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Moments of Generosity

To Whoop About

Celebrate with us as we look back on a few ways philanthropy has shaped Texas A&M University in its first 150 years. The list is far from comprehensive and focuses primarily on gifts to the Texas A&M Foundation (if we tried to recount every way generosity has impacted the university, the list would cover Texas 12 times!), but in no particular order, here are a few ways, big and small, that generosity has built the Aggieland we know and love today.

By Tiarra Drisker '25
Kinley Foster '25
Jordan Herr '23
Lydia Hill '21
Tylie McDonald '27
Torie Noellsch
Hilary Nguyen '26
Teagan Parker '29

Photo provided by Cushing Memorial Library and Archives

001

The Act of Service That Started It All

It might not have been much to look at, that “wild, bleak prairie, barren of trees and shrubs,” as historian Henry Dethloff once described it. But those 2,416 acres in Brazos County that would become the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas’ home were a foundational act of generosity that would shape Texas A&M’s future. Pledged by Bryan citizen Harvey Mitchell to entice the state to build the new college in Bryan, the land was deeded by Mitchell, J. Frederick Cox and Rebecca and Nelson Rector and laid the groundwork for all that was to come from Texas’ first public institution of higher education.

002

An Organization To Enable Generosity

As Texas A&M grew, so too did the need for philanthropic support. Though the 1940s saw the advent of the university-affiliated Texas A&M College Development Fund to oversee some giving, visionary Aggies like Herman Heep, Class of 1920, and William Machemehl ’33 recognized philanthropy’s growing role in Texas A&M's future and led the charge for an organization dedicated to private generosity. On Sept. 12, 1953, history was made with the creation of the Texas A&M College Development Foundation, known today as the Texas A&M Foundation.

Starting with just $100 in assets, the Foundation quickly grew as early leaders helped create a structure through which donors could invest in scholarships, faculty support, facilities and academic excellence. More than seven decades later, that vision has fueled billions of dollars in philanthropic support, connecting generations of Aggies with opportunities to make a lasting impact on Texas A&M and its students.

Photo by Abbey Toronjo/Texas A&M Marketing and Communications

003

Classes That Care

What do the Academic Building’s mosaic tile seal, the H2O Fountain and the late great Mount Aggie have in common? They were all supported by Aggies, for Aggies through class gifts.

But they’re not the only areas of campus that have been shaped by the generosity of Aggie classes, as each year, the graduating class chooses to impact an area of Aggieland through funds raised during their time as students.

The Class of 1912 gave the university its first recorded class gift, funding the Academic Building flagpole — the campus’s first. Fish Pond continues to make a splash in the Yell Leader tradition thanks to an initial gift from the Class of 1938 and endowed support for renovations and maintenance from the Classes of 1977 and 2007. The famous E. King Gill statue stands tall in Rudder Plaza through the Class of 1980’s generosity. Aggieland’s history will be preserved for future generations thanks to a gift from the Class of 1949 to digitize Texas A&M’s yearbooks. And that’s just to name a few.

Though each class gift is unique, they have one thing in common: Each is a symbol of the lasting impression that every class leaves in Aggieland.

Photo provided by Texas A&M University Art Galleries

005

...That's Not Just for the Wall

But the Galleries hold more than just two-dimensional masterpieces. For instance, the Forsyth Galleries houses one of the world’s largest collections of English cameo, Tiffany and Steuben glass, donated by Irma and Bill Runyon ’35. Recently, Meissen porcelain parrots, marquetry furniture and silver dishes all joined the collections, courtesy of the Franco and Sandra da Conturbia family, who wanted to honor their Aggie ties by sharing some of their family heritage with the galleries.

Photo provided by Texas A&M University Libraries

006

Mapped Munificence

Over 40 years before the opening of the state’s first public institution of higher education, Stephen F. Austin created his 1830 Map of Texas, the first map of the Lone Star State to be printed in the United States. Thanks to generous donations from former Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp ’72, The Texas A&M University System's Board of Regents and Bonnie and Otway Denny ’71, one of eight existing original maps found a fitting home in the Texas A&M University Libraries and is often on display for visitors.

007

Timely and Techy Treasures

The Texas A&M University Libraries hold a special power to preserve the past and unlock the future.

Take the collections at Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, for instance, which house Aggie history artifacts, the collections of George R.R. Martin and even a Sumerian clay tablet. Many of its collections, like the Colonial Mexican Collection, are impacted by donor generosity. Supported by funds from the Crawley Family Foundation, Betty and Benjamin Huss ’46 and The Hamill Foundation, this 16th century collection offers an invaluable look at life in colonial Mexico. With dried animal skin covers, artistic firebrands and sewn cotton pages, the documents transport scholars back hundreds of years.

But Texas A&M’s Libraries aren’t just for preserving the past; they also usher Aggies into the future with cutting-edge technology. The Libraries’ Tech Bar, funded through an endowment by Susan ’89 and Anthony Wood ’87 and supported by The Hamill Foundation and Friends of the Texas A&M University Libraries, allows Texas A&M students to borrow electronics in the same way they would a library book. From photography and music production equipment to astronomy and assistive technology, the Tech Bar enables Aggies to utilize today’s tech tools to learn and create tomorrow’s assets.

Photo by Rachel Willmon

008

One for the Books

Since 1974, the Texas A&M University Press has brought Aggieland to bookshelves around the world with the trusted Block T on each spine serving as a mark of excellence and credibility. Many of the Press’ educational series — such as the “Texas Experience” series that celebrates Texas sights and history through a gift from Sarah ’84 and Mark Philpy ’77 — are brought to life thanks to generous support.

009

Forsyth's Foresight

James “Cop” Forsyth, Class of 1912, was well-known for his generous spirit toward Aggieland. But when rallying his former classmates to establish the first class-sponsored President’s Endowed Scholarship, he unintentionally gave the university an even greater legacy when he and development officer Dr. Robert “Bob” Walker ’58 devised a flexible strategy of allowing his classmates to contribute through gifts in their wills. The concept of “planned gifts” was born and has become an essential source of impact for Texas A&M, providing more than $1.9 billion of future support for Aggieland.

010

Campaigns That (Fund)Raised the Bar

It’s well known that Aggies are fiercely competitive. And Texas A&M’s three major fundraising campaigns further confirmed that when Aggies are called upon, they rise to the challenge.

Capturing the Spirit (1992-96)
Goal: $500M
Achieved: $500M
Note of Whoop: Then-largest campaign goal ever set by a public university; met 10 months early

One Spirit One Vision (2000-06)
Goal: $1B
Achieved: $1.5B+
Note of Whoop: Exceeded campaign goal in six years

Lead by Example (2012-20)
Goal: $4B
Achieved: $4.25B
Note of Whoop: The largest higher education fundraising effort in Texas history

011

The Forever Gift

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but endowments are a university’s best friend because they truly last forever. When someone makes an endowed gift, it’s added to the Foundation’s collective Endowment and strategically invested. Earnings from the investment are used to support the areas on campus designated by donors. Since the Foundation began in 1953, the Endowment has grown to over $3 billion, and as its overall value continues to grow, so do overall distributions, changing more lives in Aggieland year after year.

012

A Surefire Collection

When visiting the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, visitors should aim for the Metzger-Sanders Antique Firearm Collection, one of the largest gun collections in Texas with more than 600 rare firearms on display. According to a 1949 edition of The Battalion, the late Carl Metzger’s collection of rare military and civilian firearms was a gift valued at $100,000 and considered one of the finest gun collections in the nation.

013

Endowments for Educators

Passionate Texas A&M faculty don’t teach for fame or big bucks; they teach for the joy of watching a student light up while learning. These faculty shape hundreds of lives each year, and many of their former students show their gratitude with a lasting gift: an endowed fund named in honor or memory of their professor, including gifts for notable faculty like these:

In 2021, legendary architecture professor Dr. Rodney Hill retired after 52 years of inspiring thousands. “Hill ignited students’ creativity and innovation for so many years because he is a boundless, endless source of creative, innovative and design thinking,” said Dr. Jorge Vanegas, former dean of the College of Architecture. To celebrate Hill’s impact, his former students, colleagues and friends created the Rodney Hill Professorship in Creativity and Design to support a College of Architecture faculty member’s creative work.

Lovingly known as “Dr. Mac” by his marketing students in Mays Business School, Dr. Stephen McDaniel ’71 ’72 has earned a reputation for going the extra mile. Starting as a faculty member in 1980, he soon began managing one of the school’s largest study abroad trips that has opened students’ eyes to the world around them. To honor his dedication, Mays’ MS Marketing Advisory Board established the Dr. Stephen McDaniel ’71 Study Abroad Scholarship in 2019 to provide financial assistance to students participating in the trip Dr. Mac has held dear.

When Dr. Carlos Cantu ’05 — a pathologist who now specializes in lymphoma and leukemia — veered from his original plan of researching E. coli with biology professor Dr. Deborah Siegele during his undergrad years, she continued supporting his journey. “Debby wasn’t the kind to push you in one direction or another but would help facilitate whatever it is you needed to succeed,” Cantu said. “She was a true educator.” To recognize Siegele’s meaningful mentorship, Cantu created the Debby Siegele Endowed Fellowship in Biology in 2024 to support biology graduate students.

Photo by Jeff Wilson

014

Compassion for Critters

We’ve all been there: That steep veterinary bill you stomach because your four-legged family member needs life-saving emergency care. But what if you couldn’t pay that bill? That’s the situation Alexis Shelton found herself in when her ambitious 1-year-old miniature dachshund, Tate, was hit by a car and suffered two broken hind legs. Tate was referred to Texas A&M’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital for multiple surgeries, and the staff told Shelton about an unexpected blessing: the Capper and Chris Save the Animals Fund.

Created by Capper Thompson in memory of Chris Stehouwer ’98, the fund bridges the gap between what pet owners can afford and the cost of lifesaving care at Texas A&M’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Thanks to the fund, Tate was soon back to his usual spunky self, without Shelton facing an overwhelming bill. Since its founding in 1997, the fund has helped write thousands of stories like Tate’s by contributing to the lifesaving care they need to keep wagging on.

Photo by Tim Douglass

015

A Bequest With Flying Colors

Did you know Texas A&M is home to a beautiful collection of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), the largest in the Southwestern U.S.? Before his passing in 2008, Roy Kendall and his wife, Connie, donated their extensive collection of over 500 different butterfly and moth species, along with funds to sustain the collection, to the university through a bequest in his will. Today, entomologists and scholars study the specimens to learn more about the biodiversity of Texas’ winged insects.

Photo by Bill Sallans

016

Support to Squawk About

The late Dr. Janice Boyd ’86 experienced love at first flight when she bought an African grey parrot. Fascinated by its intelligence, she grew her flock to include more parrots and over 30 great green macaws — maintaining one of the nation’s largest breeding collections at the time. She also conducted research at Texas A&M’s Schubot Center for Avian Health in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, for which she left a nest egg in her estate to support future feather-friendly research.

017

The Gift of Life

Spencer’s Corner. It’s a small part of Aggieland with a remarkable story, and chances are, if you’ve cheered on the Aggie baseball team, you’ve seen it swarming with happy children.

The playground’s namesake — Spencer Patton Squire, a young Aggie athletics enthusiast — would have loved it as well. During his first few days of school in 2007, the first grader succumbed to an undetected malignant brain tumor. He was only 6 years old.

Yet, from tragedy came triumph. While their hearts were shattered, Spencer’s family made him an organ donor. A 45-year-old woman in Oklahoma named Jana Cox desperately needed a liver transplant. Spencer’s liver gave her a second chance, and she’s still enjoying life today.

“Spencer truly gave the ultimate gift, the gift of life,” his grandmother, Patricia “Patsy” Kirksey, said. In 2007, she and her husband, Warren “Pat” Kirksey ’56, created their own gift in his honor, the Spencer Patton Squire Memorial Scholarship in Education, a one-year award for freshmen with financial need. Now, nearly 20 years later, Spencer’s spirit lives on — at Olsen Field, in Jana Cox and in the hearts of Aggies who receive his scholarship.

Photo by Paul Morse

018

United We Sing

In August 2017, former U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all shared the stage at Reed Arena — not for debate, but to unite a nation after Hurricane Harvey. Before more than 13,000 attendees, alongside Lady Gaga and Aggie legends Robert Earl Keen ’78 and Lyle Lovett ’79, the “Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal” concert raised $2.6 million for the hurricane relief efforts.

Photo by Aiden Norvell

019

The Gold Standard

Faculty like Dr. Danny Davis ’76 ’03, a Bush School professor of homeland security and this year’s recipient of the “Inspiring the Spirit of Aggieland – The 41 Award,” set the gold standard in selfless service. Created through an endowment by Linda and Steve Vincent ’73, the prestigious award honors exceptional faculty who emulate the leadership of President George H. W. Bush, exemplify the Aggie core values and help prepare students to make the world a better place.

020

An Act of Kindness That Grew

In 2013, Erika ’14 and Chris Pesek ’97 heard of an Aggie with nowhere to stay over the holiday break. They immediately stepped up to cover the cost of the student’s lodging, but their good deed didn’t stop there. Eager to help more students who might face similar unexpected costs such as travel, car repairs or hotel stays, the couple worked with the Texas A&M Foundation to create an Aggie Family Endowment to help students in need, no matter the time of year.

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Devkumar Banerjee '29 is the current recipient of the President's Endowed Scholarship created by Mora Wadell Boone. Photo by Josh Lewis '14

021

The Little Country School Teacher Who Could

Centenarian Mora Waddell Boone’s life spanned nearly 107 years, but her legacy in Aggieland will last far longer.

One of the few women to take courses at Texas A&M in the early 1930s, Boone later received degrees from Sam Houston State Teachers College and began a teaching career. Her husband of 74 years was a high school principal and superintendent, and for over three decades, the two planted seeds in young minds in the rural Texas schools that skirted the Houston area.

In 2004, Boone paid tribute to her Aggie husband and cemented her mark at Texas A&M with the Mora Waddell Boone and James L. Boone Sr. ’21 President’s Endowed Scholarship. “You’d never dream that a little teacher in the country schools would have been able to accomplish this,” she once remarked.

Devkumar Banerjee ’29, a computer science major, a Brown Scholar and the current recipient of the Boones’ scholarship, said he feels truly honored to be connected to their legacy. “This scholarship has given me the freedom to pursue opportunities I would not have had otherwise,” he said. “It’s a reminder that the Aggie spirit of giving back is still very much alive.”

Photo by Texas A&M Health Science Center

023

Seeds for Students

An acorn holds potential to grow into something enduring, and for the late Andrew Duffie ’78, that metaphor sprouted into a very visible reality. During a return to campus for his 30th class reunion, Duffie noticed the Century Tree’s annual acorn drop and wondered if something meaningful could grow from the surplus of seeds. After hours collecting thousands of mature acorns and two years of nurturing the seedlings, he sold the 6-foot-tall pieces of Aggieland not for profit but for purpose.

Dubbed the Aggie Century Tree Project, Duffie’s initiative provided proceeds that funded a President’s Endowed Scholarship (PES), a Sul Ross Scholarship and an Aggie Ring Scholarship. Caleb Sytsma ’26 is the third PES scholar supported by Duffie and the Aggies who participated in the project. “Their generosity continues to shape their posterity, and I hope my graduating class will do the same for ours,” Sytsma said — a fitting testament to a gift that, much like an acorn, was always meant to grow beyond itself.

024

A Helping Hand(Ball)

If you know someone with incredible hand-eye coordination and they happen to carry gloves and a small rubber ball, they’re likely benefitting from Doug Randolph’s investment in Texas A&M handball. First established more than 100 years ago, the Texas A&M Handball Club competes nationally, and by funding a full-time instructor and supporting competitive opportunities, Randolph’s endowment will continue to keep the program in play for generations.

Ray Rothrock '77 stands second from left in this 1976 group photo of the W5AC student organization.

025

Funding for Frequencies

Presiding over W5AC at Texas A&M during his student years, tech guru and nuclear and cybersecurity expert Ray Rothrock ’77 knew the power behind the mic. Founded in 1912, the student-run station — one of the nation’s oldest university radio clubs — promotes ham radio and allows students to earn an amateur radio license. It even helped broadcast one of the first play-by-play football broadcasts. Years later, Rothrock tuned back in with a cryptocurrency gift to keep the signal strong.

Students in the Engineering Art Competition explore the intersection between engineering and art. Photo provided by the College of Engineering

026

STEM Meets Art

Aggie engineers produce more than feats of engineering. Through the Engineering Art Competition, they create masterpieces as well. Now in its third year, the competition was spearheaded by Dr. Robert Bishop ’79, vice chancellor and dean of the College of Engineering, as a way for undergraduate engineering students to engage with art through the same lens they use for engineering. An endowed scholarship from Mia McCallum celebrates each year’s winner and supports their education and artistic passions.

027

The Gates of Learning

While Texas A&M provides a world-class college education, it also teaches ABCs and 123s through the Becky Gates Children’s Center. Housed in the College of Education and Human Development and part of the Texas A&M University Children’s Centers, the center serves children of students, staff and faculty while providing hands-on learning for future educators.

In 2006, The Artie and Dorothy McFerrin Foundation committed a gift to name the center in honor of Becky Gates, wife of former university president Robert Gates and a passionate supporter of early childhood education. Building on that foundation, the Gates family later committed a portion of their estate, ensuring the center continues providing children with a firm foundation in learning.

028

Two Rings and a Legacy

Most wedding registries are similar: plates, towels, maybe a honeymoon fund. The registry of Alexandra ’10 and Michael Nance ’08 took a decidedly more Aggie route. Instead of gifts, they asked for contributions toward an endowed scholarship, and the result has been supporting students since 2017. “During our engagement, we talked about starting to build our legacy together,” Michael said. “Giving back to our alma mater, the place that brought us together, seemed like the perfect way to begin that legacy.”

029

A Steady Beat

A hobbyist drummer, Michael Beck ’66 has helped at-risk youth find steadiness in learning how to keep a beat. Extending that commitment to making music accessible, he established an endowment for percussion instruments for the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts through a gift in his living trust, ensuring the power of music will continue to echo in Aggieland.

030

A Gift That Grew New Branches

A pioneer of landscape architecture, Robert Rucker ’38 planted many of Aggieland’s live oaks that define campus and went on to shape places like Baylor University and the University of Oklahoma before returning to Texas A&M. Today, his legacy lives not only in these trees but also in the students who will carry that work forward — thanks to the generosity of others.

A Foundation development officer reached out to Rucker's daughter, Virginia Miller, to discuss an underfunded endowment in his honor. What followed was lunch and stories about her father’s love for Texas A&M and the care he put into his profession. By the end of it, Miller made a gift that not only completed the endowment but went above and beyond. “I hope my gift will enable many more students to finish their degrees in his field and feel a bit of the love Dad put into all his outdoor design work,” she said.

Photo by Igor Kraguljac '08

031

Thanks and Gig 'Em From the Class of 2044

Sometimes an Aggie Ring is enough to make a stranger feel familiar, even in a hospital waiting room. When Dr. Bethany Kolb ’87 delivered Lexie ’17 and Trey Yates’s daughter, Ashby ’44, 10 weeks early, it wasn’t until Trey ’17 saw Kolb’s Aggie Ring that he finally exhaled, realizing his wife and daughter were in the hands of an Aggie. The couple later established an endowed scholarship in Kolb’s name to support future Aggie physicians while honoring the doctor who met them in their most uncertain hours.

Photo by Trevor Paulhus

032

An Open Court for Opportunity

As one of the world’s top men’s doubles tennis players and an Olympic silver medalist, Austin Krajicek ’11 knows the importance of a good return. So when his wife, Misia ’18, received a scholarship that eased her out-of-state costs for her master’s at Mays Business School, it was a no-brainer for the couple to later create their own scholarship for out-of-state marketing graduate students. “Texas A&M offers such a great college experience,” Misia said. “We thought more people from around the country should know about Aggieland and experience its culture like we did.”

033

An Official Scholarship Program...

Early on, Texas A&M supporters recognized that financial barriers prevented many talented students from attending college. In response, the university created its first official scholarship program in 1946: the Opportunity Awards program. Designed to help students, particularly those from rural and agricultural communities, gain access to an Aggie education, the program was already assisting more than 400 students less than 10 years later.

Over time, that commitment evolved into today's Foundation-supported Endowed Opportunity Awards program that continues creating life-changing educational opportunities. As one of the first recipients expressed about the generosity of those who made his education possible, “They never heard of [me], but next to Mama and Papa, they’ve given me more than anybody in my life.”

034

...Or Two or Three or Four

The legacy of that first scholarship program has only grown through the years. Today, more than 16,000 scholarships created through the Texas A&M Foundation support approximately 11,300 students, with some receiving multiple scholarships. These students come from all walks of life, but all have one thing in common: an Aggie dream that the generosity of others is helping make possible.

035

Opportunities to Spread the Aggie Spirit Far and Wide...

Every year, thousands of Texas A&M students turn the world into their classroom through education abroad experiences that develop cultural understanding, leadership skills and global perspectives. It’s no surprise, then, that the university ranks among the nation's leaders in education abroad, placing No. 7 among U.S. public universities and No. 8 overall for education abroad participation in the 2025 Open Doors Report from the Institute of International Education.

It’s equally no surprise that the generosity of donors has contributed to this area of excellence by expanding access to international experiences through education abroad scholarships. Take, for instance, John Tom Campbell ’45, who made a gift through the donation of his 6,700-acre ranch and established a matching program in 2008 that inspired donors to create 58 new education abroad scholarship endowments. Or Andy Luten ’05, whose own education abroad experience proved transformative. Today, his scholarship helps future students gain similar opportunities. “There are students out there who want to see the world, but a number in a bank account or spreadsheet says they can’t,” Luten shared. “I wanted to change that in a way that outlived me.”

Photo by Will Walker '13

037

A Graduation Gift

For more than a decade, some of Aggieland’s top graduates have entered the world with a little extra boost thanks to the Trustees’ Outstanding Student Award. Created by Susanne and Melbern Glasscock ’59, it provides a monetary award to outstanding graduating seniors like Nathaniel Lies ’21, who used the funds to begin a doctoral degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology that led to his career as a magnet engineer. “This direct gift from Aggie to Aggie is one of the most beautiful things I experienced at Texas A&M,” he said.

Photo by Leighton Jack '14

038

The Renowned Brown Scholars

For Dr. Zac Richards ’19 ’23, receiving a Brown Scholarship at Texas A&M was far more than financial support — it was the catalyst to his future. “Being a Brown Scholar is what brought me to Texas A&M. It was, and still remains, one of my proudest achievements,” he said. During his time in Aggieland, he racked up many impressive achievements, including receiving the Craig Brown Outstanding Senior Engineer Award and serving as president of Texas A&M’s inaugural Engineering Medicine (EnMed) Class. Today, he’s serving patients as a fourth-year ophthalmology resident at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and has been named an Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellow.

Since 1992, the Brown Scholarship program has benefited more than 800 high-achieving students, including 194 current scholars. This transformational investment is made possible through the Craig and Galen Brown Foundation and its leaders, Sue Smith and Craig Brown ’75.

Current Brown Scholar Athul Mohanram ’27, a computer science major and 2026 Goldwater recipient, is another high-achieving scholar. He plans to combine his computer science background with the clinical experience he is gaining through the E2EnMed Program and enroll in EnMed to become a "physicianeer" — blending engineering, technology and medicine to improve patient care. “I am deeply grateful for how willing Mr. Brown and Ms. Smith have been to offer their experience and mentorship,” Mohanram shared. “They have embodied the core values of Texas A&M.”

Created to invest in students with exceptional promise, Brown Scholarships recognize National Merit finalists who pair outstanding academic achievement with leadership and demonstrate commitment to serving their communities. “Sue and I are proud of the Brown Scholars and celebrate their achievements, not only at Texas A&M, but throughout their lives,” Brown said. “They are an extension of our family, and it’s a privilege to observe the ways in which they positively impact others.”

039

A Program to Recruit Academic Rock Stars

When Michele Mobley '87 started at Texas A&M, her goals were to fully realize all that Aggieland has to offer. Marilyn and Bob Dawson, her President’s Endowed Scholarship donors, helped her achieve this and taught her the importance of connecting with the Aggie Network and giving back. She has maintained a relationship with her donors since 1983. Now, some 40 years later, Mobley has developed a successful tax and estate planning firm, in addition to serving as a member of the Texas A&M Foundation’s Board of Trustees, where she continues to support scholarship students’ legacy of excellence.

Hers is only one of countless stories of open doors and outstanding achievements made possible by the President’s Endowed Scholarship (PES) program. The program was established in 1968 with the mission of recruiting the brightest young minds to Texas A&M and helping them realize their full potential as leaders in their respective industries.

Today, this prestigious program has only grown, with many former recipients paying their gratitude forward with PES gifts of their own. What started with five donors endowing five scholarships has grown to currently 893 lifetime donors changing the lives of 1,373 students with a PES endowment valued at $134 million. Awarded based on academic achievement, campus and community activities, and leadership roles, this flagship scholarship program makes Texas A&M financially competitive in securing National Merit Scholars and other outstanding students who bring distinction to campus.

040

Happy (Aggie) Campers

At age 12, Thomas Read dreamed of helping others. Growing up during the Great Depression, he stayed home while his friends attended summer camp. But he was determined: One day, he would hold a free camp for boys like him. In 1978, his dream came true when he and his wife, Joan, opened Deerfoot Youth Camp in Magnolia, Texas — a three-week boarding camp where at-risk boys aged 10 to 13 can attend for free to learn discipline, respect, teamwork, trust and accountability.

With deep admiration for Aggieland’s conservative values, the Reads struck a partnership with Texas A&M in 1981, recruiting students as camp employees — a partnership that continues today. Field trips to Aggieland also help campers envision the possibility of a college education. And this isn’t far-fetched; campers who complete all four years at Deerfoot are eligible for generous Read Scholarships. Thanks to a scholarship endowment that the Reads established years ago, hundreds of recipients have learned what the power of education, commitment and generosity can achieve.

Photo by Chandler Arden/George and Barbara Bush Foundation

041

Open Doors for Aspiring Political Leaders

For political science students, scholarships have the power to open doors for opportunities to lead in government, public policy, law and civic life. As the department has sought to grow the number of scholarships available to students, Jennifer ’98 and Jason Byrd ’99 and Bonnie and Otway Denny ’71 have led the charge by establishing endowed scholarships that are already helping Bush School students answer the call to public service.

042

Financing Futures for All

In 1999, the Texas A&M Foundation set out to achieve a tall task: build a scholarship program that would foster distinction and open doors for underserved students. The result? The Foundation Excellence Award (FEA).

Donors stepped up to the challenge with more than $1 million that funded 145 awards in the FEA program’s inaugural year. Since then, corporations like Sanderson Farms, the El Paso Corporation and the Hamill Foundation pledged their support for the cause, as well as individuals like Jon Hagler ’58, who continues to be a steadfast supporter of the program.

Fast-forward 27 years, and the FEA program is supporting over 840 students. This program is the only scholarship program the Foundation independently manages, allowing donors more freedom in selecting student preferences. But beyond stats and preferences is the real heart of the matter: FEAs help make Texas A&M a feasible option for those who need it most. For many recipients, it turns a far-fetched dream into a reality that positively impacts them, their families and their communities.

Photo by Emily Maners

043

Kindness for Cadets

Through generosity that includes 37 scholarships for cadets, longtime Texas A&M supporters Kay and Charlie Pence ’51 are making it possible for cadets like Rachel Rosser ’26 to focus on their education while growing as compassionate leaders. “Experiencing the Pences’ impact as both a member of Parsons Mounted Cavalry and a scholarship recipient means the world to me,” Rosser said. “Their lives have encouraged me to spread kindness to others.”

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044

A "Terry" Big Milestone

More than $100 million later and still climbing, the Terry Foundation is proving that one investment can echo across generations. Thanks to Houston philanthropists Nancy and Howard Terry, what began in 1987 as a simple yet steadfast belief to invest in the next generation has grown from a first scholarship cohort of just six Texas A&M students to impacting more than 1,800 Aggie scholars.

For many, especially first-generation college students, the Terry family establishes a built-in community and shared growth from day one. Rooted in scholarship, leadership, service and community, the Terry experience is a launchpad that equips students to step out and lead.

“We are shaped by people who invest in us before we are proven,” said Tammira Philippe ’95, Terry Scholar Class of 1991. “Giving back is simply continuing that investment chain.” Philippe is just one of the many scholars now supporting their communities, their alma mater or the Terry Foundation itself.

045

A Scholarship Program for First-Gen Students

As the first in their families to step onto a college campus, first-generation students carry more than backpacks; they carry the weight of what comes next.

Since 2004, the Regents’ Scholarship Program has helped them along their journey, reducing financial burdens with awards of up to $6,000 per year that allow approximately 1,000 Aggies annually to step confidently into their futures.

046

A Boost for the Future

For first-generation college students like Stephanie Galindo ’29, navigating college presents unique challenges. That’s where the Arts & Sciences Leadership Scholars program in the College of Arts and Sciences is stepping in to help. Backed by donors passionate about providing educational opportunities, the program works to reduce financial and academic worries for high-performing scholars like Galindo. “Receiving the Arts & Sciences Leadership Scholarship is more than just financial support,” she said. “It’s the continued knowledge that someone believes in my potential enough to support my future.”

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047

A Corps Experience

For many former students, their strongest memories trace back to the Corps of Cadets, from marching through campus on game day and earning senior boots to the routines that built discipline, leadership and lifelong friendships. Today, that experience remains within reach with the help of scholarships. Nearly 2,000 cadets receive scholarships through the Foundation, accounting for more than 82% of the Corps and helping ensure access to the cadet experience and an Aggie education.

Photo by Jim Lyle

049

A Physical Home for Philanthropy

In 1999, the Foundation entered a new era with the opening of its very own on-campus headquarters, the Jon L. Hagler Center. Supported entirely by private gifts totaling $11.9 million, including a lead gift from Jon Hagler ’58, the three-story, 53,000-square-foot building marked a new milestone. As Hagler explained: “I want the Foundation's center to enable and advance the very powerful idea of investment in the future of Texas A&M.”

Photo provided by Cushing Memorial Library and Archives

050

A Walk to Remember

Today, it serves as a recognizable campus landmark that physically connects Aggies to generations of students who came before. But in the early 2000s, Military Walk had declined from its previous prominence and become little more than an ordinary sidewalk. Dr. Robert Gates, Texas A&M’s 22nd president, noticed the hallowed passage fading and sought to restore it. Through Gates’ efforts and a generous gift from Dan Hughes ’51, the restoration was complete, cementing Military Walk’s status as a symbol of past Aggies who paved the way for Texas A&M’s future.

The Day the Wall Came Down 3_higher res web1

Photo by Igor Kraguljac '08

051

The Sculpted Spirit

From the World War I Memorial that stands solemnly on the Quad to the statue of Reveille posing regally outside Kyle Field, campus’s statues, memorials and public art honor notable Aggies and celebrate the traditions and spirit that make Aggieland unique. Out of the 51 pieces maintained by the University Art Galleries, 23 were gifts from Aggie classes and individuals to help share the stories of Aggieland in stone and bronze.

This video from the center's opening highlights the immediate impact it had on music activities, an impact that continues today.

052

A High Note

When the John D. White ’70 – Robert L. Walker ’58 Music Activities Center opened in 2019, it was music to the ears of the more than 1,300 Aggies who participate in music activities programs. The facilities, which include an artificial turf drill field, rehearsal halls and practice rooms, were supported by donors such as the Ed Rachal Foundation, Anne and David Dunlap ’83, The Artie and Dorothy McFerrin Foundation, Elizabeth and Paul Motheral ’52, and Patricia and Weldon Kruger ’53, whose generosity will ensure Aggieland continues to play in harmony.

Photo provided by SpawGlass

053

QUADruple the Learning Capacity

A place known as the Quad naturally deserves four Leadership Learning Centers. However, for decades, the Corps of Cadets’ historic home lacked dedicated spaces where cadets could focus on sharpening their minds.

When Brig. Gen. Joe Ramirez Jr. ’79 (Ret.) returned to campus as Commandant in 2010, he soon noticed the Quad’s need for an upgrade. “We needed a blueprint for turning the Quad into a modern living-learning environment to grow the Corps and attract high-caliber cadets to our ranks,” he said in a 2017 Spirit article. This realization sparked what would become the largest building project in the Quad’s history.

With more than $20 million in private support through the Texas A&M Foundation, the Tony Buzbee ’90, H. Grady Ash Jr. ’58, Susan & Michael J. Plank ’83 and Stephen C. Ash ’87 Leadership Learning Centers opened between 2012 and 2016, providing an environment that matches the caliber of cadets it produces.

Photo by Robb Kendrick

054

A Place For Reveille to Retire, and Your Pets, Too!

Madlin Stevenson’s seven dogs, four cats, pony and llama found a home at the Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center after Stevenson, along with the W. P. and Bulah Luse Foundation, generously provided initial funding for Aggieland’s nationally recognized “forever home for pets.” Established in 1993, the center provides lifelong care for animals whose owners have passed away or are otherwise unable to care for them.

Pet owners can enroll their beloved pets into the program by establishing an endowment with a bequest or a current gift. When the time comes, their pets will live out the rest of their days in comfort at the Stevenson Center, enjoying the home-like environment and the world-class medical care provided by the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Throughout its history, the Stevenson Center has been a second home to 143 cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, horses, donkeys and even a few Reveilles who have proudly made the center their retirement home after officially hanging up their mascot blanket.

Photo by Nick Barnes

055

Texas A&M's Treasure Trove

Want to dive into Texas A&M’s storied past? March on over to the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center. Funded by the late Dr. Sam Houston Sanders, Class of 1922, with a gift of real estate in his will, the center showcases everything from the World War I helmet worn by “The Aggie War Hymn” author J.V. “Pinky” Wilson, Class of 1920, to the jacket worn by Lt. Gen. James Hollingsworth ’40, the most decorated general officer in Texas A&M’s history.

Photo by Tonya Schabacker

056

New Paw-sibilities

When the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences began planning its new Small Animal Teaching Hospital, lifelong animal lovers Linda and Dennis Clark ’68 ’71 became the lead donors to name the new facility. With increasing demand for services and limited facilities to treat its 22,000+ patients annually, the gift is propelling the college into the 21st century, promising exciting opportunities for veterinary research and education beginning fall 2027.

057

Conservation That's Worth Shell-ebrating

We didn’t forget our flippered friends! Sea turtle enthusiast Cheryl Mellenthin is helping Texas A&M rescue the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle from the brink of extinction. Part of Texas A&M Galveston’s ongoing conservation efforts include breaking ground on the new Cheryl Mellenthin Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital and Educational Outreach Center this year. Since the species is primarily found along the Gulf Coast, Mellenthin’s $8.55 million worth of contributions will go a long way toward saving the Texas state sea turtle.

058

Outdoor Oasis

Among the bustle of college life, one corner of campus provides a space for students to stop and smell the roses: The Gardens at Texas A&M University. What began with a transformational lead gift from Amy ’84 and Tim Leach ’82 has blossomed into a living classroom and a place for students, staff and visitors to destress and explore horticulture and conservation. “If we do it right, this garden will exist at Texas A&M 100 years from now and make an impact on generations of students who pass through here,” Tim said of The Gardens’ development in a 2015 Spirit article.

Philanthropy continues to shape nearly every corner of this piece of paradise. For instance, the Morris and Lydia Norman Pecan Bottom is thriving thanks to a gift from Christie and Stephen Norman ’82 in honor of Stephen’s parents, whose love of gardening and pecan trees left a lasting family legacy. Students are experiencing internships and part-time employment opportunities in The Gardens through support from Theresa and Dr. Dan Lineberger. And its bioswales and other water conservation projects will keep flowing with an endowment from Lorey ’98 and Gary Wing.

Together, gifts like these have made The Gardens a beautiful campus destination that will continue to flourish as a place of discovery, inspiration and environmental care for generations of Aggies.

Photo provided by Mays Business School

059

Better Business Buildings

As Mays Business School continues to climb in rankings, the Business Education Complex is set to help it rise to even greater heights. The complex, which consists of the E.L. Wehner ’41 Building, Wayne Roberts ’85 Building and a planned graduate education building, is the direct result of those who believe in Mays’ future.

Milestone commitments from the Mays Family Foundation and Wayne Roberts ’85 helped bring the project to life, while additional gifts from corporations like ConocoPhillips, Deloitte and Valero and individuals like Jerry Cox ’72 further enhance the area’s ability to serve students on their way to business success. “We have a vision for Mays to become the preeminent public business school in the country. To achieve that, we need the best faculty, students and facilities to build upon the values and culture that make Texas A&M great,” Roberts said.

060

Engineers’ Home Base

Aggies of a certain age remember when the original Zachry Engineering Center was the newly opened home for engineering on campus. Today, the renamed Zachry Engineering Education Complex remains the hub for Aggie engineers, except now it’s also one of the largest active learning spaces in the country and remains state-of-the-art thanks to a 2018 overhaul. It’s a transformation made possible through philanthropy.

The Student Engineers’ Council led the way with the earliest gift for the renovations, raising $1 million through its annual career fair in what remains the largest student-led donation in university history. It was followed by a lead commitment from the Zachry Group, reinforcing the building’s industry ties. Inside, the Fischer Engineering Design Center, funded by SuSu and Mark Fischer ’72, provides fabrication space for student projects. And support from countless others have each left their mark on what has become a physical representation of Texas A&M’s engineering excellence.

Photo by The Eagle

061

An Unsung Hero

It’s 1998. Aggies anxiously await the first chord of their favorite Garth Brooks song as he wraps up his world tour in Reed Arena. With “Friends in Low Places” still ringing in their ears, they praise Brooks for this epic experience, but one unsung hero deserves the standing ovation: Dr. Chester Reed ’47. Reed’s $13 million real estate gift of 265 acres brought Reed Arena to life in 1998, along with the many unforgettable performances, sports games and graduations that continue today.

Photo by Texas A&M Health Science Center

062

A Living Room Makeover

A favorite location for studying, napping (er, we meant more studying) and meeting up with friends, the Memorial Student Center (MSC), affectionately known as “the living room of campus,” has undergone three renovations in the past 75 years to keep it spick and span for fresh generations of Aggies. The most recent renovation and expansion completed in 2012 was made possible in part by the generosity of former students and donors who pitched in over $20 million to ensure the building’s longevity.

The three-year renovation included major updates to the facility’s original 1951 architectural footprint and added an additional 71,000 square feet of usable space. The high-ceilinged Bethancourt Family Grand Ballroom, the sun-bathed Betsy and Pete Forster ’63 Courtyard and Garden, and the many-windowed Trisha and L.C. “Chaz” Neely ’62 12th Man Hall are just a few of the gems you’ll find gracing the MSC today. Reincorporating much of the original building materials into the new design, the renovation also included a gift for the Stephen Horn ’79 Flag Room to preserve the room’s historic interior, complete with its cowhide benches.

A haven for students young and old, the MSC continues to feel like a home away from home. So proudly remove your hat, sink into an easy chair, doze off to the piano melodies drifting through the Flag Room and be sure not to step on the grass on your way out.

063

The Place Aggie Rings Meet Wedding Rings

Second only to the Century Tree, the All Faiths Chapel may be the most romantic place on campus. Not only does it provide a place for students of all faiths and denominations to pray, worship and meditate, but it’s also been the site of many an Aggie wedding. The first took place just three weeks after its opening in 1957... talk about some quick wedding planning!

In the past decade, 37 couples have tied the knot within its wood and limestone walls, but back in its prime, it boasted an average of 300 marriages annually. With years of frequent use taking its natural toll on the structure, if it hadn’t been for monetary gifts like that of Cynthia and Doug Kennedy ’69 in 2014, the chapel might not be the destination it is today. Thanks to extensive renovations, the peaceful sanctuary designed by architecture professor Richard Vrooman ’52 continues to fulfill its role in Aggies’ spiritual education and life’s milestones. If these walls could talk, we’re sure they’d have countless stories to tell about lovers’ vows, whispered prayers and faith-reviving moments.

Photo provided by Cushing Memorial Library and Archives

064

A Timeless Tower

Since 1984, the Albritton Bell Tower’s 49 French-cast carillon bells have rung with pride and honor across Aggieland. Donated and sustained through a fund established by Martha and Ford Albritton Jr. ’43, the tower serves as a canvas where the family’s quotes of praise for Texas A&M are forever etched in the brass of the bells that peal out the Westminster chimes every quarter hour and “The Spirit of Aggieland” at special events.

Hear from John Hagler in this 2017 video commemorating his naming gift for the Hagler Institute.

065

A University-Elevating Institute

Imagine Aggie computer science students collaborating with a researcher who helped develop Wi-Fi and 5G, astronomy students studying black holes with an astrophysicist who contributed to a Nobel Prize-winning discovery, or a music student learning songwriting from Lyle Lovett ’79 himself. These interactions are reality thanks to the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study.

Since 2012, the institute has brought 156 of today’s leading scholars and experts to campus as visiting Fellows for up to 12 months to present lectures and collaborate with Texas A&M faculty and students. As National Academy-level professionals, these Fellows shape students’ experiences and elevate Texas A&M’s programs. But this impact wouldn’t be possible without the donors who have invested in its success, including Jon Hagler ’58, who advanced the institute with a naming gift, and those who have created chairs and professorships, like the Robert A. Welch Foundation, Susan ’89 and Anthony Wood ’87, and Dr. John Junkins, the institute’s founder and longtime director.

“This institute separates us from every public university,” Junkins said. “It will continue elevating ambitious programs at Texas A&M in ways that can only be imagined.”

066

A Hub for Humanities

When it comes to elevating Texas A&M’s humanities research on the world stage, the Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities Research is leading the way. For nearly 25 years, the center has served as a pillar for the humanities at Texas A&M, providing hundreds of fellowships and grants for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and visiting scholars, to advance humanities research at Texas A&M and beyond.

“The positive impact that this kind of opportunity can have on a graduate student is hard to overstate,” said Michael Portal ’23 ’25, a recipient of one of the center’s graduate residential fellowships. “I am overjoyed that this kind of opportunity exists at the university.”

But the center’s success and prestige wouldn’t be possible without the foundational support of Susanne and Melbern Glasscock ’59. A mechanical engineering graduate, Melbern has long believed in the liberal arts’ ability to enrich any student’s academic experience, a belief that led him and his wife to create an endowment for the center in 2002 that continues to serve as the cornerstone of excellence for Texas A&M’s impact on the world of humanities.

Photo provided by the College of Arts and Sciences

067

A Gift To Get on the Road Again

A vehicle manned by a passionate educator in a colorful outfit, teaching science lessons that delight and amaze. The Magic School Bus? Or Texas A&M’s Chemistry Road Show?

The Chemistry Road Show, founded in the 1980s, makes science captivating and inspires audiences of all ages across Texas. Through the years, Dow has provided two vans that have allowed Dr. James Pennington to don a rainbow tie-dye coat each year and take the lab-on-wheels — with dry ice, liquid nitrogen and other fascinating materials — over 11,000 miles across Texas.

Photo by Texas A&M Health Science Center

068

A Program That’s Providing Real Solutions for Rural America

With wide-open spaces, it’s easier to breathe in the country — until you need reliable health care. With hospitals closing, provider shortages and socioeconomic disparities, rural Texans face a growing health crisis. But the Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine’s Rural Medicine Program, supported by generous donors like the Ed Rachal Foundation, presents proactive solutions. By introducing medical students to these areas and offering outreach opportunities to inspire tomorrow’s health care professionals, future Aggie physicians are developing a heartbeat for a different way of life.

069

Retail Readiness

Did you know that Aggie students rub shoulders with top CEOs in the retail and consumer goods industry? “The M.B. Zale Leadership Scholars program has opened doors for me to travel to New York, Dallas, Houston and soon Austin, where I’ve experienced different sides of the retail industry firsthand,” said Rylie Alcorn ’27, a senior marketing major in the highly competitive program in Mays Business School’s Center for Retailing Innovation. As one of 17 scholars selected, Alcorn relished the opportunity to network with retail professionals nationwide in preparation for her own shining career.

Donald Zale ’55 created the program in honor of his father, the founder of jewelry retailer Zales Corp., in 1997. His endowed gift established the M.B. Zale Chair in Retailing and Marketing Leadership that provides operational support for the program to this day. Stellar learning experiences and professional development opportunities aren’t the only perks to the program though. “Most importantly, the program has connected me with fellow Aggies who have become lifelong friends and part of my support system,” Alcorn said.

070

Star Power

When Stephen Hawking visited the university in 2010 to give a talk on black holes, more than 3,000 people packed an auditorium to hear what the lauded physicist had to say. But the moment may never have happened without the generosity of George Mitchell ’40, who can be credited for putting Texas A&M’s physics and astronomy program on the map.

The oil and gas pioneer and his wife, Cynthia Woods Mitchell, gave the university its two-building physics complex that bears their names, complete with its iconic Foucault pendulum and peaceful rooftop garden. Numerous faculty members are conducting research today thanks to the support of chairs funded by the couple, who have also helped connect Aggieland with ambitious scientific efforts through support for the Giant Magellan Telescope. Combined, this out-of-this world generosity has shaped the Department of Physics and Astronomy into a top destination for students, faculty and world-renowned researchers. (And that’s not even mentioning his impact on Texas A&M Galveston through donating land for the island campus!)

For Mitchell, it all boiled down to a passion for physics, a love for Texas A&M and a desire to help his alma mater become the best it could be. “I’m interested in helping Texas A&M become one of the world’s leading institutions in scientific research, in areas ranging from the far reaches of deep space to the very near halls of higher learning,” he once said. Now, his legacy continues to remind Aggies that the pursuit of understanding can be as vast as the universe itself.

071

Outside-the-Box Engineering

For Ananya Das ’26 and Kshiti Kangovi ’26, it started with an idea: can technology help address agricultural challenges? The answer led to their startup SomaTech, which pairs a moisture-retaining soil buffer with an AI soil monitoring system to reduce water use while improving crop yields for farmers. Their idea delivered, earning back-to-back pitch victories and more than $100,000 along the way.

Their story is one of many made possible by the Meloy Program for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Backed by a gift from Shari ’84 and Chuck Meloy ’82, the program provides courses and mentorship that allows students to practice entrepreneurship and grow in leadership, marketing and customer focus. The Meloys’ goal is simple: make Texas A&M the place for students who want to build something that matters. The results speak for themselves.

072

The Business and Tech Connection

As business and technology converge, the Aggies in Tech program gives Mays Business School students the skills to thrive. Whether collaborating with industry leaders, experiencing emerging technologies at companies like Tesla, or participating in innovation workshops through the program's partnership with Google Labs, students graduate prepared to enter one of the nation's fastest-growing industries.

Donors like Tera Davis ’94 are the operating system behind those experiences, funding an annual two-week field trip to Silicon Valley. Others, like Rebecca ’74 and the late William Nichols III ’74, ensure those opportunities remain within reach for students like first-generation scholar Jerold Awayan ’27. Today, Awayan has secured a full-time position with Deloitte following an internship with the company. “This scholarship has given me the financial freedom to focus on maximizing Texas A&M’s opportunities,” he said.

073

A Program To Bank On

What started as a partnership between Mays and banking executives to address a shortage of bank talent has grown into one of the largest specialty programs in the Adam C. Sinn ’00 Department of Finance, offering undergraduate and graduate tracks.

Today, the Commercial Banking Program is supported by 73 advisory board members, of which 53 are banks, that help shape internships, classes and more.

Its endowments total more than $5 million, led by major gifts from the Risk Management Association and North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. To date, the program has graduated more than 475 students, most of whom accept career offers with banks on the advisory board.

074

Horses With Heart

Anyone who’s felt a soft nose nuzzle a carrot from their palm or trotted to the rhythmic gait of hooves knows the magic of horses. The bond between a horse and its rider is so unique, in fact, that organizations like Courtney Cares are harnessing its power to provide free equine services in the Brazos Valley.

Courtney Cares participants extend from children and adults with special needs or physical and emotional challenges to veterans seeking to readjust to civilian life. Created in 2012 to honor Courtney Grimshaw Fowler ’85, the heart-touching organization is housed within the Institute for Equine Sciences under Texas A&M AgriLife Research. “We have so many friends who are horse people who can attest to how beneficial horses can be in the healing process,” said Lynette Knippa. She and her husband, Darnell ’70, are among the program’s passionate supporters investing in its continued success.

075

Chemical Changes

Mary Kay O’Connor, a chemical engineer and operations superintendent, arrived at work on Oct. 23, 1989, just like she did every morning. Tragically, she would never return home. An explosion at the petroleum complex where she worked brought a sudden end to her life.

The husband she left behind, T. Michael O’Connor, was determined to prevent others from enduring that kind of loss. He became a champion of process safety, working to create positive change for industries exposed to hazardous operations through education, training and research. In 1995, he partnered with Texas A&M’s chemical engineering department to establish the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center, a resource that promotes workplace safety in hopes of raising awareness and minimizing human risk.

In the last three decades, the center has become the world’s foremost university-based process safety center, supporting the education of more than 4,000 chemical engineering students. Nearly 300 alumni have graduated from its master’s and Ph.D. programs, going out into the workforce with the knowledge and skills that will help make the world a safer place.

Photo by The Texas A&M University System

076

A New Texas A&M Home Up North

The Aggie Spirit was on full display when Texas A&M-Fort Worth officially opened its doors with the dedication of the Law & Education Building in August. The event marked a milestone for the new Texas A&M University System campus, which brings a piece of Aggieland and exciting new opportunities to downtown Fort Worth and the region. When fully complete, the campus will boast multiple buildings that house programs from two Texas A&M universities and six state agencies. It will also strengthen North Texas by enabling new industry partnerships and economic growth. Early support from multiple donors is already impacting the campus, and generosity will only continue to grow in its future.

Photo by Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife

077

A Legacy in Bloom

Morris “Buddy” Benz ’32 helped elevate the field of floral design from a commercial enterprise to a true art form through his innovative arrangements, based on the theories and principles of design. Today, his creative approach has spread as far as South Korea, and it's all thanks to an estate gift that planted the Benz School of Floral Design at Texas A&M.

Established in 1980, the Benz School is housed within the university’s horticultural sciences department and boasts the world’s only endowed chair in floral design. Following his passing, Benz donated his extensive library of floral design books and collection of fine art to the school, which can be seen on rotating display. Even more impressive than the school’s collections, however, are the students hard at work within its walls, creating floral arrangements with careful skill and learning business principles.

The Benz School offers certification courses and workshops and travels to its satellite program in South Korea to teach educators and evaluate the students’ work. Thanks to Benz, the future of floristry is truly flourishing.

Photo provided by Mays Business School

078

A Different Kind of Boot Camp

Long after they’ve endured the countless pushups, commands and other requirements of military boot camp, business-minded veterans can visit Aggieland to train in the Reynolds & Reynolds Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV). Thanks to endowed support from the Reynolds and Reynolds Corporation, the program is completely free as veterans receive experiential training in entrepreneurship and mentorship across the Aggie Network — a move that Joe Smarro, Marine Corps combat veteran and founder of SolutionPoint+, calls “a defining catalyst in my transition from service to entrepreneurship.”

080

A Meaty Program

Texas A&M’s animal science students have grown fond of their beloved Bessie, a cow who has helped them understand physiology and meat science concepts. The irony? Bessie doesn’t have any meat on her bones. A skeleton assembled and gifted by former animal science student Don Rea ’69, Bessie has been a permanent fixture in the Kleberg Animal and Food Sciences Center and is rumored to be moo-ving to Aggieland’s new Meat Science and Technology Center when it opens in 2028.

Thanks to Bessie, Don and other generous supporters like the late E.M. “Manny” Rosenthal ’42 — who established the United States’ first endowed meat science chair at Texas A&M and is the namesake of the university’s Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center — the Meat Science Program has made a name for itself as the nation’s largest meat science program. Focused on its land-grand roots of teaching, research and extension, this rare program is simply a cut above.

081

An Investment That Visualized The Future

When Texas A&M's Visualization Laboratory emerged in the early 1990s, gifts of cutting-edge technology helped position the program at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry. Companies such as Wavefront Technologies, SoftIMAGE, Alias Research and Silicon Graphics donated software and hardware that gave students access to tools rarely found in academic environments at the time.

Those early investments proved transformative. Reflecting on his time as a visualization graduate student, Tim McLaughlin ’90 ’94, who today serves as the dean of Texas A&M’s College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, recalled entering “this amazing lab full of high-performance graphics workstations and digital creation tools” even before the media industry had widely adopted computing. “The Viz Lab was the right investment at the right time,” he said. “Thirty-five years later, the result is visualization, one of the landmark programs the university promotes to demonstrate why Texas A&M is exceptional.”

Today, this early support’s legacy can be found in the Aggie visualization graduates that permeate every area of the industry, contributing to blockbusters like “Black Panther,” the “Star Wars” franchise, “Frozen” and “Kung Fu Panda”; serving at major animation and visual effects studios like Industrial Light & Magic, Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks; and working for leading technology and entertainment companies like Electronic Arts (EA), Google and Apple.

Michael Waters research 1_Robb Kendrick web-1

Photo by Robb Kendrick

082

Groundbreaking Discoveries

Imagine roaming an icy North America alongside saber-toothed tigers and 12-foot-tall woolly mammoths. For most, this surreal world exists only through a novel or film. At the Center for the Study of the First Americans, it’s an everyday reality as new archaeological finds help unravel the mystery of the first Americans.

A generous endowment created by the late Ruth and Joe Cramer in 2002 established the North Star Archaeological Research Program, providing the center’s faculty with support that has greatly enhanced their work. Such research has revealed that indigenous people inhabited North America 15,000 years ago, 2,000 years earlier than previously thought. Other North Star funds played a key role in defining the first ancient human genome in the Americas, showing that all living indigenous people are descended from an individual who lived 13,000 years ago. Thanks to the Cramers’ generosity, there’s no telling what the center’s researchers will dig up next.

083

Sports Medicine’s MVP

From concussion management to peak performance nutrition, the Sydney and J.L. Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance is Aggieland’s MVP for advancing sports medicine and human performance. Key players like the late Sydney and J.L. Huffines ’44, who funded the original endowment, and Debbie and Mike Hilliard ’73, who created an estate gift, have changed the game by providing research funds and opportunities to collaborate with sports medicine and human performance experts in Texas, the U.S. and around the world to unite the industry’s brightest minds.

084

A Program That Stands TALL

Texas A&M has a reputation for producing leaders. But the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wasn't content with stopping at students. Staying true to its land-grant mission, AgriLife Extension brought continuing education to the people already shaping Texas agriculture through the Governor Dolph Briscoe Jr., Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL) Program. Since 1987, the program has provided more than 500 professionals with leadership enhancement training, and a significant endowment from Briscoe Ranch Inc. will ensure future generations will continue to benefit.

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085

The Future of Medicine

A new chapter began for Texas A&M’s College of Medicine in 2024 when Naresh Vashisht ’72 gave the largest gift in the college’s history. The endowment provided the college with its new name — the Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine — but more than that, it unlocked new opportunities by providing full-tuition scholarships, funds for the college’s needs and research, and support for the college’s Rural Medicine Program. Our diagnosis? The college’s future is bright indeed.

Photo by Brian Goldman '94

086

Revved Up Sales Professionals

As a race car driver and the owner of one of the nation’s largest privately held auto dealer groups, Ben Keating ’94 knows a thing or two not just about cars but about how to be a successful salesman. His desire to help students develop their own sales skills led him and his wife, Kathleen ’94, to establish an endowment for the Keating Auto Group Technical Sales Laboratory that prepares Aggies for future customer interactions through behavioral sales training. “I love Texas A&M, but to me, our legacy is about the students we impact within it,” Ben said.

Photo by Robb Kendrick

087

Aggies Gone Wild

Did you know Texas A&M’s footprint extends to Costa Rica? That reach owes something to Bill Soltis ’55, who traveled there on business and saw something worth preserving. He and his wife, Wanda, later purchased 240 acres of rainforest and donated it to the university, establishing the Soltis Center for Research and Education.

Set in one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, the center now draws students and faculty across disciplines, from agriculture and engineering to geosciences and biomedical sciences. Programs from other institutions also use the site for research and fieldwork, often alongside local community service projects.

088

An Energized Industry

The future of energy remains an increasingly important topic, and the Department of Geology and Geophysics’ Berg-Hughes Center for Petroleum Geoscience and Sedimentary Systems is well equipped to tackle the challenge. Established through an endowed gift from Dudley Hughes ’51, Dan Hughes Sr. ’51 and Dan Allen Hughes Jr. ’80, the center provides students with a stellar petroleum studies education while also offering networking and collaborative research opportunities that prepare them to lead in the industry.

“The center’s industry connections, data sets and expertise are instrumental for the students’ ability to obtain internships and full-time employment in industry,” said center director Sherilyn Williams-Stroud. By researching energy sources, sedimentary basins, thermal storage and more, the center and its students will continue to lead the way in producing innovations for the industry.

Strategic Philanthropy 2_Clay Taylor web

Photo by Clay Taylor

089

A+ Philanthropy

At Mays Business School, the Strategic Philanthropy course turns students into grantmakers. Taught by Dr. Kyle Gammenthaler ’11 ’15, the class provides a firsthand look at how nonprofits operate, helps students develop their own personal approach to philanthropy and awards real grants to nonprofit organizations in the Brazos Valley.

Launched with support from The Philanthropy Lab in 2016, the course received additional support from outside the Philanthropy Lab from Jennifer and Wil VanLoh after their daughter took the inaugural class. Since then, the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, Debbie ’76 and John Bethancourt ’74, Aggieland Credit Union, Cheryl Mellenthin and the course’s former students have all lent their support, allowing over 400 students to direct more than $1.6 million to over 100 local nonprofits.

090

Endowed Gifts and Keyboard Clicks

Texas A&M is doing its part to protect the world through information security, one keyboard click at a time. The Global Cyber Research Institute, created in 2021 and endowed by Ray Rothrock ’77 and others, works to “enable a safer global society where the rule of law prevails,” as Rothrock once explained.

The institute's mission is to enable cyber defense for an information-to-action world through research, education and engagement. Recently, these efforts have included conducting research on safety-critical cloud computing systems, launching a new consortium to support IT services, and increasing collaboration among students, the government and industry partners. And its basis as an endowed institute means that as the internet age extends into a digital eternity, the Global Cyber Research Institute will continue protecting cyberspace from those who don’t follow the Aggie Code of Honor well into the future.

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Entrepreneurs Who Shoot for the Sky

Clay pigeons leave behind toxic residues in the soil, which is harmful for both the environment and our livestock. But what if target fragments left over from shooting practice were safe for cattle to consume and biodegradable? This innovative idea was developed by SK-EAT, this year’s first-place team in the Texas High School Ideas Challenge, a one-of-a-kind program that introduces Texas high schoolers to the Aggie entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For five years now, the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship has hosted the competition at Texas A&M, one of many entrepreneurial experiences offered by the center that bears the name of its lead donors, Dorothy and Artie McFerrin Jr. ’65.

Reflecting on the McFerrins’ support and the growth of the center over the years, Executive Director Blake Petty ’98 ’00 said, “It has spawned business founders and leaders whose economic impact across the world is immeasurable.”

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Business and Petroleum Combined

When Jay Graham ’92 and Anthony Bahr ’91 ’94 endowed the Petroleum Ventures Program (PVP), they saw an opportunity to prepare petroleum engineering and finance students for more than technical success. They wanted Aggies who could speak the language of both the business and energy worlds and lead in the energy sector. Since its launch in 2016, more than 200 petroleum engineering and finance students have earned the certificate.

The program blends engineering, finance, entrepreneurship and industry mentorship, helping students translate technical knowledge into leadership in boardrooms, capital allocation teams and management roles. “The difference between a good and great petroleum engineer is their knowledge of the business side of the industry,” said Kaden Spilman ’26, a petroleum engineering major who participated in the program. “PVP gives you the opportunity to be great.”

Photo provided by NASA

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One Giant Leap for Aggieland

Texas A&M’s extraterrestrial endeavors aren’t quite as numerous as the stars in the sky, but they aren’t far off! From the Texas A&M Space Institute and TAMU-SPIRIT (a generous partnership between Aegis Aerospace and the university to launch Aggie research to the International Space Station) to the space engineering degrees and the university’s space-grant status, Aggies have the interstellar on their minds.

The ways to help launch Texas A&M’s ventures into orbit are just as extensive, as many donors have found. For instance, the Honorable Edward “Pete” Aldridge Jr. ’60, former secretary of the Air Force and undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, and his wife, Joanne, recently pledged a $2 million gift to help Aggieland shoot for the stars. With permanent endowed funding going to student organizations, a teaching lab, a professorship, undergraduate research and programmatic support — all within the space engineering degrees or related to space-focused work — it’s one gift to Texas A&M that will be a giant, eternal leap for Aggiekind.

Photo by Jason Kindig

094

A Plan That Shaped a Program

Walking into one of Texas A&M’s financial planning classes today, you might assume the program has always been there. But in the 1980s, it was just an idea that kept surfacing in meetings until Bill Carter ’69 took up the case. What exists now is one of the fastest-growing programs at Texas A&M and one of the country’s largest financial planning programs. “He has given so much and continues to do so years later, with the foresight to see Texas A&M as the place for a great financial planning program,” said Dr. Nathan Harness, the program’s director.

Today, the program’s graduates are highly sought after in the industry. And through current and planned gifts from Carter and his wife, Fran, the program will continue reaching new heights for years to come.

Photo by Josh Huskin

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A Center For First-Gen Students

Intended to meet students where they are and carry them where they’re going, the Routh First-Generation Center has become a catalyst across Aggieland. Established in 2019 and made possible by a gift from Stephanie ’93 and Todd Routh ’86, the center was designed with one mission in mind: to champion first-generation Aggies from admission to graduation.

Serving nearly a quarter of Texas A&M’s undergraduates, the center creates a sense of belonging and provides mentoring and leadership opportunities, academic support and milestone celebrations. As one of only a handful of centers of its kind in the nation, its impact extends beyond campus as it helps set the standard for student success nationwide.

Photo by Leighton Jack '14

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Aggie Experiences, Achieved

From dorm life and navigating campus to extracurricular activities and internships, the college experience is truly transformative. However, for many young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, that experience has historically felt unattainable. That’s where the College of Education and Human Development recognized an opportunity.

A four-year comprehensive transition program, Aggie ACHIEVE is designed to prepare individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for meaningful employment and greater independence. During their time in the program, students gain the full college experience and graduate with a certificate in interdisciplinary studies.

As Patrick Mahoney ’71 once put it, “We can help individuals with disabilities be a valuable part of our community.” This vision is what motivated him and his wife, Dr. Sue Mahoney ’94 ’02, to financially contribute to the program in a large capacity. And it’s the guiding principle at the core of the program as it provides students the fullness of campus life as a student in Aggieland.

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An Investment in Student Success

For over 30 years, the Aggies on Wall Street program has equipped students for successful careers with leading investment banks and asset managers across New York, Texas and beyond. Every year, a hand-selected cohort of business Aggies travel to Wall Street to meet with financial companies, giving them a competitive advantage in launching their financial careers.

“Aggies on Wall Street changed the trajectory of my career,” Kaelin O’Keefe ’27 shared. “I gained direct mentorship from Aggie alumni who invested in my success. The relationships and confidence I built were instrumental in helping me earn an internship with Goldman Sachs, and it showed me the power of the Aggie Network and the impact of those investing in the next generation.”

A few such investors include Craig McMahen ’89, an investment banker who is one of the program’s founders and endowed supporters, and Gerald Ray ’54 and Donald Zale ’55, who teamed up to create an Aggies on Wall Street scholarship in memory of friend and fellow cadet, Harold Kupfer ’54. Endowments like these make it possible for students like O’Keefe to gain the network and knowledge they need to succeed.

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A Program To Cultivate Cross-Cultural Engineers

Since 2015, Halliburton has supported the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs, giving Texas A&M engineering students opportunities to receive international experience. Since the program launched, more than 7,500 students have traveled to 31 countries and gained firsthand exposure to the engineering industry worldwide.

Among those students was Kyle Harwood ’25, a chemical engineering major who participated in a semester exchange in the United Kingdom. “As an engineering student, this experience showed me the value of approaching problems from different angles and being open to new ways of thinking,” he shared.

The program positions Texas A&M as an internationally respected institution capable of producing engineers equipped with the technical skillset and cultural fluency demanded by a global workforce.

“Competitive future engineers require a global perspective,” said Jeff Miller ’88, chairman, president and CEO of Halliburton. “Through our support of the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs at Texas A&M, we invest in the next generation of engineering talent.”

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The World's Greatest Physics Show

Explosions, black holes and light rays, oh my! From laser beams to magnetic slime, the Physics and Engineering Festival puts the fun in science. Featuring hands-on, interactive exhibits, many designed by Aggie students and professors, the festival hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences attracts lecturers, students and families from across the nation.

“More than 7,500 people attended the 2025 festival,” said Dr. Tatiana Erukhimova, whose astonishing demonstrations of natural forces on the Texas A&M Physics and Astronomy YouTube channel have garnered millions of views. Additionally, 4,300 people, most of them K-12 students, participated in physics shows or “mini festivals” during the year. An event on this large scale takes a lot of time and money to plan, but thanks to sponsorship from individuals like Marsha ’69 and Dr. Ralph Schilling ’68 and major corporations like Halliburton, the festival continues to run smoothly and expand from year to year.

EnMed Priya Arunuchalam_Leighton Jack web

Photo by Leighton Jack '14

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A New Type of Doctor

Though medical coats and makerspaces may seem from two different worlds, the Engineering Medicine program brings them together into one innovative future. Through the first-in-the-nation program, students graduate with a master’s in engineering and a medical degree in four years and are equipped to become physicians who not only treat patients but also innovate new medical solutions.

In its first seven years, the college has exploded in growth, producing 102 graduates and doubling class size to the maximum capacity of 50. Success like this wouldn’t be possible without donor generosity, including its first scholarship from Kathy ’79 and Rick Spletter, its largest from Reta Haynes, and foundational support for scholarships and student awards from Sue Smith and Craig Brown ’75.

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Names That Endure

A rose by any other name might smell just as sweet, but departments honoring notable philanthropists certainly wouldn’t be the same without their names. Department namings have a special double honor: They celebrate generosity on campus through recognizing department-shaping support, and they spread that individual’s name beyond Aggieland when graduates go forth proudly proclaiming their degree from the named department. Recognize them?

Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism

Adam C. Sinn ’00 Department of Finance

Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Marketing

James Benjamin Department of Accounting

Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering

Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

Wm Michael Barnes ’64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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Travel Destinations That Pay Off

Your dream European vacation probably doesn’t include stops at English investment banks, French hedge funds or Spanish asset management firms, but they’re at the top of the itinerary for Aggies each summer.

Thanks to support from Adam C. Sinn ’00, business students in the Adam C. Sinn ’00 Center for Investment Management’s European Investment Management Course and Field Trip can interact with Europe’s financial powerhouses and the prestigious global market firsthand.

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From Campus to Capitol Hill

As a Texas representative, Trent Ashby ’95 represents six counties in East Texas. But he might not be where he is today if not for his time in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program. Through the program, students like Ashby participate in policy-related internships in Washington, D.C., Austin and Rome, Italy, gaining a front-row seat to the policy process and preparing for careers in congressional offices, the Department of Agriculture and more. Thanks to endowed support like a gift in memory of the first “Ag intern,” Allen Ahlschwede ’90, the program will continue growing future generations of policy leaders.

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Excellent Ethics Education

The Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership is easy to miss if you’re only looking for a sign on the door, but its impact in Aggies’ lives is impossible to overlook. Named for Lt. Gen. James Hollingsworth ’40 in recognition of a supporting bequest from his estate, the center reflects the kind of leader he was.

Through courses built around case studies, reflection and open debate, students practice ethical reasoning in difficult situations so that when they hold positions of authority, they’re already prepared to lead with character.

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Research on the High Seas

Aboard the Department of Oceanography’s Schade Cruise, students trade classrooms for coastlines. With Hal Schade ’67 charting the course annually since 2019 — utilizing IRA distributions to underwrite the opportunity — aspiring oceanographers set sail in the Gulf for a five-day, all-hands-on-deck research expedition providing a life-changing connection to the sea.

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A Capital Idea

Red, white, and blue meet maroon at the Bush School DC, a graduate campus preparing the next generation of national security leaders in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Opened in 2021 through the generous support of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, the Bush School DC offers master’s degrees in international policy and national security and intelligence while placing students steps away from the FBI, CIA, Department of State and the Pentagon. This proximity provides unmatched opportunities to connect classroom learning with the realities of intelligence and public service.

With many former senior intelligence and national security officials on faculty, students learn from professionals with decades of real-world experience. Programs like the Transatlantic Security Program in Europe and the Cambridge Security Initiative in the United Kingdom also provide global perspective as students engage directly with international experts and emerging security challenges worldwide.

Photo by Arturo Olmos

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Access to Exceptional Engineering

Becoming an Aggie engineer is a dream for many high schoolers, and for more than 1,700 current and former students and counting, it’s a dream come true because of Texas A&M’s Engineering Academies. A partnership between 10 Texas community colleges and the College of Engineering, the academies make an Aggie engineering education more accessible by allowing students to complete their core curriculum alongside Texas A&M engineering courses taught by university faculty while enrolled at a partner community college. Students can live at home and reduce the cost of their first one or two years, all while beginning their journey as Aggie engineers from day one.

“My parents immigrated from India, so my family doesn’t have a history of affiliation with American universities,” said Joshua Mathew ’24, a mechanical engineering graduate who is now pursuing a career in electrification and automation with technology company ABB. “The academies gave me an opportunity to enroll at Texas A&M while easing into a big university environment, and I’m so grateful for my experiences.”

By providing crucial funding, sponsors of the Engineering Academies empower students like Mathew to receive a quality education and achieve greatness in their careers. Through the continued support of current sponsors like Diamondback Energy, ExxonMobil Foundation, Samsung Austin Semiconductor and Zachry Corporation, Texas A&M continues to prove that its engineering education is both exceptional and accessible.

Photo by Leighton Jack '14

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Educational Espionage

At the Bush School of Government and Public Service, one name operates at the center of its Intelligence Studies Program: James Olson. A former CIA operative, Olson helped build the program from the ground up with a focus on practical, hands-on espionage skills. “Recruiters have told me several times that they've never seen better candidates than those coming out of the Bush School,” said the now-retired professor.

That kind of impact doesn’t go unnoticed. Inspired by Olson’s influence, multiple donors joined forces to provide more than $1.2 million for the James M. “Jim” and Meredith Olson Bush School Intelligence Studies Program Endowment. Also looking to honor Olson were Angie ’84 and Billy Lemmons ’83, who established an intelligence studies chair in his name.

Today, that support drives a curriculum built to mirror the real world of intelligence work. From counterintelligence to emerging security challenges, coursework is paired with insight from seasoned professionals to shape students into tomorrow’s leaders.

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Small Towns, Big Gifts and Bigger Impacts

The Bryan-College Station area may have swelled to an estimated population of over 287,000, but Aggieland never forgot its small-town roots. These days, Texas A&M is doing its part to support communities of all sizes through the City and County Governance Program. This Bush School initiative prepares future public servants to lead and serve, particularly in small-to-medium-sized areas as a concentration in the Master of Public Service and Administration.

It found an early champion in Drayton McLane Jr., who saw the need for qualified local public servants in his hometown and jumpstarted the concentration with an initial gift. His generosity, along with that of Amy ’84 and Tim Leach ’82, who established an endowment for the program’s director, ensures that Aggies aren’t just leading in big boardrooms but small-town streets as well.

Photo provided by Cushing Memorial Library and Archives

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The Man Who Saved Aggieland

The year was 1912, and the situation looked dire for the young Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas: The state legislature was discussing merging the college with the University of Texas (gasp!) and slowed appropriations to Texas A&M. To keep the college functioning and to save Aggieland from becoming tea-sip territory, E.B. Cushing, Class of 1880, stepped forward and pledged his own assets to guarantee credit for the college. Cushing's generosity continued beyond his lifetime through the donation of his personal library, a legacy that lives on through Cushing Memorial Library and Archives.

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A Humble Check That Began a Legacy

Long before the name Jon Hagler ’58 graced philanthropy’s campus headquarters, it appeared on a much humbler mark of generosity: a check for $2.50. Though it might not have seemed like much at the time, the check, sent by Hagler when he was a graduate student at Harvard Business School, carried a profound meaning. “We had zilch for money,” Hagler later recalled about his decision. “But I wanted to say that I remembered and that I was going to be a giver in the future.”

As a scholarship recipient during his time studying agricultural economics in Aggieland, Hagler knew firsthand how generosity can shape a life. That early impact set the stage for his rise from a self-described “poor kid” to a renowned investment management professional who later made good on the promise of that first $2.50 check many times over, including serving as a Foundation trustee and providing consistent support for multiple areas of Texas A&M.

His generosity reflects his unwavering belief in the power of higher education and the impact Texas A&M can make on the world. In a prime example of this belief, he’s been a leading supporter of the Foundation Excellence Award scholarship program that helps underserved students achieve their educational dreams. “Education is as close as anything I can find to a cure-all for the ills that pervade our state, nation and world,” he said.

Photo provided by the WoodNext Foundation

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Forward-Thinking Philanthropy

As a business builder, Anthony Wood ’87 began in his youth by selling golf balls back to their owners when they overshot from a course near his home. He’s since evolved into the founder of Roku, the platform used by millions that transformed TV streaming.

As a philanthropist, Wood and his wife, Susan ’89, made early gifts of a few hundred dollars to the Texas A&M Foundation to support the electrical engineering and architecture departments. These days, the couple is pioneering a new path of philanthropy in Aggieland, providing transformational support for Texas A&M over the last three decades and counting.

Guided by their mission to advance human progress and remove obstacles to a fulfilling life, the Woods’ giving is wide-ranging, supporting biomedical and other scientific research, scholarships, student life and resources for student learning. The research they support aims to discover a treatment for jet lag, promote healthy aging, explore space and deepen our understanding of the universe. Along with these opportunities, they support students through scholarships and other resources, including the Libraries' Tech Bar, the music production studio, low Earth orbit research facilities and the Anthony Wood ’87 Artificial Gravity Lab.

Even while investing in tomorrow’s society, Wood holds tight to his Aggie roots. “In the early days of Roku, there were only 10 or 20 of us, so I thought I’d train the staff on the proper way to start a meeting by saying, ‘Howdy,’” Wood said once. “Now that we’ve grown, I still say it by default, and they all say ‘Howdy’ back.” With the innovative research, students and programs that his generosity supports, it’s no surprise Wood feels compelled to spread a little of the Aggie Spirit wherever he goes.

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Leaders of Generosity

You’ve seen their names on the Heep Laboratory Building and West Campus’ Minnie Belle and Herman F. Heep ’20 Center. But the Heeps’ impact extends far beyond the classrooms inside. In fact, philanthropy might not hold the same role at Texas A&M today if not for the late Minnie Belle and Herman Heep.

In addition to his role creating the Texas A&M Foundation in the 1950s, Herman served as its first chairman, and he and his wife were some of its earliest supporters, contributing $250,000 before his death in 1960.

But that’s just where their impact began. Minnie Belle continued giving to the Foundation, and in 1986, she used interest from their ranch to create a foundation in their names to further advance Aggieland. The Heep Foundation became known for supporting graduate fellowships, professorships and chairs and providing matching gift opportunities that inspired others to give alongside them. The Heeps became the first couple, and Minnie the first woman, to receive the Sterling C. Evans Medal in recognition of their impact and vision for what collective support could make possible.

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A Bright Future

On paper, Department of Management head Dr. Wendy Boswell, cardiology expert Dr. Glen Laine ’79 and agricultural engineer Dr. Michael Buser ’04 might not have much in common when it comes to their research. But in fact, the breakthroughs they’re making today can all be traced to one man: renowned oilman and businessman Harvey “Bum” Bright ’43.

In 1997, Bright made a $25 million commitment to Texas A&M, the largest gift in university history at the time. While $10 million strengthened matching scholarships for members of the Corps of Cadets, the remaining $15 million launched a matching program for new endowed faculty chairs across the university. The gift sparked a wave of investment in faculty excellence, leading donors to create new chairs across campus, including the ones held by Boswell, Laine and Buser.

For Laine, endowed funding creates opportunities to pursue bold ideas that traditional research grants often can’t support. “Federal research funds must be spent in a focused manner as specified in our extramural grants,” he explained. “Endowed funds allow us to pursue novel findings with potential for significant societal impact that would otherwise not be possible.”

Photo by Gabriel Chmielewski

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The Man Who Bled Maroon for 102 Years

Age 19: Mike Dillingham ’35 shared campus with Reveille I.

Age 23: He graduated with a degree from the university’s new petroleum engineering department.

Age 88: He established the Georgia and Mike Dillingham ’35 General Rudder Corps Scholarship, which to recipient Colton Erlandson ’28 “reminds me what being an Aggie is truly about: making the most out of life during your short time here and doing good work for others selflessly.”

Age 100: He celebrated his birthday with a host of guests at the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, receiving a commemorative saber as a present.

Age 102: He passed away, leaving behind a legacy of significant generosity — including approximately 22 scholarships that support cadets like Erlandson every year — and of enjoying Aggieland to the fullest. In the years between, Dillingham lived a remarkably full life, from fighting in World War II to founding a successful drilling business and deeply caring for his family, and he never stopped bleeding maroon.

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A Hand in Texas A&M's History

John Lindsey ’44 and his wife, Sara, played a role in some of the most significant moments in Texas A&M’s history. They successfully advocated for the university to admit women, helped establish the Texas A&M University Press, played a vital role in selecting Texas A&M as the site of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and were founding donors to the President’s Endowed Scholarship program. Together, they also dedicated more than $6.6 million to support faculty chairs, scholarships and university initiatives.

Lindsey’s influence can still be seen across campus today, including in the thriving Texas A&M Press and its on-campus home that bears his name. But recognition was never his motivation. He believed in creating meaningful change and inspiring others to do the same, leaving Texas A&M stronger for generations to come.

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The Jack E. Brown Blueprint

When the Jack E. Brown Chemical Engineering Building was dedicated more than two decades ago, it marked a milestone moment for Texas A&M as the university gained one of the few buildings in the country devoted to chemical engineering education. Today, the nationally ranked Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering boasts an enrollment that surpasses 1,000 students across undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs.

At the center of that transformation are Frances and Jack E. Brown ’46. A World War II veteran and co-founder of an independent oil and gas company, Jack’s life reflected service and success, and with the couple’s gift for the facility, they created an environment that continues to engineer impactful futures.

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Not Aggieland's First Rodeo

From Houston and Austin to San Antonio and Fort Woth, the Lone Star State’s four famed rodeos play an important role in many students’ Texas A&M journeys.

From scholarships, grants and beyond, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Rodeo Austin and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo all philanthropically celebrate the special connection between Texas rodeos and Texas’ premier agricultural university. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has donated (hold on to your hat!) nearly $100 million to Texas A&M, spurring the Texas A&M Foundation to recognize it with the highly prestigious Sterling C. Evans Medal. The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo isn’t horsing around either, with over $24 million given in support of Aggie students. Not to be outdone in dirt-packed arenas or in generosity, Rodeo Austin and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo are also staunch partners of Texas A&M, directly supporting future and current Aggies through direct scholarships to students.

Jointly, these rodeos have done even more than provide scholarships or uplift Texas A&M programs. They’ve cultivated environments that honor hard work and agricultural excellence, empowering Texas youth to seek a similar culture and home in Aggieland.

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A Lifelong Love

“Mrs. Haynes is the most joyous human I have ever met. She is the sweetest soul and a radiant light to anyone who has the pleasure of speaking with her.” These words from Haynes Scholar Jessica Sperber ’26 ring true for anyone who knows Reta Haynes.

For decades, Mrs. Haynes and her late husband, Bill ’46, have been some of Texas A&M University’s most steadfast supporters. Nearly every corner of campus bears some mark of their philanthropy, such as the Singing Cadets, the Corps of Cadets and multiple colleges, including the College of Engineering and the College of Education and Human Development. They have given significant support for student scholarships, and multiple campus landmarks bear their names, including the H.J. (Bill) and Reta Haynes Engineering Building and the Haynes Ring Plaza with its famous Aggie Ring statue, a replica of Mr. Haynes’ own Aggie Ring.

But for Mrs. Haynes, the impact on students has always been most important. She’s created numerous scholarships, most notably the Haynes Scholars Program that opens doors of opportunity for high-achieving students like Sperber by providing significant financial support. For years, she and her daughter, Sharon Early, made regular trips from California back to Aggieland to interact with her scholars.

“Meeting and knowing these scholars has been the highlight of my life,” she once said. “These young people are the future of our great country, and I know they will keep the Aggie traditions and spirit alive and pass them to future generations.” And she’s leading the way as a shining example, through every department impacted, every student supported and every life changed by her generosity for Aggieland.

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Faculty Fundraisers

Faculty know the importance of private philanthropy in elevating Texas A&M. Many faculty and staff have partnered with the Foundation in its fundraising mission by helping build philanthropic relationships. To honor those who have gone above and beyond in this pursuit, the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees established the R.A. “Murray” Fasken ’38 Partner in Philanthropy Award in 2016, surprising Dr. John Junkins as its inaugural recipient. Since then, another 12 recipients have been honored.

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A Name That Will Never Tarnish...

Standing in the heart of campus, Texas A&M’s six-story, 500,000-plus-square-foot Sterling C. Evans Library not only serves as a repository of knowledge but also as an enduring testament to the man who made it possible. That October day in 1975 when the library was first dedicated was life’s proudest moment for Sterling C. Evans, Class of 1921. And for a life that crossed three centuries, 1899-2001, that’s really saying something.

Evans graduated at the top of his college class. A flourishing career in banking and agriculture brought him financial success, but Evans immediately began pouring it back into Texas A&M. He lived by the mantra that a great school deserves a great library. Over his lifetime, Evans gave close to $10 million to the Foundation, including the proceeds from the sale of his 14,000-acre ranch. In his first three years as president of the Friends of the Texas A&M University Library, the size of the collections tripled, the staff doubled and the building expanded twice.

Even so, the library wasn’t the only place Evans left his impact. Together with university president Gen. James Earl Rudder ’32, Evans advocated for transformative changes at Texas A&M, including admitting female and Black students and making Corps of Cadets participation voluntary. These men forever altered the trajectory of Texas A&M, elevating it from a small all-male military college to an internationally acclaimed university.

Evans was also a founding trustee of the Texas A&M Development Foundation — now the Texas A&M Foundation — and inspired others to give. “We all got something special here, and we all want to pay this place back, in some small way, for everything it did for us,” he once said of his alma mater. Never one to brag about his own accomplishments, praises from friends like Dr. Haskell Monroe Jr. still ring true: “Mr. Evans was the best of the best — the epitome of what all Aggies wish they could be.”

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...And A Legacy That Shines On

Given his incredible impact, it’s only fitting that the Texas A&M Foundation chose Evans’ name for its top honor: the Sterling C. Evans Medal. Established by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 1998, the award recognizes recipients for their distinguished record of service, leadership and commitment to Texas A&M. With an influence that stretches to the farthest reaches of campus, the 37 Evans Medal recipients have collectively given over $1 billion to the university through current and estate gifts and stand as shining examples of the values Evans held dear.

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Big Gifts, Big Impact

Corporate gifts offer a major source of support to Texas A&M, and these organizations have real impact on the lives they touch through scholarships, college programs, student activities or faculty funding. Resulting relationships can also lead to an organization’s next stellar hire, because who wouldn’t choose an Aggie?

Top 5 Corporate Partners by All-Time Contributions
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Chevron
Exxon Mobil Corporation
ConocoPhillips
BP International Limited

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Business Matters

While Lowry Mays ’57 didn’t set out to be in the radio broadcasting business, the success that followed his serendipitous career change was no mistake. Nor is the family legacy of epic proportions he left behind in Aggieland and across the state.

It all started when an FM radio station fell in the then-San-Antonio-investment-banker’s lap. Partnering with Red McCombs, Lowry founded a regional broadcasting company, which became Clear Channel Communications. By 2004, it had evolved into a media empire, operating 1,200 radio stations in addition to 40 television stations and an outdoor advertising company.

It may seem like an overnight success story, but in true American-dream fashion, Lowry and his wife, Peggy, both grew up during the Great Depression and learned the value of hard work. He knew firsthand the power of a good education and the blessing that nonprofit organizations could be, and those core beliefs became the heart of the Mays family giving philosophy.

In 1996, Peggy and Lowry donated $15 million to Texas A&M, an endowed gift that led to the naming of Mays Business School. Lowry was honored with the Sterling C. Evans Medal in 2010, but the couple didn’t stop there. In 2017, the Mays Family Foundation made two commitments to Mays totaling $25 million, followed by a $25 million gift in 2024 to support construction of Mays’ new graduate education building, the largest single donation in the school’s history.

In all, the Mays family’s support totals more than $72 million and has been game-changing for the school, helping shape it into the business education leader it is today. “Lowry Mays was the quintessential Aggie,” said Mays Business School Dean Dr. Nate Y. Sharp. “He was an honest, hard-working man who lived every aspect of his life with complete integrity.”

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A Passionate Professional

Every day, Aggies benefit from the work of Dr. Robert “Bob” Walker ’58 ’80 without even knowing it.

During his 46-year career in fundraising for Texas A&M, Walker worked to build a brighter future for the university, raising hundreds of millions of dollars for Aggieland and forming countless lasting friendships along the way. From his own pocket, he gave over $465,000 to support the university, and through his efforts, countless others experienced the joy of impacting their Texas A&M passions. “Aggies want to give something back in return for that feeling of family,” Walker once said. “For the money, Texas A&M still provides the best education available.”

Walker helped implement the President’s Endowed Scholarship program, and as a board member of the Ed Rachal Foundation, he cultivated a decades-long relationship that resulted in key funding for university projects still impacting students today, including the John D. White ’70 — Robert L. Walker ’58 Music Activities Center that bears his name.

Photo provided by Cushing Memorial Library and Archives

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Kyle's Field

It’s one of the loudest and largest college football stadiums in America, but Kyle Field might never have existed if not for Edwin Kyle, Class of 1899.

Dubbed “Mr. Texas A&M,” Kyle graduated as valedictorian with a degree in horticulture. After earning two degrees at Cornell University, he returned to Aggieland to serve as a professor in the very department that grew him and later became the first dean of agriculture.

What began as Kyle’s field — a dedicated space for his educational experiments — became campus’s athletic home when he used his faculty position to dedicate the land to football. But his influence didn’t stop there. In 1907, Kyle purchased a grandstand from the Bryan Fair Association to hold football fans. Since then, those 1,000 seats have become 102,733, and the two-story grandstand has transformed into a massive stadium. Yet one thing remains the same: “Kyle” will forever be its name.

Photo by Josh Huskin

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A Well of Impact

On the Central Texas ranchland of the late Allan Marburger ’60, both oil and Aggie scholarships flowed. For nearly two decades, the humble cattle rancher provided a pipeline of royalty checks straight to the Texas A&M Foundation, in addition to gifting the 800 acres from his ranch, turning land into opportunity.

While earning a degree in agronomy, Marburger benefited from the same spirit of generosity he later carried forward. What he learned in his field of study, and the field he labored in, eventually grew into a larger realization. “On a farm, you plant that one seed; it germinates and comes up, and in turn, produces many seeds,” he once said. “I’m trying to use my scholarships to plant a seed for Aggie students who will bloom down the road and give something back.”

By committing nearly $24 million in current and after-lifetime gifts to support scholarships that impacted approximately 2,336 students total during his life, the Bastrop County bachelor did, in a sense, build a family of his own — one made up of Aggies who will carry his spirit of generosity to the next generation.

Photo by Phil Kline

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Beaver's Big Stop for Big Ideas

You need only look at a Buc-ees to see that Arch “Beaver” Aplin III ’80 likes going big. So when the Buc-ees founder and CEO wanted to make an impact for future professionals, it’s no surprise that he’s going all in.

Through a $60 million gift, Aplin will support a new West Campus center designed as a living-learning lab for hospitality, retail and product development. Set to open in 2028, the Aplin Center brings together learning spaces across the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Mays Business School, including culinary arts, meat science, retail and marketing. The center will also include spaces where students gain hands-on experience running food service operations and various aspects of a retail store, in addition to housing the new visitor’s center to serve as campus’s front door.

The investment also supports scholarships and excellence funds in the newly renamed Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Marketing and Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism. “We have so many good Texas-based hospitality companies,” Aplin said. “But this will enlarge the Aggie sphere.”

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Love From Former Students...

For over 130 years, A&M Clubs have impacted Aggies. Today, over 250 clubs have given over $20 million to the Texas A&M Foundation and established 177 endowments. “The success of A&M Club scholarships comes from former students who stay engaged and invest in future generations,” said Misty Watkins ’00, who oversees scholarships for the Dallas A&M Club.

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...And Their Moms Too

What started in 1922 with one mom’s desire to raise the quality of campus life has grown into 7,300 members across 110 clubs in the Federation of Texas A&M Mothers’ Clubs. These Fightin’ Texas Aggie moms are still staying true to their original legacy, having given over $19 million to the Texas A&M Foundation and established 90 endowments through the years.

Photo by Sam Craft/Texas A&M Marketing and Communications

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Passing It Back and Paying It Forward

As students, they direct the 12th Man in filling Kyle Field with hisses, chants and plenty of yells. But after graduation, many former Yell Leaders remain just as committed to their duty of passing it back, just in a different way. Through the years, former Yell Leaders have created multiple endowments to support the tradition, ensuring current and future generations will continue holding the title of the loudest and proudest student body. “The support of former Yell leaders means the world to me,” said current Yell Leader Josh Brewton ’27. “The yell program and Texas A&M as a whole would not be where it is today without the support and legacy left behind by those who have come before us.”

Photo by Igor Kraguljac '08

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Legacy Amid Loss

Following the tragedy of the Bonfire collapse, Aggies everywhere stood together in support. This outpouring took many forms, including more than $406,000 raised for an endowed fund to provide scholarships in the names of the 12 Aggies who lost their lives and another in honor of those who were injured. The effort ensures their names will endure forever through the scholarships and the students whose Aggie experiences are shaped by the support.

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A Freshman's First Tradition

With its colorful camps, meaningful connections and high-energy environment, Fish Camp has served as a gateway to the Aggie experience for generations of freshmen. Donor support helps ensure that financial circumstances don’t prevent students from participating in the tradition, with more than 369 scholarships allowing students to attend one of Texas A&M's most impactful transition programs.

For donors Elaine and Steven Nance, the motivation for creating an endowed scholarship came from witnessing the program's impact on their own children and countless freshmen. “We saw how Fish Camp prevents students from feeling lost at a large university,” Steven explained.

Photo by Abbey Toronjo/Texas A&M Marketing and Communications

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A Place To BUILD

For over a decade, BUILD has united Aggies through hands-on service while expanding access to health care around the world. Since 2013, student volunteers have transformed shipping containers into 60 fully functioning Texas Aggie Medical Clinics serving communities across five continents and rural Texas.

Philanthropy has fueled that growth, including a lead gift from The Artie and Dorothy McFerrin Foundation for the construction of BUILD's permanent home.

For student leaders like Lauryn Kastenschmidt ’25, the impact extends far beyond the site. “Knowing that access to health care isn't available in many communities, and that we're being part of the solution, is something I didn't think would be possible from a student organization,” she said.

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A Sound Investment

Every time the Wind Symphony plays in harmony or the Singing Cadets blend their voices for “The Spirit of Aggieland,” they do so with a symphony of support behind them thanks to the generosity of others. Through the years, donors have helped provide instruments, resources for student performers, travel opportunities and program growth for the university’s 15 music activities groups, allowing students to develop their talents, represent the university around the world and continue hitting the high notes.

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Standing With the 12th Can

When it comes to fighting food insecurity on campus, the 12th Can lives up to its name as the place where Aggies stand together. In spring 2026, the student-run food pantry provided food to 4,280 clients, but it takes the tireless efforts of student volunteers and the generous contributions of donors to make such impact possible. “For us, supporting the 12th Can is about giving Aggie students one less thing to worry about so they can focus on school and their future,” said Erika ’14 and Chris Pesek ’97, who created an endowment that will provide enduring support for the pantry.

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A Big "Thank You"

The Big Event began with a simple idea from student Joe Nussbaum ’84: thank the surrounding community through a day of volunteer service. Decades later, it has grown into the largest student-run service project in the nation. But Nussbaum's commitment didn’t end there. He later established an endowed fund supporting The Big Event's continued growth and success for future generations. “For me, the greatest inspiration is seeing young people take on incredible responsibility and do extraordinary work,” he said. “The Big Event’s student leaders continue to impress me, and it is an honor to support them.”

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An Affordable Aggie Experience

The famous Aggie experience is shaped by student organizations and the meaningful learning experiences they provide outside the classroom. But participation can come with financial barriers. The Aggie Experience Fund helps remove those barriers, providing assistance for students to join recognized student organizations.

Supported through multiple endowed gifts, including a lead commitment from Anne ’90 and Mike Hachtman ’86, the fund has expanded opportunities for students across campus, including Yashaswini Paleru ’24. Thanks to the fund, Paleru joined four engineering organizations, including TAMU RoboMasters, to grow her professional skills and personal connections. “There are so many opportunities here to engage in whatever you like,” she said. “I’m grateful to the former students who have given to the Aggie Experience Fund, ensuring everyone has a fair chance to make friends and fond memories in student organizations like they did.”

Photo by Whitney Moody/Texas A&M Marketing and Communications

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Gifts Fit for a First Lady

Her bark cancels class. Her presence causes instant smiles and photo queues. Aggies love everything about Reveille, and they make sure she has anything her collie heart desires!

A bronze statue of herself outside Kyle Field? Sonja and Neal Adams ’68 gave the lead gift to make it reality. Scholarships for her mascot corporals? Dr. Sue ’94 ’02 and Patrick Mahoney ’71 cover them. An endowed fund to care for her in perpetuity? Donors have supported it since the ’80s.

One thing is evident: Aggies will do anything for their beloved mascot, the First Lady of Aggieland and highest-ranking member of the Corps of Cadets.

Photo provided by MSC L.T. Jordan Institute

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Worldly Wonders

Queen Elizabeth II eyes the room from her portrait as jade bird statuettes from China take flight near a German clock that held time long ago. These treasures take Aggies to other worlds, thanks to the artifact collection of late jetsetters Jessie and Leland “L.T.” Jordan, Class of 1929. In 1986, Jessie celebrated L.T.’s spirit of internationalism with a $1 million endowed gift, founding the MSC L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness, affording students life-changing experiences both abroad and in Aggieland.

Photo provided by Kamryn Sanchez '27

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Leadership, Al Dente

Before Kamryn Sanchez ’27 set foot on campus, she embarked on an overseas adventure that proved to be a defining moment in her Aggie experience. As one of just 24 freshmen selected annually for the MSC Conway-Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar that launches Aggies across the Atlantic and into leadership studies, Sanchez spent two weeks exploring Italy with newfound friends and discussing life lessons and values over gelato. Since then, she’s continued to develop her leadership skills through multiple student organizations but still credits the seminar with establishing her confidence and sense of belonging. “I truly believe my Aggie experience would not be the same without this opportunity,” she said.

Thanks to the generosity of Thomas Fitzhugh III ’71, who established the seminar with a gift in the 1990s, and Patrick Conway ’96, a member of the first cohort who boosted the program with an additional endowment, stories like Sanchez’s will continue to grow as it helps more Aggies step outside their comfort zones and gain a global mindset.

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Support to Saddle Up

The boom of a cannon firing. The thrum of horses’ hooves. They’re the undeniable sounds of Parsons Mounted Cavalry (PMC), and they continue to echo in Aggieland today thanks to the generosity of others.

The Dorothy and Artie McFerrin ’65 Parsons Mounted Cavalry Headquarters serves as the heart of PMC operations at Fiddler’s Green, providing working spaces for cadets and storage for all tack and riding equipment. Following her husband’s passing, Dorothy has continued to show unwavering support for the unit, including funding a covered arena and supporting the Class of 1974’s efforts to raise funds for a new artillery building. PMC has committed to always have a horse named Artie in its herd in honor of the McFerrins.

Kay and Charlie Pence ’51 have also helped Texas A&M cadets ride on. In 2023, Kay established a fund in memory of Charlie to support PMC’s continued operations.

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Lectures From World Leaders

Which MSC student organization has hosted two former U.S. presidents? If you guessed the Wiley Lecture Series, you’re correct! With topics ranging from foreign policy to civil discourse, the student-led program invites some of the world’s most renowned leaders and policy experts to campus, including former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and broadcaster Walter Cronkite. What’s kept the program alive all these years? A 1984 endowed gift from brothers James Wiley Sr. ’46 and A.P. Wiley Jr. ’46 and continued donor support.

Photo by Josh Huskin

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A Place to Serve Those Who Have Served

Since its founding in 2012, the Veteran Resource & Support Center (VRSC) has grown alongside Texas A&M’s student veteran population. But for years, the center operated without a permanent home. A $5 million gift from Don and Ellie Knauss in 2020 changed that, naming the center and providing a dedicated space where student veterans could find support, community and connection.

Through the years, the Knausses have supported the university’s more than 1,600 veteran and military students in multiple areas, allowing the VRSC to provide academic resources, scholarships, wellness programs, career readiness and more. “The VRSC is more than a resource,” said Brittany Taylor ’26, a student veteran pursuing a career in health care and military medicine who found both direction and belonging within the center’s walls. “It’s a place where student veterans transition, rebuild community and continue to serve in new ways.”

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A Tune That Spans Generations

Father-son duo Dr. Richard ’65 and Dr. Chris Alexander ’91 both stood proudly at the head of the Aggie Band, boots polished and maces at the ready. When the whistle blew and the cadets stepped off the sideline, each led the way... only 26 years apart.

The Alexander family’s eight-decade connection with Texas A&M began with M.M. Alexander Jr. ’43, followed by Chris and his father, who served as the White Band Drum Major and later joined the Texas A&M faculty. “From an early age,” Chris said, “the Aggie Band shaped my aspirations and character.” After career success, Chris established a drum major scholarship in his father’s honor in 2024. The family also hosts an annual dinner with the drum majors to celebrate their accomplishments. “The evening creates a meaningful opportunity to invest in the next generation while honoring a legacy that continues to grow,” Chris remarked.

The Corps currently administers 203 scholarships created through the Texas A&M Foundation that have an Aggie Band requirement or preference like the Alexanders’, ensuring the pulse of the Spirit of Aggieland beats strong for years to come.

Photo by Will Walker '13

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A Legacy of Leadership

Guided by a simple motto — God first, others second, self third — David Gilbert ’07 impacted those around him from the moment he arrived in Aggieland. After a hard-fought battle with cancer, his passing in 2005 inspired his closest friends to remember David by creating an environment that would uphold his values of character, service and involvement.

This vision came to life when Tom and Laura, David’s parents, established an endowment to support the initiative. Out of their combined efforts to honor David, the Gilbert Leadership Conference was born.

Held annually in Dallas, the four-day experience brings together 40 selected freshmen for a time rooted in mentorship, service and growth that challenges them to lead with the values David lived out in his own leadership. “We never imagined David’s impact would still be felt 20 years after his passing,” Laura said. “It’s a heartwarming reminder of our son’s ability to leave a lasting mark on so many lives.” 

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The Coat Connection

If you see students in maroon blazers escorting university guests around campus, you’ve just spotted a few of Texas A&M’s most dedicated student representatives.

The idea for the unique organization known as the Maroon Coats came from Dr. Ed Davis ’67, then the Texas A&M Foundation’s president. “Through his interactions with students,” said Maroon Coats founder Michael Schramm ’08, “he became aware of an under-utilized element of the giving process: the simple act of meeting with current students and experiencing the spirit of Aggieland through them.”

From its fledgling group of 16 students in 2008 to more than 60 today, the group consistently embodies excellence, leadership and selfless service.

But the commitment doesn’t end at graduation. Take, for example, Ben Fedorko ’10, who served as Maroon Coats president. “Watching former students and supporters of the Foundation give so freely of their time and fortunes is a life lesson that will forever affect my thoughts and actions,” he wrote in a 2011 Spirit article. Today, Fedorko has lived up to that promise, giving back to the university through a current scholarship and planned gift.

The organization has its own staunch supporters, like Barbara and Bill Huffman ’53. Recipients of the Foundation’s Sterling C. Evans Medal and honorary Maroon Coats, the couple created an endowment for the group to ensure its students can continue serving the Foundation’s mission.

Bella Griffin group 1_Summer Spirit 2025 web1

Photo by Rachel Willmon

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Leadership Lessons

Every year, more than 60 students gather to dig deep, define their values and carry them forward at the MSC Abbott Family Leadership Conference. Established in 1995 through an endowment from Joanie and Frank Abbott, the 1987-88 Texas A&M Parents of the Year, the conference reflects the Abbott family’s devotion to cultivating student leaders. Today, that passion is carried on by their children and strengthened by further financial support from former conference participants who chose to invest in future generations the way the Abbotts did for them.

Photo by Jesse Everett/Texas A&M Marketing and Communications

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"Here"

From the darkened campus during Silver Taps to the bright flames of Muster candles, the dedication to gathering together and honoring those who have gone before remains one of the things that makes Aggies, Aggies.

These traditions of remembrance and reflection continue burning brightly through endowed support for the ceremonies. Not content to stop there, this generosity extends to every meaningful detail, including floral arrangements funded by sisters Elizabeth Kallus ’91 and Mary Kallus, scholarships for student Muster leaders from Rachel and James Baxter, hospitality support for Silver Taps families traveling to campus from the Dallas A&M Club, and candle keepsake boxes for Muster families from Sandra and Les Pittman ’74.

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The Act of Service That Started It All

An Organization To Enable Generosity

Classes That Care

A Wall-Worthy Collection...

...That's Not Just for the Wall

Mapped Munificence

Timely and Techy Treasures

One for the Books

Forsyth's Foresight

Campaigns That (Fund)Raised the Bar

The Forever Gift

A Surefire Collection

Endowments for Educators

Compassion for Critters

A Bequest With Flying Colors

Support to Squawk About

The Gift of Life

United We Sing

The Gold Standard

An Act of Kindness That Grew

The Little Country School Teacher Who Could

A Nobel Laureate's Legacy

Seeds for Students

A Helping Hand(Ball)

Funding for Frequencies

STEM Meets Art

The Gates of Learning

Two Rings and a Legacy

A Steady Beat

A Gift That Grew New Branches

Thanks and Gig 'Em From the Class of 2044

An Open Court for Opportunity

An Official Scholarship Program...

...Or Two or Three or Four

Opportunities to Spread the Aggie Spirit Far and Wide...

...And One That Started Closer to Home

A Graduation Gift

The Renowned Brown Scholars

A Program to Recruit Academic Rock Stars

Happy (Aggie) Campers

Open Doors for Aspiring Political Leaders

Financing Futures for All

Kindness for Cadets

A "Terry" Big Milestone

A Scholarship Program for First-Gen Students

A Boost for the Future

A Corps Experience

The Next Mission

A Physical Home for Philanthropy

A Walk to Remember

The Sculpted Spirit

A High Note

QUADruple the Learning Capacity

A Place For Reveille to Retire, and Your Pets, Too!

Texas A&M's Treasure Trove

New Paw-sibilities

Conservation That's Worth Shell-ebrating

Outdoor Oasis

Better Business Buildings

Engineers’ Home Base

An Unsung Hero

A Living Room Makeover

The Place Aggie Rings Meet Wedding Rings

A Timeless Tower

A University-Elevating Institute

A Hub for Humanities

A Gift To Get on the Road Again

A Program That’s Providing Real Solutions for Rural America

Retail Readiness

Star Power

Outside-the-Box Engineering

The Business and Tech Connection

A Program To Bank On

Horses With Heart

Chemical Changes

A New Texas A&M Home Up North

A Legacy in Bloom

A Different Kind of Boot Camp

Coaches That Count