Students, faculty and staff were surprised and delighted to welcome Texas Sen. Wendy Davis to campus recently for an unannounced visit. She greeted dozens of students, inquired about their studies and posed for many pictures during her Houston visit.

Sen. Davis emphasized her passion for education and shared her own story about how her life was changed by quality public education, a strong community college system, student loans and helpful grants.

She told students that she can relate to many of their stories of sacrifice and hard work en route to earning a college degree. She shared that she became a single mother at 19 and worked two jobs to create a better life for herself and her young daughter. Following two years of study at Tarrant County Community College, Sen. Davis transferred to Texas Christian University on scholarship, later graduating first in her class and earning a coveted acceptance to Harvard Law School. She noted that - like many UHD students - she was the first in her family to earn a bachelor's degree, which was a life-changing stepping stone to graduate study and a life of community service.