Unitarian Society of Madison and his parents were founding members. Because of his direct tie to the Unitarian Society his ideologies were strategically incorporated throughout the structure of the building.

We began our tour on the front side of the structure, which is referred to as the prow. This part of the building is described as if it is “reaching for the Heavens”. Some even believe that this is a symbol for praying hand. However, for Mr. Wright the soaring glass represents “aspiration.” The prow of the meeting house is also a symbol for unity. A traditional church has a steeple, sanctuary, and separate meeting rooms. However, the prow is designed to include the sanctuary, steeple, and other portions of a church under the same roof.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, First Unitarian Society, Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright found meaning in geometric shapes. His use of triangles throughout this structure is a symbol of strength.

Next, we headed to the entrance of the building. We learned that during the construction of the meeting house the congregation took an active role in building the church. The walls of the church are made of dolomite found about 35 miles north of Madison. Members of the Unitarian Society of Madison traveled to this location and hauled the stones to the building site to reduce the cost of construction. These members are known as stone haulers and are well respected in the church.

The meeting house is privileged to have Frank Lloyd Wright’s Stamp of approval. Red ceramic blocks with Mr. Wright’s signature are placed on buildings he is most proud of. (Picture)

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, First Unitarian Society, Frank Lloyd Wright

Next we were led to the foyer, which had Mr. Wright’s signature Cherokee red floors along with double triangle pattern tiling. The foyer also has a low hanging ceiling, which is an example of compression.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, First Unitarian Society, Frank Lloyd Wright

This architecture technique helped pushed us to the next room:The Hearth Room.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, First Unitarian Society, Frank Lloyd Wright

The Hearth Room has a hexagonal dome that is inscribed with the names of Unitarian ministers and transcendentalists that Mr. Wright believed to be influential. The Hearth Room sits at the back of the sanctuary, and it has a compressing feeling due to its low ceiling. However, when you step into the sanctuary you get a feeling of release because of the soaring ceilings.

In the Sanctuary, the pews were constructed to form camaraderie among the members. Instead of all seats facing the altar, Mr. Wright made the pews on both the left and right side face the middle section of pews. The meeting house also gave a beautiful view of the inside structure of the prow.The LEAP students were able to take a moment to experience the calming ambiance and sense of security the sanctuary gave.

Out of the Sanctuary, we were led to the loggia. This part of the structure mimics the triangular shape that is found through the building. The walls are lines with Japanese prints that were given to the church by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Overall, the Unitarian Society of Madison was a beautiful structure, and it is by far the best we have toured on our trip. Up next, the Leap students headed to tour their second state capitol!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, First Unitarian Society, Frank Lloyd Wright

Wisconsin Capitol

Our final (official) stop of the day was the Wisconsin Capitol. This building, completed in 1917 at a cost of more than seven million, is just under 300 feet tall. While this is about 20 feet shorter than the Texas Capitol building–where we both worked this spring–it made up for its relative short stature with its beauty.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol

Of particular beauty, was the interior dome.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol

Unlike the Texas Capitol, the architect devoted as much time and energy on the interior as the exterior. There were rooms with particular motifs, such as the “Gold Room.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol

The Senate and the House of Representatives were both beautiful…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol

…with murals and other decorations that exemplified the state’s history. The Governor’s reception room was also beautiful, with a particularly attractive ceiling….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol

Perhaps the highlight of the capitol tour, however, was the ability to go high into the capitol dome…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol

…and to the observation deck.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol

This was a world of fun, giving us the opportunity to take photos of the surroundings…

…the beautiful exterior detail…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol

…and, of course, ourselves.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol

It was a beautiful day in a beautiful city, and we enjoyed our time here.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Wisconsin Capitol, Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood

The Architecture of the Plains–but not plain architecture!

After a few interesting days at Indiana Dunes National Park, LEAP students set out for Chicago and Madison, with the hopes of making the most of a travel day.

Richard Haas (Homewood, IL)

Ilexus Williams

One of our first stops was in a suburb of Chicago: Homewood, IL. This clean, pleasant little town is home to many of the murals of Richard Haas, well known for his trompe l’oeil style. Trompe l’oeil is a French term that translates to “deceive the eye,” and this art style uses optical illusion to create realistic images. These murals often appear three-dimensional, as your eyes are tricked into falling for the illusion. We were fortunate enough to see five on our drive through town.

The first mural depicted the Homewood movie theater. Upcoming films included classics such Gone With the Wind and Citizen Kane, a film we had studied through our work in the LEAP Center.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Homewood IL, Richard Haas

We saw Haas’s signage across numerous storefronts, real and faux, while also seeing the originators of these murals in the form of “movie credits.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Homewood IL, Richard Haas

Reviewing the work was fun, particularly since our adopted hometown of Huntsville, Texas, has the most external Haas murals of any city in the world.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Homewood IL, Richard Haas

Richard Haas Murals (Chicago, IL)

Ilexus Williams

Once we made it to the Windy City, we realized that it should have been nicknamed the Foggy City instead. A dense layer of fog hung low in the sky, depressingly hiding most of the city’s varied architecture.

To tie our trip from Homewood to Chicago, one of our first stops was to discover another Richard Haas mural – on the side of the LaSalle Towers Apartments. This mural depicts realistic windows that scale the entire side of the building. The painting was so good as to made it hard to recognize that the window was not a part of the building.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago IL, Richard Haas

Sadly, the murals were partially covered by surrounding buildings, which were constructed subsequent to the mural. This is something we’ve seen before (in Boston), and it’s something we would also see in Wisconsin.

After viewing Richard Haas’s mural, LEAPsters went in search of Chicago-esque food.

The Wiener’s Circle (Chicago, IL)

Ilexus Williams

It would not—could not–be a “real” Chicago trip without trying a Chicago-style dog. The Wiener’s Circle is small restaurant in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Chicago dogs are drastically different from what we would consider a “normal” hot dog—those topped with mustard, ketchup, onions, relish, and maybe chili. However, “Chicago Dogs” are much more intricate, topped with yellow mustard, chopped onions, sweet relish, a pickle spear, tomato slices, pickled sport peppers, and sprinkled with celery salt. (This is referred to as “dragged through the garden.”)

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Chicago Dog

Your Chicago Dog can be prepared either steamed or cooked on a charcoal grill – these are known as “char-dogs.” We all ordered the Polish Char Dog, which was loaded with caramelized onions, a pickle spear, and tomatoes. By “we,” I mean Professor Yawn, Stephanie, and me. Maggie ordered a boring “plain dog,” which is basically spam on a bun.

Another interesting facet of the Wiener Circle is that they are not afraid of scaring off customers by posting political speech on their restaurant sign…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Wiener Circle

After devouring lunch, we were a bit early for our next stop, a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Bach House. We stopped to walk off some calories on the Lake Michigan shoreline, which was still so foggy you could barely see the water.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Lake Michigan

The effect was more than a little strange, especially given the birds flocking to the shore.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Lake Michigan

Frank Lloyd Wright Homes

Being in the midwest, we knew we were in Frank Lloyd Wright territory, and that prompted us to visit a couple of his better-known homes in the area.

Our first stop in Chicago was to the Frederick C. Robie house at 5757 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637. This house was completed in 1910 and is the ultimate expression of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous prairie style of architecture. The Robie house went through many hands before it was restored to Mr. Wrights original vision by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Over the years since the house’s creation, Wright himself lobbied on behalf of the house when it was threatened to be demolished in 1941 and again in 1957. Despite the hundreds of structures Mr. Wright designed, the Robie house was recognized as one of the ten most significant structures of the twentieth century by the American Institute of Architects.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright, Robie House

The house features extensive horizontal lines and dramatization, even in the exterior brick masonry.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright, Robie House

Unfortunately, we were unable to tour the inside of the Robie house and get a feel for Mr. Wrights notable “compression and expansion” techniques.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright, Robie House

However, we were able to schedule a tour for the Emil Bach house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, located at 7415 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, Illinois, 60626. The Emil Bach house was built in 1915, after Wright returned from Europe. This house is a continuation of his prairie style home with the added element of Japanese influence that he later became popular for adding into his architecture.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright, Emil Bach House

The roofline and ceiling features were examples of that Japanese expression and he coupled that with a series of geometric cubes visible throughout the home.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright, Emil Bach House

The tour was enjoyable…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright, Emil Bach House

…and we were able to take photographs inside the home…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright, Emil Bach House

…which is rare in a FLW home. The interior was filled with typical Wright touches, such as specially designed lamps, furniture, and many levels in the home, making it something of a labyrinthine tour.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright, Emil Bach House

With the closing of our tour…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright, Emil Bach House

…our next goal was to exit Chicago before the rush-hour traffic got underway.

Madison, WI

Ilexus Williams

After arriving in Madison, Wisconsin, the LEAP Students took a stroll around downtown while waiting for a table at “The Old Fashioned”. On our impromptu excursion of downtown, the LEAP students who just recently finished internships in Austin ran into something that is all too familiar: protestors. The Wisconsin State Capitol is currently in session, so their capitol grounds is a prime location for citizens to advocate and rally for issues that they feel most passionate about.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Capitol, Pride Month, Protestors

…in this case, the protesters were addressing “Pride Month,” expressing their views with signs, speeches, and rhyming chants (e.g., “We’re here, we’re queer / we’re fabulous, don’t mess with us”).

We also took a visit to the Monona Terrace, which is a Frank Lloyd Wright structure that we will tour later in our Wisconsin visit. The top of this structure had a beautiful view of the Wisconsin State Capitol.

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Looking the other way, we also had a view of the beautiful lake.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Monona Terrace, Lake Menona

Following views of our latest FLW stop, we continued our tour of downtown Madison, and we were surprised at how quickly we accumulated power, eventually becoming the “Monarch of Madison.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Monarch of Madison

Dinner

Finally, we had dinner at “The Old Fashioned”. This local restaurant strives to give its native Wisconsin customers a feeling of nostalgia by incorporating everything that makes Wisconsin…Wisconsin, at least as far as food is concerned. “The Old Fashioned” emphasize their meats, cheeses and produce, and local staples.

With Wisconsin being the Dairy state, we ordered the Wisconsin Beer-Battered Cheese Curds.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Old Fashioned

We also ordered the Lazy Susan Platter.This platter was filled with Miesfeld Market Holiday Garlic Salami, Bavaria’s Braunschweiger, smoked lake trout, creamed herring, Dusseldorf mustard, dill pickles, deviled eggs, Widmer’s Brick spread, Vern’s Sharp Cheddar spread with a side of crackers & rye bread.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Old Fashioned

The Wurst Platter, which was filled with Bavaria Sausage, Nürnberger bratwurst, knackwurst and weisswurst with grilled bread, sauerkraut, local dilly beans and mustards.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Old Fashioned

And Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup garnished with popcorn.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Old Fashioned

We learned that popcorn happens to be a staple in Wisconsin and is used in many of their dishes. And, of yeah, Maggie also got a chicken sandwich.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Old Fashioned

Overall the food was amazing. We ate way too much food, and we nearly needed someone to roll us back to our hotel. Without a doubt, it was a great day in the badger state!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Madison WI, Monona Terrace, Lake Menona

Indiana Sand Dunes: A showcase in diversity

Chellberg Farm

Maggie Denena

This morning we were up early hoping to catch a good sunrise along the beach, but the weather and foggy conditions did not permit a good sunrise shot. So…we waited until later in the morning and met Mark Burns at the Chellberg Farm around 7:30am.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Chellberg Farms, Mark Burns

The path to the farmhouse was beautiful, taking us through a heavily forested–and very green–area.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Chellberg Farm

We began the day extensively taking photographs of the trees, in the hope of capturing some of the way the light bounced around this wooded area.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Chellberg Farm

Ultimately, the path led us to the Chellberg farmhouse, which was built in 1885 by a family of Swedish immigrants who lived and worked there for three generations.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Chellberg Farm

On the property there is still an active barn and chicken coop, where we saw workers feed the animals while we were there.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Chellberg Farm

After further investigation, I learned that Anders and Johanna Chellberg along with their youngest son, Charles, moved from Sweden in 1863. In 1869 they purchased 40 acres and built a small wood-framed house that burned down in 1884, leading to the brick home found on the property today.

While talking to Mark about the kind of picture he was looking for, I learned a lot about adding depth to a photograph and finding a composition that creates both light and depth of field.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Chellberg Farm

We experimented with new lenses and filters around the property.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Chellberg Farm

Ilexus worked on continuing to familiarize herself with the camera while I was focused on finding ways to employ our newest telephoto lens.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Chellberg Farm

Our next stop was Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, where we stopped to get some photographs of the “lighthouse.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Portage Boardwalk

The river walk and pavilion are also now a part of the Indiana Dunes National Park. An interesting fact about the pavilion is that is a Gold LEED certified building. LEED, or Leadership, Energy and Environmental Design is a program that certifies buildings that are designed and developed to minimize their environmental impact.

We traversed the breakwater where we were able to watch a fisherman reel in a big fish, his companion netting it in the breakwater’s edge.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Portage Boardwalk

We walked past a large number of fishermen who had already had a successful day on the water and had their catches on a stringer. At the end of the 900-foot breakwater is a good view of a lighthouse boats use to avoid the rocks at the end of the jetty that also marks the entrance to Burns Waterway.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Portage Boardwalk

We were able to photograph Mark in a public area where he had to work around others to get his shot of the lighthouse, a much-different setting than the remote National Park locations where we have previously found ourselves working with and learning from Mark.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Portage Boardwalk

Sometimes, though, this involved some near-gymnastics to get the desired shot.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Portage Boardwalk

3 Dune Challenge

Ilexus Williams

On day two of our Indiana Adventure, LEAP set out to conquer the 3 Dune Challenge. This trail consists of 1.5 miles of the three most difficult sand dunes at the Indiana Dunes State Park, that combine to reach a vertical climb of 552 feet. Undeterred by the steep dunes, we were ready to take on the 3 Dune Challenge, so we set off on our climb.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, 3 Dune Challenge

We quickly realized that this challenge upheld its reputation. Despite the difficulty, though, we persevered, and with much heavy panting, we completed our first dune: Mt. Jackson.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, 3 Dune Challenge

One dune down, two more to go!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, 3 Dune Challenge

Next, we made it to the Mt. Holden marker, at an elevation of 184 feet.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, 3 Dune Challenge

Even though we struggled to climb this dune, the view from the top was breathtaking. Hiking Mt. Holden to be met by a scenic view of the lake was well worth the climb.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, 3 Dune Challenge

Now for our last and final dune. We took a few pit stops along the way.

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We set off and up our last dune. Mt. Tom was the highest of the three dunes with an elevation of 192 feet. We did not accept defeat – we successfully completed the 3 Dune Challenge! Feeling accomplished we headed to the Great Marsh Trail.

Great Marsh Trail

Next, the LEAPsters set out for what we thought would be a less strenuous trail. The Great Marsh Trail gave us a different perspective of the Indiana Dunes National Park.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, 3 Dune Challenge

This trail did not consist of steep sand dunes, but rather was composed of swamps, marshes, and other native plants. The Great Marsh Trail also happens to be the largest interdunal wetland in the Lake Michigan watershed.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, 3 Dune Challenge

However, we tackled new challenges with this trail. The marshes that lined both sides of the trail soon spilled over into the walking path, making it nearly impossible to walk without standing in puddles of mud. With teamwork (and occasional logs) along the way we managed to make it past the swampy path.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Great Marsh Trail

This trail led to an observation deck, where we waited to spot wildlife native to the area. The views of the marsh were beautiful.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Great Marsh Trail

Eventually, we spotted two sandhill cranes and other native animals.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, Great Marsh Trail

West Beach

We ended our last day in Indiana back at West Beach, in the new National Park portion of the shoreline. And we made it just in time to watch the sunset! It was a truly beautiful sight, watching the sun fade behind Lake Michigan, with occasional glimpses of Chicago’s silhouette hiding behind the fog.

We also attempted to take perfect sunset photos.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, West Beach

It was mesmerizing to watch the sky change from blue hues to oranges and pinks.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, West Beach

Texas is home and will always have a special place in our hearts, but it is truly amazing to experience other parts of the world.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, West Beach

Thank you for treating us well, Indiana!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Dunes National Park, West Beach

A Day in Indiana–Indiana Sand Dunes and Indianapolis, IN

Engines Starting in Indianapolis

Ilexus Williams

Moments after touching down in Indiana, the L.E.A.P students did not hesitate to start exploring the city of Indianapolis. To commence our Indianapolis experience, we headed to Indianapolis City Market, which is located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. Indianapolis City Market was established in 1866, and has served as a shopping center and a place of gathering for the city’s residents.

Indianapolis City Market is filled with approximately 32 different merchant shops.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, City Market

Among the shops was an array of food options. The market had options that stemmed from Middle Eastern Cuisine, Mexican food, Barbecue, and any others. Out of all of our options, we decided on “3 Days in Paris.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, City Market, 3 Days in Paris

No, we did not end up spending three days in the city of love, but our palates were in love! This vendor specializes in both sweet and savory crepes. We ordered the Rene, which was filled with blueberries, lemon zest, and honey. To continue our French theme, we ordered Creme Brulee from Circle City Sweets….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, City Market

…and some macarons….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, City Market

After settling our sweet tooth, we made a quick stop by the Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a magnificent sculpture in downtown Indianapolis. Built in 1901, the sculpture is 284 feet tall and possesses an amazing amount of detail, a product of sculptor Bruno Schmitz’s creativity.

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We also took advantage of the photogenic nature of the place for a couple of photos of us.

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Indiana State Capitol

Maggie Denena

After our lunch-time activities, LEAP Students took a tour of the Indiana State Capitol. One of the first things we noticed as we walked into the Capitol was the stunning stained-glass ceiling art in the rotunda of the Capitol building.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, Indiana State Capitol

I was taken aback by the beauty of the glass and it was easily one of my favorite things about the building. Our first stop along the tour was a historical section of the building, where we learned about the history of the state Capitol.

When Indiana first became a state in 1816, the Capital was in Corydon, in the south of Indiana. After a few years, it became clear that the state capital needed to be relocated to a more convenient location for all the state’s residents, and the capital was moved to Indianapolis in 1824. Construction for the new state capitol building began in 1831 and was hastily completed in 1835. By 1867, the structure was failing and becoming decrepit, the ceiling to the House of Representatives collapsed and, after much debate, the structure was torn down in 1877. With a 2-million-dollar budget, construction began on the current state Capitol in 1878 and was completed in 1888. For maybe the first time in history, this government project came in under budget at 1.98 million dollars!

After the quick history lesson, we headed to the Supreme Court Chambers. Another favorite room for me, the Court’s Chambers were designed symbolically: to represent “equal justice under the law,” the room was designed as a cube–equal in height, width, and depth. Another interesting piece to the room was more beautiful stained-glass windows. Whether or not this was intentional, the floral pattern for the stain glass resembled owls, which could be another symbolism in the wisdom of our justice system. Interestingly, the Supreme Court Chief Justice is Loretta Rush (whom we briefly passed in the hall), and she is the second female to serve on the Indiana Supreme Court. For two aspiring attorneys, this was a fun room to visit!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, Indiana State Capitol, Ilexus Williams, Maggie Denena, Supreme Court Chambers

Our next stop was the House of Representatives where 100 state representatives come together annually. Brian Bosma is the current Speaker of the House. There are 100 members of this chamber, representing Indiana’s almost 7 million residents and 92 counties.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, Indiana State Capitol, House of Representatives

Unlike the Texas House of Representatives, the floor here is divided by party with Republicans on the right side of the dais and Democrats on the left. Because of the heavy majority, the Republican seats spill over to the back half of the left.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, Indiana State Capitol, House of Representatives, Ilexus Williams, Maggie Denena

Nearing the end of our tour, the next stop was to the Senate Chambers, where 50 senators gather each year. Republicans have the overwhelming majority with 40 party members. This was a very small chamber and resembled a large corporate board room more than a typical legislative chamber. The current Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate is Suzanne Crouch.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, Indiana State Capitol, Indiana Senate

Our final destination before the completion of the tour was to Governor Eric Holcomb’s office.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, Indiana State Capitol, Governor's Office

He is the successor to Vice President Mike Pence, and he is the tallest man to take the office at 6’ 5”. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his office is his beautiful conference desk, which features a detailed wooden inlay of the state’s counties and the state seal and was made by inmates.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, Indiana State Capitol, Governor's Office

A former basketball player, Governor Holcomb has ensured that basketball memorabilia was also included in his office.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, Indiana State Capitol, Governor's Office

And on his desk was a quote used by Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indianapolis, Indiana State Capitol, Governor's Office

Overall, the tour of the Indiana State Capitol was very interesting. After working in the “TX Lege” for the 86^th Legislative Session, Ilexus and I enjoyed learning about the differences between the Texas and Indiana legislatures. And, although we may be biased, we both felt that, while the Indiana State Capitol building was beautiful, we still preferred the Texas Capitol, with its towering dome, pink granite, underground extension–and, of course, its location!

Indiana Dunes-Day 1

Ilexus Williams

After exploring the Indiana State Capitol, the LEAP Students embarked on another National park adventure: Indiana Dunes National Park. The Indiana Dunes National Park claims 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The entire park spans 15,000 acres, and it has a total of 51 miles of hiking trails, some of them on wooden stairs–a necessity because of the difficulty of climbing through sand!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park

For Maggie, this was the 11th national park she has traveled to in the span of twelve months! However, for Ilexus, visiting a National park is a completely new experience. But irrespective of backgrounds, everyone was excited to begin the steep climb.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park

The first trail we tackled was the Dune Succession Trail. This trail consisted of an endless amount of stairs and sand. The Dune Succession trail was filled with many species of bird, wild flowers, and a forest of trees.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park

During this Trail, we were joined by Mark Burns, with whom we have had the pleasure of working for the past 3-4 years.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, Mark Burns

Before this trip, Burns had photographed every National Park in the US–except for the Indiana Sand Dunes. Now, he is one of only a handful of people to have photographed all 61 National Parks, and, as far as we know, the only person to photograph them all in black and white.

We walked about two miles of the trail, which culminated at “West Beach…” where we photographed each other…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, West Beach, Ilexus Williams

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, West Beach, Maggie Denena, Mark Burns

..and posed for Mark Burns!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, West Beach

Of course, we still had to get back to the car. But we again took advantage of the scenery to get some photographs…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, Maggie Denena, Ilexus Williams

…learn from Mark…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, Mark Burns

…contemplate nature…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, Maggie Denena

…and generally enjoy ourselves as we wound down our first day in Indiana.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, Maggie Denena, Ilexus Williams

“Grand Canyon Photographs”: An Evening With Mark Burns

American photographer Mark Burns is no stranger to National Parks. From 2011-2016, he traveled to all 59 Parks in the country (there are now 61) and photographed them as part of his “National Parks Photography Project.” At the end of that project, he decided to embark upon a second project: capturing the diversity, beauty and wonder of the Grand Canyon in photographs for its 100th Anniversary as a National Park.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Walker Education Center, Mark Burns, Photography, Ansel Adams

That exhibit, “Grand Canyon Photographs: 1919-Celebrating the Centennial-2019,” opened this week at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum’s Walker Education Center. A collaboration between the SHMM and the LEAP Center, the exhibit featured more than 30 photographs by Mark Burns–as well as three original Ansel Adams’ photographs loaned by the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Walker Education Center, Mark Burns, Photography, Ansel Adams

This event was particularly special for the LEAP Ambassadors, who have worked with Burns for the past three years. Worked “with” might be overdoing it a bit. We’ve been privileged to accompany him on several trips to National Parks, while also documenting some of his projects. So it was particularly nice to take part in this opening exhibit, which we helped sponsor.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Walker Education Center, Mark Burns, Photography, Ansel Adams

With opening remarks from Casey Roon, the Exhibit Curator….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Walker Education Center, Mark Burns, Photography, Ansel Adams

…and from the man of the hour, Mark Burns….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Walker Education Center, Mark Burns, Photography, Ansel Adams

…who discussed the stories behind some of the photographs; the challenges associated with the weather, the crowds, and the travel….

…and then he encouraged guests to explore the gallery-including the Adams’ photos–and find their favorite.

As it turned out, there were almost as many favorites as there were guests in attendance….

Many guests were able to interact with Mark Burns and ask him about his work.

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Speaking of guests, part of the evening’s fun was interacting with those on hand. It’s always great to spend time with Mac Woodward, the Museum Director; and we also had a chance to spend time with the Jim and Nancy Gaertner; Curtis and Lydia Montgomery; Scott and Mary McCarley; Derek Birdsall; Megan Buro; Ryan Brim; Megan Arnold; Anne Jamarik; Rosa Alvarez; Maggie Denena–even Maggie’s parents were there! Also, it was Victoria’s first official event as a LEAP Alum.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Walker Education Center, Mark Burns, Photography, Ansel Adams

It’s always fun to spend time with friends, especially when surrounded by beautiful art. We encourage others to bring their friends and see the beautiful photographs before the exhibit moves to the Pearl Fincher Art Museum on September 5.

LEAP Promotes “Grand Canyon Photographs” Exhibit

The LEAP Center has been productively working with Mark Burns for three years, and today we continued that partnership by promoting Burns’s “Grand Canyon Photographs: 1919-Celebrating the Centennial-2019” exhibit on KSAM and KHVL.

The exhibit is a partnership between the LEAP Center and the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, and the opening reception will be held in the Museum’s Walker Education Center gallery.

The on-air promotion began on KSAM’s Morning Show with Steve Rixx, and Mike Yawn, Mark Burns, and Maggie Denena shared their perspective on the exhibit.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Mark Burns, Photography, Grand Canyon, Maggie Denena, KSAM, KHVL

The promotion continued when Larry Crippen had a chance to ask Mark Burns a few questions about the exhibit.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Mark Burns, Photography, Grand Canyon, Maggie Denena, KSAM, KHVL

And it continued with Burns, Yawn, and Denena again sharing perspectives on KHVL with Bryan Reeder. While Maggie hasn’t been part of the entire three-year project, she has been as active as any other student in the project. She was hired with funds provided by the EURECA Center (a FAST Grant) and has been able to travel to ten different National Parks, learning about photography and the environment, and exploring a large portion of the United States.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Mark Burns, Photography, Grand Canyon, Maggie Denena, KSAM, KHVL

“This project allowed me to visit my first National Park, which was the Grand Canyon. That was just a year ago, and now I’ve had the chance to visit my first ten National Parks. It’s been very exciting, I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to see Mark’s photograph process, from the scouting, to the set-up, to finding just the right weather conditions. It’s rare to find a fun and educational project, but this has definitely been just such a project.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Mark Burns, Photography, Grand Canyon, Maggie Denena, KSAM, KHVL

The “Grand Canyon Photographs” exhibit opened on Tuesday, June 11, but the opening reception is tonight at the Walker Education Center from 5:30-7:00pm, with remarks at 6:00pm.

Sam Houston Austin Interns Recognized on the House Floor

Every two years, the LEAP Center at SHSU places 6-12 interns in the Texas Legislature. This year, 11 SHSU students were placed in offices:

Brittany Gibson: Texas Association of Counties
Jezel Luna: Rep. Rick Miller (R)
Maggie Denena: Rep. Will Metcalf (R)
Mackenzie Smith: Rep. Four Price (R)
Anne Jamarik: Rep. Trent Ashby (R)
Ilexus Williams: Rep. Mando Martinez (D)
Karen Tinajero: Rep. Mando Martinez (D)
Jordan Davis: Rep. Chris Turner (D)
Yvana Kepnga: Rep. Eric Johnson (D)
Peyton Reed: Rep. Poncho Nevarez (D)
Monica Dike: Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D)

The students learned much this session, with many of them carrying multiple bills through to the Governor’s signature. On Friday, with help from intern Maggie Denena…

SHAIP, Maggie Denena, SHSU, Sam Houston State University, LEAP Center

…Representative Will Metcalf…

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, SHAIP, Sam Houston Austin Internship Program, Texas Legislature, Texas House of Representatives, Rep Will Metcalf

…Rep. Chris Turner, Rep. Four Price, Rep. Trent Ashby, and Rep. Jim Murphy recognized the interns from the House floor.

The recognition capped a successful session….

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, SHAIP, Sam Houston Austin Internship Program, Texas Legislature, Texas House of Representatives, Rep Will Metcalf

…that some 20 more SHSU students and alumni working in the legislature, probably a record number. Additional students worked in the executive branches near the Capitol. Intriguingly, this cohort are all 32 or younger, suggesting that there will be quite a future presence for SHSU in the executive and legislative branches of government.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, SHAIP, Sam Houston Austin Internship Program, Texas Legislature, Texas House of Representatives, Rep Will Metcalf

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