There is somewhat of a structural deficit, a misalignment, perhaps, between UHD's physical location and its students. UHD is urban, downtown, in the core of the city, and yet, many of our students are suburban or exurban commuters who come and go, mostly from beyond the confines of Beltway 8. It is critical, then, to connect the two in meaningful ways.
This of course can be done with services and satellite campuses, but it's also important to bridge that gap in students' academic experience. A Student Photography Exhibition on Tuesday, Nov. 18, did just that, incorporating service learning principles while also affording students the opportunity to showcase their creativity and the community landmarks that are important to them.
Combining students from several U.S. History After 1877 courses, the event was co-created by Dr. Theresa Case, Professor, History, Humanities, and Languages (HHL); Dr. Nancy Lopez, Senior Lecturer, HHL; and Dr. Chism, Associate Professor, HHL. Participating students were asked to document the sites they see in their daily lives, thereby turning what to the untrained eye could be considered mundane into meaningful, personal photographic reflections on community and the process of how history becomes, well, history.
"This project helps students recognize and practice their ability to record the history unfolding around them and to contribute to historic preservation by demonstrating how they see the world," said Dr. Chism.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony, where prizes were distributed to the top three student posters selected by judges Christelyn Nash, Program and Communications Manager at Project Row Houses, and Bryan Salazar, University Archivist.
The winners were as follows:
- First Place: Jose "Angel" Villegas; his project spoke directly to the question of historical preservation in Southwest Houston and made a case for preserving a Tex-Mex restaurant, a wetlands park, and large bowls from a sugar factory with ties to slave labor.
- Second Place: Andres Garcia; this photo project focused on meaningful family moments, capturing weekend outings for ice cream and haircuts, and a competitive game with his brother at a neighborhood park.
- Third Place: Jerrmie Carson; focused on the 3rd Ward Community, showcasing institutions like the Shape Community Center, the Blue Triangle Center, and the Luke Church.
History, the saying goes, is made every day. On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, it was made by Gator students. Congratulations to the winners and all who participated.