Lunch with Governor Abbott

Yvette Mendoza

October 12, 2021

On October 12th, the LEAP Ambassadors had the opportunity to attend a luncheon with Governor Greg Abbott. This wonderful lunch was hosted at a soon-to-be-opened restaurant in Huntsville, La Misión Grill and Cantina. As this was a new type of event for us, we didn’t know what to expect, but we were filled with excitement to be able to help the staff set up and have the chance to hear the Governor speak to the citizens of Huntsville.

Setting the mood all throughout the Mexican restaurant were elegant patriotic decorations. The centerpieces were decorated with a beautiful floral arrangement of hydrangeas, roses, and Texas flags, as well as homemade sugar cookies in the shape of the Governor’s Mansion.

Although Jessica and I were admiring the gorgeous set up, we were also running around helping ensure each table had the proper name tents. We were then assigned to the role of giving out name tags to the arriving guests. We were excited to see some lovely familiar faces: Linda McKenzie, Mayor Andy Brauninger, Mr. Alvin Martin, former council member Tish Humphrey, and many more community leaders of Huntsville.

As everyone began to take their seats, the moment we had all been waiting for finally came when Governor Greg Abbott appeared in the middle of the restaurant. He spoke on the topics of currents issues including the crisis on the Texas border, our economy, and his views on the current political scene.

He also mentioned Walker County’s strong voter turnout in the last election.

While Governor Abbott spoke, we were being served by the kind staff at La Misión. We had a plate that had Mexican style cream of corn, rice, cheese enchiladas, and a chicken mini taco garnished with salsa verde. It was nice enough to be in the same room as the governor, but a particular treat to also have some gourmet, flavor-packed Mexican cuisine.

Following his speech, Governor Abbott’s opened the floor for questions and we were able to ask questions, hear his thoughts on a wider variety of issues, and learn about what others thought as well.

Following Governor Abbott’s talk, we were able to hear from Senator Charles Schwertner, who spent much time discussing the special session and redistricting.

The day was a great not only to experience new things, but also to become informed for the upcoming election!

LEAP LEADs Through Education

October 18, 2021

Jacqueline Galo

LEAP LEADS enjoyed another informative evening at their fourth meeting of the fall semester. We had discussions and presentations which covered the topics of public and higher education–with two guest speakers who know their fields–not to mention a surprise visitor.

The evening began with a surprise visit by US Congressman Kevin Brady. He was there for a meeting but decided to make a quick stop and meet LEAP LEAD members and the LEAP Ambassadors.

We started our meeting with updates and reminders before we were introduced to our first guest, Ken Holland, (a Huntsville ISD school board member).

He kicked off the meeting about how the school structure system works and what his role is as a school board member. This led to an in-depth (for us!) discussion of what school boards do, their responsibilities, and approaches. Afterwards, we had a Q&A discussion in which fellow LEAP LEAD members asked questions such as how public schools get their funding, how standardized testing has changed education, and how COVID affected the attendance percentage and what was done about the situation. 

As part of our continued education on education, we had dinner and enjoyed local fare from Sam’s Table. Dishes ranged from hamburgers, paninis, Casado, to Alfredo pasta. We enjoyed the good portions, and Sam’s Table was generous to give each of the LEAP LEADs member a card with a lollipop and a 10% discount for the next purchase.

After dinner, Ken Holland closed his speech with his intriguing adopting experience and how that helped shape him to who he is today.

We then dove into a different topic: higher ed. Our second guest was SHSU’s Interim Vice Provost, Dr. Anne Gaillard. 

Dr. Gaillard spoke on what her day-to-day role is as an Interim Vice Provost and was followed by an organized Q&A that LEAP LEAD members had prepared. She discussed her educational background such as her Biology PHD, her challenges, and her most rewarding feeling on the job as well as how she manages to balance her personal life with such a role. The members were surprised when learning how her lab experience has helped her with her current role as administration. She ended her speech and brought us a gift, which was a Sam Houston medallion of Austin Hall.

Thank you both, Ken Holland, and Dr. Anne Gaillard, for sharing your experiences and challenges and for providing insight on public and higher education. LEAP LEAD members were very satisfied after a memorable night.

Exploring the Unpleasant: Human Trafficking in Houston

October 13, 2021, Saara Maknojia  

This week the LEAP ambassadors, LEAP students, and Pre-Law Cohort members took a trip to downtown Houston at the Houston Community College of Spring Branch for a Human Trafficking Panel event, hosted by the World Affairs Council. The event included Chris Graves, the Associate Director of the Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking; Dennis Mark, who is the Task Force Coordinator for the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance for the Houston Police Department; and Sergeant Robert Medel, who serves in the Houston Police Department in the Vice Human Trafficking Unit. The attendees for the Human Trafficking event included Heather Barodi, Yvette Mendoza, Morgan Robertson, Erin Juarez, Audrey Hightower, and Saara Maknojia. 

As we entered the corridor to the Houston Community College we were greeted by the wonderful staff from The World Affairs Council, and we soon found seats near the speakers.

After introductions from Administrators from HCC and Ronan O’Malley and Jahan Jafarpour…

…Tatiana Ulkist, Program Coordinator for WAC, began the informative discussion about Human Trafficking.

Throughout the discussions, I was interested in the concepts of “attachment” that a trafficked person felt towards their trafficker, a concept that Sergeant Robert Medel elaborated on. Chris Graves offered insight into how he and his team work with trafficked individuals to provide resources to overcome their traumas. Dennis Mark included the behavioral changes a victim may undergo and signs to look for if you believe an individual is being trafficked.  

Near the end, the ground was open for questions. Yvette asked the panelists whether the victims of human trafficking ever experience Stockholm Syndrome. All three panelists said that it is very common.

Audrey also asked a question for the speakers concerning the limited resources that we have as of right now, and what the uses of manpower could do to change or add on to defeating more human trafficking from taking place.  

Eventually, the panel discussion came to an end, but Chris Graves, Sergeant Robert Medel, and Dennis Mark were kind enough to spend some personal time with the SHSU students. In the short time we had with them, the speakers answered any remaining questions we had and made efforts to know each and every one of us better.  

We were so thankful to be able to take some pictures with the speakers! 

Chris, Dennis, and Sergeant Robert were very compassionate and knowledgeable in the Human Trafficking Task Force. My favorite part of this event included getting to learn new concepts of a victim and trafficker relationship, the changes a victim may undergo, and the signs we were taught by the panelist to search for in possible victims.  

Discussing Human Trafficking Over Dinner

Erin Juarez

After enjoying the Human Trafficking event, hosted by WAC, we walked across the parking lot to a Greek restaurant, called  Niko Niko’s Greek & American Cafe.

Everyone was so excited to have Greek food, but even more excited to have dinner together. As we walked in, the cashiers greeted us so nicely and handed us the menus. They also told us about their special plate of the day. There were so many choices on the menu, it seemed almost impossible to decide. I was so excited to have Greek food, it has been over two years since I last had it. I was excited to see my food make its way to the table.

The menu had many options: Salads, Sandwiches, Sides, Burgers, Plates, Soups and Starters.

We took a closer look to see what appealed most to us. For starters we got appetizers that ranged from Hummus with their famous chips, cheese sticks, and calamari.

We were impressed by how good the appetizers were and had fun deciding which hummus was our favorite. I was already full, but I knew I had to make room for more! Choices ranged from the Gyro Plate, Gyro Sandwich, Greek Salad, to The Hercules Plate.

It was delicious to say the least. I was very content with my choice and so was everyone else. I, personally, will be coming back to Niko Niko’s Greek & American Café. Their service and their food were great.

By the time we finished our food, the restaurant was closing the place down. That did not stop us from ordering desserts, though. Ms. Stephanie and Morgan chose the desserts–and they did an excellent job. They came back with three different cakes: Black Forest, Walnut Cake, and Kasetina. Because it was close to closing hour, we enjoyed them in the car.

Overall, the night went well, and our stomachs were content. I remembered how good Greek food is, and everyone was satisfied with their meal order. Whenever I am back in that area of Houston I know where I am eating!

SHMM (aka Sam Houston Republic of Texas Presidential Library)

The Sam Houston Memorial Museum has always been a special place, and that is one reason why the LEAP Ambassadors enjoy volunteering there. Not only does it help educate citizens on the life and times of Texas’s greatest hero, but it also offers wonderful hands-on demonstrations, intriguing art exhibits, and beautiful grounds, highlighted by the ever-popular duck pond. But now it has even more to offer: today marked the official opening of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum as an the official Sam Houston Republic of Texas Presidential Library.

Our job was to greet and direct people, and it’s a role we greatly enjoyed. We saw County Commissioners, former Mayors, former Regents, the University President (and a former President), SHSU Deans and Vice Presidents, members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, descendants of Sam Houston, and many other community and University leaders.

Members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe with Houston’s Descendants (and a little Astros Pride!)

Volunteering is as educational as it is fulfilling.

Emcee of today’s event was the Museum’s former director, Mac Woodward.

Throughout the event, he highlighted important information, described the timeline for the evolution of the Museum as a Republic of Texas Presidential Library, and introduced key speakers, of which there were many!

First up was President White who, as Woodward noted, was probably the only person who has been the President of two Universities named for Tennessee Governors (Austin Peay in Tennessee and, of course, SHSU). President White’s comments were short, sweet, and eloquent, reminding us Sam Houston’s example to today’s leaders and today’s students.

James Haley, author of the definitive work on Sam Houston, also spoke and delivered lively and entertaining comments about the Texas leader.

Most important, he spoke to why Sam Houston is historically important and relevant to today’s world and, in fact, the future.

Haley was humorous and insightful, offering a glimpse into why his books are also intriguing and educational.

Curator of Education, Mikey Sproat, discussed the various manners in which the Library would highlight these collections, noting that a large emphasis would be on digital availability, providing world-wide access to the Library’s holdings.

Closing out the speaking portion of the event was Derrick Birdsall, newly appointed as the Museum’s Director.

Birdsall was brief, highlighting Houston’s status as a hero–not as a perfect man, but a hero nonetheless–and encouraging all guests and visitors to enjoy the Museum and its multi-faceted offerings.

Being an Informed Voter in Huntsville, Texas

Morgan Robertson

Local elections are fast approaching, and what better way is there to know who is running and what they stand for than to meet the candidates? This week at the Texas Prison Museum the Republican Party of Walker County and the Walker County Republican Women sponsored a non-partisan meet and greet with a few of the candidates who are running. Almost a hundred people attended!

Yvette and I volunteered by helping people sign in and ensuring they had a copy of the night’s agenda. After a semester-plus in LEAP, we are beginning to become more informed and recognize various community leaders! It’s important, too, to note that these were non-partisan positions. In Texas, elections for city positions, school board positions, and hospital district positions are all non-partisan. For many, just knowing this is part of the voter education process, and at least by design, allows voters to set aside their party preferences and vote for the person who has the best policy ideas and record of commitment and accomplishment.

Linda McKenzie directed candidates where to sit and how they would give their speeches. Each candidate was allotted 4 minutes to speak .

Blake Irving (councilmember from Ward 3) started the speeches off by explaining his vision and goals he wishes to achieve if he is to be elected mayor. Irving’s incumbent opponent, Mayor Andy Brauninger, spoke on his time as mayor, how the city has grown, and his vision for the community.

Trevor Thorn and Deloris Massey are running for Council in Ward 3, and they discussed their ideas for representing that Ward and for the City.

Candidates Jon Strong and Yvette McMurry are running for the Ward 4 seat; however, McMurry was feeling unwell and was unable to attend. During Strong’s speech he talked about his family business and how he wishes to give back to the city.

On a more lighthearted note, unopposed Russell Humphrey joked that his wife, Tish Humphrey (who previously held the Ward 2 seat), coerced him into running this term. He then went on to explain the importance of serving and giving back to one’s city.

We were also able to hear from Hospital Board candidates Lane Aiena and Joe Sapp (the latter is an incumbent), as well as New Waverly ISD candidate Steven Gregory.

In all, the events provided much information to us and, we hope, to the community at large–in doing so, they allow us to move beyond the name on a yard sign and vote in an informed manner.

Once all the speeches were made, we spent the remaining time socializing and getting to know members of our community. Yvette and I even ran into a former LEAP Ambassador, Brian Aldaco, who now works in Congressman Kevin Brady’s office. Getting to meet all the candidates gave us a closer touch of Huntsville.

Tailgating with CHSS!

CHSS Tailgating

Jessica Cuevas

This past weekend, the LEAP Ambassadors and Erin Juarez showed their Bearkat spirit by volunteering at the tailgate for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Tent with Mrs. Deanna Briones, CHSS Community Relations Coordinator. During the tailgate we handed out snacks and free t-shirts from the College, while also enjoying our time with students, alumni, and football fans!

Although we arrived an hour early, there were football fans (and swag fans) there even earlier. We held them off until the official tailgating kick-off time, however, fearing that we would run out of items (especially the ever-popular t-shirts) if we opened too early.

Once it was noon, there were hundreds of students with their families–it was family weekend–wandering around, going from tent to tent to snag up goodies.

When they saw that we were handing out t-shirts, people quickly lined up to get their shirts before we ran out. They came in big waves, and it was chaotic. Meanwhile, at our second tent, there was much less commotion. Apparently, not everyone is as excited about free snacks, especially since almost every tent gave away free snacks.

After an hour, we had run out of all sizes in shirts except for a few size smalls, but we soon handed them out to kids and other students who wanted one. The snacks consisted of chips, candy, and granola bars.

Mrs. Briones, encouraged us to walk around and see the tailgating action when there wasn’t a big wave of people. And, of course, that meant we could also collect some goodies for ourselves. There were so many options that we all had a little bit of everything, pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs, and more. We also got a look at all the spirit festivities of the day.

Yvette was also interviewed by students claiming to be affiliated with a radio station, or perhaps a podcast, it wasn’t entirely clear. Perhaps it was just a curious student, interested in others’ opinions. Yvette predicted a BearKat victory.

As it was nearing game time, the tailgate came to an end with a lively presentation from the marching band, cheerleaders, twirlers, and the orange pride dance team.

By the end of our tailgating day, we were encouraging people to take as much of the snacks as they wanted, and a few people obliged!

We were happy to see the snacks go to a good home, happy that people had fun, and happy to volunteer for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences–which has provided us with a great education and many opportunities.

We would like to thank Mrs. Deanna Briones for giving us the opportunity to help CHSS. And to end such an amazing day, the Bearkats played hard against Lamar’s Cardinals and won 41-7!

“How to get into Law School,” with UT Law

For our first official meeting of the semester, we welcomed all the new and returning members, it was a very informational, yet fun meeting. Heather Barodi, President of the PLS made an introduction by voting on the new officers to be approved as well as the update of the signature card. She introduced the new officers, discussed orglink, upcoming meetings and upcoming activities like the Kat Safety Bash, Old Town Theatre Cleanup/Pizza Party/ showing of “My Cousin Vinny” and the Scare on the Square.

Next, she introduced our guest speaker for the evening, Dave Farnum, the Assistant Director of Recruitment at the University of Texas Law. Farnum is from Rhode Island and moved here for his career at UT. He is immensely proud of his school and even more proud to be a Longhorn. He visited our organization to give us insight on how to get into UT’s prestigious law school, and for the most part, how to get into any law school. It was definitely worth listening to.

After he described the school as the “Top Law School in Texas,” he went on to discuss employment after attending the school. Seventy-five percent of students that graduate from the law program choose to work in Texas after they complete school. Twenty-five percent of students that graduate leave Texas , usually going to New York, Washington D.C or California.

Some unique facts he shared about UT:  

Bar Passage Rates in Texas were at 91%, while the state average is only about 75%.

There is a 10:1 professor to student ratio, with 201 courses offered, suggesting they have plenty of options for students . They have an alumni-mentor program that is hand-selected to match uniquely to the student.

Lastly, UT Law offers many experiential learning opportunities. Examples of this included working with immigrants, indigent suspects, and assistance with the Innocent Project.

Some quick facts are that his year’s class had a median score of 169 on the LSAT, a median GPA of 3.80, and more women than men (for the first time ever!).

Next, he discussed the key factors in the admission process: the LSAT, GPA, personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation.

Consistent with a philosophy that emphasizes admitting “humans, not robots,” UT tries to delve deep into the applicants’ backgrounds. Indeed, they will accept up to a three-page resume, and Farnum encouraged us to “make use of that space.” Farnum further recommended to freshmen and sophomores to (1) get GPAs as high as possible, (2) make connections with professors, (3) and to stay out of trouble.

For juniors and seniors who may not be ready to apply, Farnum noted that it’s okay to take a gap year, although he did encourage students to ensure that gap year is productive.

During the Q & A, Jade asked whether it was better to get her supervisor at her law firm or a professor to write a letter of recommendation. Farnum suggested that the person who knows the student best would write the best letter, but that the student should submit a letter from at least one professor.

Mr. Farnum concluded with offering the students some swag from UT Law–items that proved very popular!

We are incredibly grateful that he came out to give us this very useful knowledge of all the things to expect when applying to law school.

Invisible China


October 26, 2021, by Morgan Robertson

Yvette Mendoza, Emma Anderson, Ziwen Lu (exchange student from China) and I attended a virtual lecture from the TAMU Bush School featuring Dr. Scott Rozelle and his book Invisible China: How the Urban-Rural Divide Threatens China’s Rise.

Dr. Rozelle is the Hellen F. Farnsworth Senior Fellow at Stanford University. He began by explaining his interest in international affairs, specifically China. Dr. Rozelle quickly identified the massive divide seen in China amongst the Urban and Rural areas. This divide is fueled by the long-lasting impact of rural farming and developing industry in the urban areas. Literacy rates and education is at an all time low for those found in rural China, while urban areas are growing and thriving.

Dr. Rozelle also entertained the idea that with the way things are moving, China is becoming more susceptible to an economic crisis–which would, of course, affect the rest of the world and, especially, those who rely on China heavily.

Dr. Rozelle noted that, in China, citizens are given an Identification card that states whether they are from a rural or urban part of China. Upon hearing this, Ziwen reached for her wallet to show us her Identification card that highlighted her urban status.

After the lecture, Ziwen was gracious enough to tell us more about the culture in China, which we learned about while eating Chinese food, selected by Ziwen.

As we expanded our knowledge on the culture and customs in China, Ziwen also taught me how to write her name and my name in Chinese characters.

I was nowhere close to perfection in copying my symbols, but it was fun to practice and learn more about the Chinese culture.