City of Huntsville – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

LEAP’s Summer Interns Enhance Huntsville

Five Sam Houston State University students wrapped up a summer of service to the City of Huntsville by presenting their project-based internship last week, showcasing months of work that connected classroom learning to real-world impact.

The interns—Macey Schank, Audra Munro, Sofia Soto, Ayme Mendoza, and Kelsey Villatoro—major in different disciplines but they shared a common summer experience: making Huntsville a more livable community.

Schank, who interned in the City Manager’s Office, spent her summer digging into data on personnel, salaries, and fee schedules. “It was rewarding to see how much behind-the-scenes work goes into running the city,” she said, noting that her research will inform future administrative decisions.

Munro brought her artistic eye to the Wynne Home Arts Center, where she developed a detailed map of Huntsville’s Cultural District. The map, once published, will guide residents and visitors to the city’s creative spaces. “Art and culture are part of Huntsville’s identity,” Munro said, “and I’m glad to have contributed to highlighting that.”

Soto worked with the Recycling Department, auditing residents’ recycling habits and tracking participation levels across the city. Her findings will help Huntsville improve education efforts and expand its sustainability programs.

Mendoza spent her internship with the Parks Department, pitching in on community events, including the city’s popular July 4th celebration. Villatoro interned with Huntsville Main Street, where she helped organize fall events, managed social media content, and conducted research on downtown businesses.

Some of the students’ intern supervisors were on hand. Amanda Schillaci, from Main Street, attended. Olivia Discon (Assistant to the City Manager) and Sam Masiel (Assistant City Manager), attended to see Schank’s presentation, as well as to support the intern program in general. Sandra Rodriguez, whose work in Human Resources, is crucial to the functioning of both the interns and the City, was also on hand.

The internship is a partnership between the Political Science Department, Chaired by Dr. Jason Enia (who also graciously attended) and the Center for Law, Engagement, And Politics. Through this partnership, the students receive at least three hours of credit, while being paid by the City of Huntsville and earning a scholarship through the LEAP Center. Additional interns, not on hand, worked for the state and federal governments.

It is a winning partnership–not just for the students and the City, but also for a community that grows stronger and closer with each project completion.

ZZ Tex: Tops in Texas

If it’s the second Saturday of a summer month–and in Texas, May is a summer month–then it’s time to go the Main Street Music Series. To kick of this year’s series, the Huntsville Main Street Manager, Amanda Schillaci, hosted “ZZ Tex,” a tribute band to the ever-popular ZZ Top at Rather Park in downtown Huntsville. The result was a 90 minute set of the band’s favorites, with almost 200 people in attendance.

The crowd consisted of a cross-section of Huntsville, albeit one veering a bit to the older side. It was also a city-employee reunion of sorts, with Stephanie Fors, Marcy Metz, Aron Kulhavy, Angela Robinson, and Tammy Gann all on hand. We also saw community regulars such as Darren and Marsie Grant; Danny and Sue Slater; and our favorite community volunteer, Lois Stehlik.

The band kept the crowd engaged, playing favorites such as “Cheap Sunglasses,” “Give me all your Loving,” “Legs,” “Give it Up,” and, of course, “Sharp Dressed Man.” The crowd loved them, but it wasn’t until later in the evening that they became fully engaged with the dancing.

Sporing glow sticks and inflatable guitars–all provided by Main Street–the crowd jammed to the signature sounds of ZZ Top, as interpreted by ZZ Tex. The music, along with uncharacteristically wonderful weather (72 degrees, low humidity) and the end-of-the-semester de-stressing allowed for a wonderful time for all.

Did the end-of-the-semester bustle cause you to overlook the event? No worries, you still have the Houston Ensemble (June 14), Zach Jonez & 45s (July 12), and the Texas TBirds (August 9) ahead of you.

Many thanks to Amanda Schillaci and the City of Huntsville staff for putting on this event!

Trivia: In 1967, David Adickes opened a nightclub in Houston, the Love Street Light Circus Feel Good Machine, which, if names mean anything, was a groovy and psychedelic experience.

Photograph, Picture of the exterior of Love Street Light Circus Feel Good Machine. Courtesy of the Univeristy of Houston Libraries. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.

According to Adickes, it was where the band ZZ Top first performed and rose to prominence. While Rather Park may not be as trippy as a place known as the Love Street Light Circus Feel Good Machine, it was still an enjoyable evening in the company of a lot of good people.

State of the City 2025

by Olivia Discon

On an annual basis, the City of Huntsvillle hosts its “State of the City” address, covering ongoing projects, accomplishments, and future aspirations. On February 25, 2025, community stakeholders gathered to learn just what state our city was in.

The City Secretary’s Office truly outdid themselves this year, taking a different model to the event than in years past. Hosted earlier on in the day, the event had a fantastic turnout. Several community friends, including Michelle Spencer and Tracy Stoudt, were in attendance, along with city staff, directors, and city council.

With a Posting of the Colors by SHSU’s Police Department, the presentation immediately started with what our city’s mission is: Community, mutual respect and reverence for our country, our state, and our city.

The Mayor of Huntsville, Russell Humphrey, took the stage to both welcome the audience, allude to the many incredible and important projects happening within the city, and…

introduce our newly appointed City Manager, Scott Swigert, who was in attendance. We had the opportunity to hear his excitement to serve in this new capacity, and we look forward to him, as a community, to having him serve as a leader. His term begins on March 17, 2025.

Sam Masiel, who has been serving as our Interim City Manager, went on to deliver the State of the City presentation. Covering the I-45 expansion, City Hall construction, and other infrastructure projects, Huntsville is absolutely and positively heading in the direction of growth. And sustainable growth, at that!

Mr. Masiel also covered the housing market in our city, along with other finance and budgetary updates, reflecting the intentional but conservative nature of the city’s budget and the incredible services provided.

In all, the 2025 State of the City address highlighted Huntsville’s progress and the exciting things ahead.

City Fellows: LEAP Offers a New Type of Internship Program

In the fall, summer, and spring, the LEAP Center opens up internship opportunities to all SHSU students. These internships are paid, come with a modest scholarship, and provide unique professional development opportunities.

The program is called “City Fellows,” because students are placed primarily–but not exclusively–with the City of Huntsville. The students may work for Huntsville Main Street, the Wynne Home Arts and Visitors Center, Economic Development, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Development Services, the Huntsville Public Library, or in the non-profit sector, with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, CASA of Walker County, the Old Town Theatre, or the like.

Students can earn anywhere from 3-6 hours of academic credit in these positions, while also working on a project-based job. Examples may include helping to plan Scare on the Square, assist with a hiring fair, developing a marketing plan for an office, or putting together a fundraising plan.

Moreover, students have the opportunity for extensive learning. Not only do students learn on the job, but a couple of times a month, they engage in professional development activities. Over the course of the semester, these include (1) leading a tour of their work environments and discussing their class project…

(2) going on a tour of Eastham-Thomason Park to learn about the environment and tax base;…

(3) touring the Huntsville Police Department…

(4) learning Parliamentary Procedures…(5) volunteering in the community…and

(6) presenting to community officials about their work.

The program is designed to meet real needs in the community, while also allowing students to develop needed skills for their own careers and the workforce more generally.

The program begins accepting applications on April 1 for the summer; August 1 for the fall; and November 1 for the spring. Students can learn more here. Government offices, non-profits, or law firms can contact Professor Mike Yawn at mike.yawn@shsu.edu.

LEAPing into Halloween: Celebrating Scare on the Square with Huntsville Main Street

Saara Maknojia

Every year, the LEAP Ambassadors come together to participate in and volunteer at the annual Scare on the Square, hosted by the Huntsville Main Street Program. This year was no different!

In keeping with our tradition of selecting a new theme each year, we decided to dress as the cast of The Wizard of Oz!

While we didn’t officially set the level of creativity for our costumes, some of us went all out, while others kept it simple but stayed true to the “heart” of the theme—except for our very own Tin Man, who cleverly carried hers in her shiny silver purse!

Before the event started, we were visited by McKenna Nonnenmann, the Main Street Intern for the fall semester.

She shared her experience of assisting in organizing this year’s Scare on the Square, something she enjoyed planning from start to finish. Angela Robinson, the Event Coordinator for the Wynne Home Arts and Visitors Center, and Amanda Schillaci, the Main Street Program Manager and the organizer of the event, also stopped by to greet the group and see the setup.

As always, students from Professor Yawn’s classes participated in the event, bringing even more fun to the festivities.

The University 1101 team showed their Halloween spirit by dressing up as the characters from Scooby-Doo. They set up a game of “Spin for Cornhole,” which proved to be a popular attraction.

Simultaneously, the team from the Local Government class, which consisted of Roberto Cardenas, Kayona Denver, Logan Skelton, and myself, was also tuned into the action. For those looking for a bit more difficulty, we hosted a ring-toss game which attracted kids and even parents. Some even participated multiple times in hopes of winning extra Halloween treats!

Scare on the Square is a wonderful opportunity for local businesses, organizations, and the community to come together, enjoy each other’s company, and play fun games.

This year, the event exceeded expectations, providing a safe and enjoyable space for children to celebrate Halloween and make lasting memories.

Thirty Years Later: Sam Houston Statue Still Standing Tall

by Chrissy Biello

Thirty years ago, David Adickes unveiled “A Tribute to Courage” – an iconic 67-foot statue of Sam Houston that has become a landmark in Huntsville. As a pivotal historical figure, Sam Houston left a legacy of resilience and integrity that has left a great impact on Huntsville. The installation of this statue has significantly boosted Huntsville’s tourism, contributing $8.5 million in local and state revenue this year alone.

Following our recent attendance at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum celebration, the LEAP students were honored to support another special Huntsville event: the 30th anniversary of Adickes’ towering Sam Houston statue, hosted by the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center.

Upon arrival, I immediately noticed the beautiful fairy lights that lined the path to the statue. While exploring the illuminated trail would come later, we first needed to attend to our duties. We had the privilege of welcoming many distinguished guests, including Mary Laura Gibbs, Mayor Russell and Tish Humphrey, and the celebrated artist himself, David Adickes, alongside his guest Linda.

Also, it was particularly special to see the two descendants of Sam Houston again, Lindsey Hughes and her mother, Penny.

The reception room, beautifully transformed by Tracy Chappell and her visitor center staff, provided an elegant backdrop for the evening.

They created a perfect atmosphere with carefully curated historical artifacts, mementos, and photographs from the statue’s inception, and an impressive charcuterie spread. A personal favorite of our group had to be the “Big Sam” cookies– they were almost too beautiful to eat!

Just as we had done the previous evening, we seized the opportunity to capture a photo with Mr. Adickes. He warmly agreed to join us in front of the designated “selfie area.”

To our great surprise, Mr. Adickes graciously signed miniature Sam Houston statues for each of us. We were absolutely thrilled by this personal touch, and it truly made the evening even more special.

The evening became even more memorable when Cinthia, Olivia, and I had the chance to take a photo with Miranda Estrada, the Economic Development Specialist for the City of Huntsville. As a former LEAP Ambassador herself and a former intern in the Economic Development Department while at SHSU, Miranda went on to become our supervisor during our own internships in that department. Having all of us together made for a heartwarming reunion and a reminder of how impactful the LEAP experience is.

As the celebration wound down, we finally ventured down the beautifully lit path to view the statue. We stopped for photos at the giant Sam Houston head statue along the way before reaching the main monument. This was only my second time seeing it up close – the first being when I was around one year old, a moment I recently discovered in my older sister’s scrapbook!

The girls could not resist photographing their newly signed miniature statues in front of the large statue (Olivia was especially eager to take photos of them taking photos!).

The night ended with us taking a group selfie with the impressive statue. Overall, the opportunity to meet Sam Houston’s descendants and to speak to David Adickes twice in one week made for two perfect nights in Huntsville!

ROAD-E-O: Public Works has a Parks-and-Rec Worthy Day

Cinthia Villarreal

On the third week of May, cities across the country celebrated National Public Works Week, which seeks to recognize and appreciate local employees for their vital hard work throughout the year.

Naturally, the City of Huntsville joined in the celebration by hosting their annual ROAD-E-O, organized by the Public Works Administrative Assistant, Linda Hicks. Chrissy, Olivia, and I were thrilled to attend and even participate!

Huntsville city employees gathered at the new training room of the recently inaugurated Service Center to enjoy lunch. While they were waiting in line for their food, Mrs. Hicks and I handed each employee a goodie bag, which included a gift card for a free Chick-Fil-A breakfast and a $20 coupon for Color Bar, as well as a ticket to the thrilling raffle.

With full stomachs and a lucky ticket, we headed outside, where the ROAD-E-O games awaited. The employees look forward to this tournament throughout the year, and now that I witnessed it, I understand why.

The ROAD-E-O is composed of several “games,” the Backpack Blower, which tests the participant’s ability to guide a tennis ball between traffic cones with a leaf blower (this was exceedingly fun to watch), and the Mower Madness, which made the participant drive a mowing machine through a predetermined course in the least time possible, are just a couple of examples.

One that left us all in awe was the Mini X Challenge. The operator had to meticulously move the claw to nudge six tennis balls that were placed on top of traffic cones, without touching the cones. As if this wasn’t complicated enough, the participant had to move the claw around a couple of barriers in the least amount of time possible. This particular game left me amazed as it shows not only composure and precision from the player but also their experience with the machine.

Another fan favorite was the Pumper Race which Olivia participated in, along with our city manager, Aron Kulhavy, and the Assistant Police Chief, James Barnes. They had to work together to connect a hose to a firetruck, get water running, and tilt a traffic cone placed a few feet away.

As the games came to a close, we came together for the long-awaited raffle, which included a variety of objects, ranging from gift cards to coolers and from a saber…

…to SHSU football tickets. Most of these prizes were donated by local businesses and community folks, including SHSU, 3 Spoons, Carbonero’s, McKenzie’s, and more!

The trophies for the tournament were also awarded…

…with the Water Department winning the overall best department by earning the most trophies!

As the day came to an end, we reminisced on everything city employees do to keep Huntsville moving forward every day and we grew appreciative of the long hours and late nights they dedicate to this community. Huntsville would not be the city it is today without its most vital workers, and we are grateful that we have the opportunity to know them, and even better, work and learn from them.

Simulating City Operations: A Mock City Council

As the semester draws to an end, the City Fellows–interns placed by the LEAP program–are wrapping up their internships. As part of that process, and following numerous professional development activities this semester, they took on the roles of City Council and City Directors and participated in a Mock City Council at the beautiful Wynne Home.

On hand to guide and observe were supervisors Andrea Howard (Wynne Home), Amanda Schillaci (Huntsville Main Street), Tammy Gann (Economic Development), Aron Kulhavy (City Manager), and Mac Woodward (former Councilmember and Mayor).

The process involved knowing parliamentary procedures, researching topics such as dockless scooters, park acquisitions, and municipal contracts. Participating were Cinthia Villarreal (Mayor)…

…Morgan Robertson (City Manager), Saara Maknojia (City Attorney), Macey Schank (Parks Director), Chrissy Biello (City Secretary), and Yajaira Gutierrez Marin, Emily Eoff, Michelle Cardenas, Olivia Discon, and Camilla Lopez (council).

The “process could be intimidating,” noted “Mayor” Villarreal, “but what we get from it is outweighs in importance any embarrassment or hesitation we might feel at the moment.”

Although the topics were relatively straightforward, they elicited questions such as: (1) who owns that GPS data from scooter usage and what can such data be used for?; (2) on what streets would scooters be legal?; (3) what are the downsides of designating land a “park”?; and (4) who is allowed to speak at council meetings, on what topics are they allowed to speak, and for how long?

It was, noted Biello, “quite the learning experience, offering me valuable insights into the legal nuances and special considerations essential for effective governance.”

With expert guidance from City staff, as well as a comparative perspective from those who have worked at other cities (including Madisonville, TX and Salado, TX), we were able to pass some good things for our Sim-City, learn a whole lot, see some great art, and spend time with some great people!

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