Today@Sam Article
LEAP Students Participate in Democracy Tour
Feb. 7, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd
With every four years comes a chance to see democracy in action through the transfer of power that occurs on inauguration day. Also occurring quadrennially, the Center for Law, Engagement and Politics (LEAP) at Sam Houston State University embarks on a democracy tour across the east coast, with a final stop in Washington D.C. to witness a president take the oath of office.
Mike Yawn, director of LEAP, began leading the nonpartisan democracy tours in 2005 after one of his former program students pitched the idea. On the first trip, he and his 25 students became stranded in an airport during a snowstorm. Despite that unpleasant first attempt, Yawn continued hosting the trips to show his students democracy in action.
“Participating in any part of the democratic process is important. Whether it be voting, educating yourself on the issues of the day, participating in policy discussions or interning with a government agency, this type of work can bring to life the learning process in a manner that complements what we teach in the classroom,” Yawn said. “An inauguration trip is even more special, but it captures those same aspects of allowing students to participate in the understanding, appreciation and shaping of our democracies."
This year, Yawn and the LEAP students found themselves in a similar situation to the one that plagued his group 20 years ago. Inclement weather moved the 2025 inauguration inside and restricted the number of people allowed to attend. While disappointed to miss the event, the group adapted to the situation by turning their tickets into souvenirs and extending their stay at one of their historic destinations. The tour included stops in New York City, Philadelphia and Richmond, Virginia.
Starting in New York, Yawn and two of the students not participating in internships were able to tour the site of George Washington’s first inauguration, visit the 9/11 Memorial and numerous art museums and even attended a Broadway show.
Christina Biello, a senior political science major, was able to tour the Big Apple with Yawn and fellow LEAP ambassador, Olivia Discon. The trip marked a major milestone for Biello, who had previously only traveled to Florida to visit family as a child, as she was able to venture out of state and explore locations that tie into her personal interests and degree.
“We had a whole day of museums where we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), the Guggenheim, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), they were all really great,” Biello said. “Then we went to the Morgan Library and the New York Library, where they also have lots of artwork, which was really interesting.”
The trio then met up with the others in Philadelphia and began exploring as a group of seven. Cinthia Villarreal Carrillo, a senior criminal justice major and intern during Texas’ 89th Regular Legislative Session, connected with her peers in the City of Brotherly Love.
“We spent several days in Philly, which allowed us to soak in the diversity of the city that exemplifies LEAP’s mission to make us well-rounded professionals and individuals,” Carrillo said.
It was during their exploration of Philly that the group learned they would no longer be able to attend the inauguration, leading them to extend their time in the city. The now-united group visited Liberty Hall, where the first U.S. presidential transfer of power took place, the Benjamin Franklin Museum, the Rocky statue and the Liberty Bell.
“Growing up, you hear all the stories about the crack and inscription on the Liberty Bell,” Biello said. “Being able to see that in person and imagine what life was like back then, when the bell actually rang and all the lawmakers would go to Congress Hall when Philadelphia used to be the capitol, was surreal.”
The group’s final stop was Richmond, where they toured the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, as well as historical sites such as the state capitol and Richmond City Hall. As their adventure came to a close, the LEAP ambassadors’ minds were buzzing with new information and a renewed passion for civic service. Villarreal was particularly pleased to be equipped with a deeper understanding of the origins of American democracy, having walked in the hallowed halls of the founding fathers.
“I thoroughly enjoyed expanding my knowledge, not only politically and historically, but artistically and architecturally,” Carrillo said. “My favorite part of the trip was visiting Independence Hall, learning about its history and all the major events that happened in those rooms. Being able to stand where key people of U.S. history stood hundreds of years before put into perspective how far the country has come.”
Following her return to campus, Biello spent time reflecting on the trip and found that her past two years as a member of LEAP have enriched her life in many ways.
“I had not experienced much at all before joining LEAP,” Biello said. “It's definitely given me the chance to become a new, better person, and I'm grateful for that because I never imagined that I would be given so many of these opportunities.”
To read firsthand accounts of the LEAP democracy tour written by Yawn, Biello and her fellow LEAP students, visit the center’s blog.
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