Tag: LEAP Center

Exploring the Houston (LSAC) Law Forum

Written by Robin Houghton

This past weekend, LEAP students drove into Houston to attend the Law School Admission Council’s Houston Law School Forum. This event brings together representatives from over a hundred law schools across the United States, allowing prospective law students to speak directly with them about the law school experience. Even though some of us are only sophomores, we all arrived eager to learn more about law schools across the country.

The purpose of the law-school fair is to educate pre-law students about law school in general and about specific law schools in particular. For the general aspects of law school, the fairs have workshops on topics such as “paying for law school” or “applying to law school.” Law school representatives are there to answer specifics, with LSAC also suggesting specific questions for each school (see, for example: Law School Forums and Fairs Near Me | LSAC).

With so many schools to choose from, we ended up at the South Texas College of Law, a law school that frequently visits SHSU to present to our Pre-Law Society. We were excited to reconnect with a familiar name and ask more personal questions about their law school and the admissions process.

One of the most memorable moments came from visiting the table for the University of Minnesota Law, a school I have been interested in for a while.

Speaking with Robin Ingli about the university’s concentrations and focus on Human Rights advocacy made my many options in law schools clearer. Their emphasis on public service and practical training was a highlight for me, and I left knowing more about a school I thought I already knew a lot about.

Overall, the experience is much like a career fair, with lots of booths to pick up literature and the like.

Much of the information can be found on the schools’ websites. But, as a sophomore pre-law student, the event allows you to see all the opportunities that exist, which is perhaps more than people come into college realizing.

And, for the upper-classmen among us, the experience allows the opportunity to obtain more specific information and narrow down options. It’s a worthy event.

SHSU Moot Court Reaches Sweet Sixteen at UC San Diego

Written by Allie Plunk

On October 3rd and 4th, Sam Houston State University’s Moot Court Team had the incredible opportunity to compete in the Triton Tidal Invitational, hosted by the University of California–San Diego.

The first day consisted of three preliminary rounds, each with pre-assigned competitors and arguments. Interestingly, both of SHSU’s teams had one round arguing as Petitioner and two rounds arguing as Respondent, allowing each team to practice both sides of the case and adapt their arguments to different perspectives.

After each round, the teams had the chance to regroup, discuss feedback, and prepare for the next argument. Between rounds, we were also grateful to have snacks graciously provided by Stephanie Fors, which kept everyone fueled and ready to take on the next challenge!

Once the preliminary rounds concluded, we anxiously waited for the results. The standings would determine which teams would advance to the “Sweet Sixteen” and return on Sunday for another day of competition. Despite some skepticism about our chances (editor’s note: deserved skepticism), both of SHSU’s teams made it into the “Sweet Sixteen”! We were thrilled to have the opportunity to compete again and prove ourselves against some incredibly talented teams.

On Sunday, both teams returned to the courtroom ready to give it their all. Although neither team ultimately advanced to the quarter-finals, making it to the “Sweet Sixteen” was an accomplishment we were extremely proud of.

Beyond the results, the scrimmage gave our Moot Court teams something even more valuable: experience. Throughout the weekend, we were able to test our arguments in a competitive setting, identify some of our strongest points, uncover weaknesses in our cases, and come away with new ideas for strengthening our arguments. Every round gave us something to learn from, and we made it out with a much better understanding of what we can do to prepare for our next competition.

We are incredibly grateful to UC San Diego for hosting such a valuable and exciting scrimmage. We are proud of how far both teams made it and are looking forward to putting what we learned into practice. We are all excited for competition at Texas A&M on October 30th, and we can’t wait to see what the team accomplishes next!

Allie and the Tools of Success: Cherry Fritter, Notes, Ring Light, Notes, Coffee-Flavored Sugar from Seven Bros., Half-Hearted Smile, and More Notes

From the Capitol to the Canvas: LEAP’s Austin Adventure Comes to a Close

Written by Brittlyn Jackson and Kayla Fleming

To wrap up an exciting and informative weekend in Austin at the Texas Tribune Festival, LEAP students visited the Blanton Museum of Art. Founded in 1936 and located on the edge of the University of Texas at Austin’s campus (with an astonishing view of the Texas State Capitol), Blanton houses more than 22,000 pieces from a variety of cultures, time periods, and artistic styles.

Professor Yawn pointed out many great artists throughout our visit, including one of his personal favorites, Jerry Bywaters. Bywaters was a Texas regionalist, and his piece, Oil Field Girls, gave us a view of the West Texas landscape and conditions during the 1940s.

We also learned about Thomas Moran and Albert Bierstadt, important artists associated with the Hudson River School who created paintings depicting the American West. Their paintings, The Golden Hour and Indian Canoe, allowed us to see how Americans viewed the West in the late 1800s. The warm tones of what appeared to be a setting sun, along with the beautiful landscapes, made these paintings visually striking and compelling.

We also encountered art pieces from the Spanish Americas, many of which had unknown artists. I noticed a lot of the Spanish art consisted of religious paintings and sculptures. We also came across another Texas native and Latino artist, Luis Jiménez, whose fiberglass sculpture, Border Crossing [Cruzando el Río Bravo], immediately caught my attention. The sculpture itself stands around 4ft tall and features bright neon colors. The sculpture, like most of Jiménez’s work, features bright colors he associates with Mexico, making it all the more captivating.

We then got to see examples of Pop Art, including Andy Warhol’s painting, Farrah Fawcett. We also viewed artists who specialized in cubism and abstraction. One of the most well-known artists we saw was Pablo Picasso, who had two paintings on display when we visited.

We also got to visit Ellsworth Kelly’s chapel, titled Austin, located outside the museum. The Chapel was solid white with geometric designs and colorful stained-glass windows that looked stunning in the light, a staple of Kelly’s work.  

My favorite piece personally was Madam C. J.  Walker by Sonya Clark, a portrait of Madam Walker made entirely out of hair combs. I really liked how the individual combs came together to create the portrait. I also enjoyed the creativity and symbolism behind using the combs, especially because Madam Walker rose to fame in African American hair care products.  

After the museum, we had the chance to drive by the Elisabet Ney Museum on our way home. It was built in her former home and art studio in Hyde Park, standing out because of its limestone castle-like structure. We were especially interested due to our tour of the Capitol, where she has two prominent statues in the South Foyer. They are of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin, two prominent figures in Texas History.

The museum was a perfect way to end an exciting and educational trip. LEAP students learned a lot and enjoyed their time there tremendously. From exciting panels sparking new ideas to culinary adventures like Skipjack Oyster, it was a trip to remember. We are excited to take our lessons and newfound ideas back to Huntsville, where we can use them in our everyday lives.

Here’s Looking at You, LEAP: A Night with Casablanca

Written by Allie Plunk

Last Thursday, LEAP Ambassadors got the chance to step back in time and experience the classic film Casablanca at River Oaks Theatre!

Once we arrived, we quickly found our seats and settled in for the show. Before the film began, Robert Saucedo, River Oaks Theatre’s Artistic Manager, shared a few brief remarks before introducing film critic Joe Leydon. Leydon dedicated the screening to his late wife, Anne Leydon, and shared a touching message about how people live on through the things they love. For Anne, that was Casablanca.

Released in 1942, the romantic drama follows American expatriate Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), the owner of a nightclub and gambling den in Casablanca, a city in French Morocco that has become an important stopping point for refugees fleeing the German occupation. For many refugees, Casablanca is a necessary stop on the journey to Lisbon and, eventually, freedom in America.

Rick, however, has no interest in leaving. Content to remain neutral in the war, he seems determined to look out for himself and avoid getting involved in anyone else’s problems. That changes when Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) unexpectedly walks back into his life.

Rick and Ilsa had once shared a passionate romance in Paris before the German occupation, but their relationship ended abruptly when Ilsa left Rick without explanation just as they were supposed to escape the city together. Now, Ilsa is married to Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a resistance leader being pursued by the Third Reich. With Ilsa back in his life, Rick is forced to confront the conflict between his desire to remain neutral and the love he still has for her. The result is a story full of romance, tension, and unexpected twists that kept all of us guessing until the very end.

On the car ride home, we had plenty to discuss. One of the biggest topics was Rick himself. We talked about how he is an objectively morally gray character—especially for a protagonist from a film of that era—and compared him to the morally complicated characters we see so often in modern movies.

All in all, Casablanca gave us plenty to think about, and it was a fun opportunity to experience one of Hollywood’s most iconic films together!

The PVIL: Celebrating Athletic Legacy and Civil Rights

On August 19, the LEAP Center had a strong presence at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum for a screening of photographer—and now filmmaker—Mark Burns’ The PVIL Story: Separate… But Equal?

Burns, best known for his acclaimed photography, makes his filmmaking debut with a documentary examining the Prairie View Interscholastic League (PVIL), which provided athletic competition for Black Texas high schools during segregation. Operating from 1920-1970, the PVIL produced remarkable athletes while serving as an important source of community pride. The film, however, goes well beyond athletics, placing the PVIL within the larger history of segregation, integration, and the Civil Rights Movement.

The evening began with a reception before attendees moved into the theater for the film. Following the screening, former Houston Chronicle sportswriter John McClain moderated a panel featuring Burns; Michael Hurd, author of Thursday Night Lights; narrator Fred McClure; producer Rob Lynch; and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joe Holley, who wrote the documentary. The discussion offered additional insight into the research and work involved in recovering a history for which archival materials were sometimes difficult to find.

Also attending were individuals featured in the documentary, including Mark Updegrove and Ramon Gonzales, adding another personal connection to the evening.

For LEAP, however, the screening had special significance. LEAP Ambassadors have known Burns for years, having opportunities to assist him during portions of his National Parks photography project. During those experiences, Burns was generous with his time, sharing his expertise and serving as both a mentor and friend to the organization.

Seeing Burns move from still photography to filmmaking—and use a new medium to preserve an often-overlooked piece of Texas history—made the evening particularly rewarding. The PVIL Story ties into Texas history, US history, delves into America’s favorite sport, and also tackles questions of constitutional law–a perfect combination of LEAP elements.