Smith-Hutson Scholars Launch Campus-wide Belonging Campaign

Smith-Hutson Scholars Launch Campus-wide Belonging Campaign

The Sam Houston State University Smith-Hutson Scholars, which is celebrating 30 years of changing lives through scholarships and programming, recently launched a belonging campaign titled “Together, We Can Do Heart Things.”

The word “heart” is intentional. It reflects the spirit of fostering kindness, connection and a culture where students feel seen and supported.

Following its March 17 launch party in the Frank Parker Plaza, the initiative will provide students with buttons and cookies that they can use to break the ice and make new friends out of the strangers sitting next to them.

“I think we have something really special on this campus; we have really good, real people here, and I certainly don’t want to lose anybody,” said Chris Garcia, director of the Smith-Hutson Scholars program. “I don’t want anyone going home because they’re homesick, don’t feel a sense of belonging or don’t feel connected. I want them to experience what I’ve experienced since I’ve been here.”

The idea came to Garcia through fond memories of the tight bonds he forged during his time in the Marine Corps. The genuine kindness he was shown by his leaders, including the commissioned and non-commissioned officers, made a lasting impact on him.

Having come from that tight-knit community and following a warm reception by his new peers at SHSU, Garcia was surprised that there were scholars in the same cohort who had never met. He then set out to remedy this “travesty” and make the Smith-Hutson cohorts into communities. It was within these communities that the students were taught to take that first step to reach out to someone in real life and strike up a conversation.

“I think so many students are just in need of connection,” Garcia said. “If making a connection through this campaign can help them just go one more semester, one more day, one more week or even make it to spring break, we’re really excited about that.”

The charge will be led by the Smith-Hutson Scholars, who hope the entire campus will get in on the fun. The scholars are also working with campus leadership to integrate the campaign into future programming such as campus previews, orientation, Bearkat Kickoff and Saturdays@Sam.

Through these repeated exposures to engaging with new people, the scholars and all those who participate in the campaign by just saying hi to someone new will become better prepared for the professional world.

“One of the things we’ve been talking to our students about is how important connections and relationships are. I believe it’s a currency more valuable than money because you’re going to be asked to talk to people you don’t know throughout the entirety of your career,” Garcia said. “I think this campaign is going to better the lives of all the students involved because they’re going to have better communication skills, people skills and conflict resolution skills that they can carry with them into the workplace.”