2019 Aggie Primer by The Eagle Advertising Department

2019 Brazos Valley Apartment Guide Inside!

Your 2019 GUIDE to BRYAN, COLLEGEA GSTATION, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY & BLINN COLLEGE T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E GIELAND PRIMER JULY 29, 2019 | 1

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2019 Brazos Valley Apartment Guide Inside! Women’s Basketball & Tennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Buzz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Men’s Golf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Texas A&M - Blinn TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Blinn College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Transportation Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 About Texas A&M University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Spiritual Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 A&M Rec Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 2019 Apartment Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Moving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Moving with a Pet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Arrange Furniture, Design Rooms more Easily . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Take a Course in Apartment Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 This Design Trend is coming Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 How to Prepare for & Tackle Unexpected College Costs . . . 24 TAMU Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 All Around Aggieland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 CARPOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 A&M Career Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Association of Former Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Corps of Cadets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

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JULY 29, 2019 | 5

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Texas A&M guard Chennedy Carter is a two-time AllAmerican going into her junior season. (Eagle photo Laura McKenzie)

Basketball &Tennis By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

It could be argued that the 2018-19 athletic season was not Texas A&M’s best. There were two teams though that were ahead of their time and should be among the nation’s elite for the next two seasons at the very least. Women’s basketball overcame the transfer of its two senior leaders and women’s tennis, behind the No. 2 ranked recruiting class, surprised everyone with their runs through the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA postseason. With two of the three leading scorers on a basketball team that essentially only had six players with substantial minutes unexpectedly leaving after the 2017-18 season, there was plenty of intrigue concerning Coach Gary Blair’s basketball team going into his 16th campaign at A&M. Blair did have one card up his sleeve in All-American and national freshman of the year Chennedy Carter returning, but among the remaining returnees and transfers little was known about the Aggies. Blair started an allsophomore team ranked 20th to start the season and picked sixth in the SEC. Kayla Wells

was the only player with any starts other than Kennedy and she only had two and averaged 12.4 minutes a game as the sixth man the prior season. Other starters included transfers Aaliya Wilson (Arkansas) and Ciera Johnson (Louisville) and N’dea Jones, who saw 140 total minutes in 23 games in 2017-18. The Aggies, despite an injury to point guard Wilson prior to the start of conference play, finished the season 26-8 overall and 12-4 in the SEC. Both marks were an improvement on the past season. A&M finished third in the SEC and in the NCAA tournament made it to the Sweet 16, where it lost to finalist Notre Dame. The Aggies were ranked 14th in the final AP poll. Wells became the secondary scorer, averaging 15.1 points a game, Johnson made opponents respect the inside game by averaging 12.0 points a game and Johnson and Jones together made up for the losing the league’s leading rebounder by combining for 19.7 boards a game. After Wilson was lost for the season, Shambria Washington, a junior, stepped

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Texas A&M’s Katya Townsend went through the Southeastern Conference season with a winning record playing at No. 1 as a freshman. (Eagle photo Laura McKenzie)

in to direct the team and take some of the pressure off of Kennedy of having the ball all the time. All are back for the 2019-20 season, which could produce a SEC title and an even deeper run into the NCAA tournament. *** The women’s basketball team looked like seasoned veterans in comparison to the women’s tennis team, which started four freshmen and two sophomores on its singles line. What was more impressive was two of the freshmen – Katya Townsend and Jayce Goldsmith – played at Nos. 1 and 2 singles. The Aggies, who had their three top players graduate after the 2018 season, were unranked going into the campaign and were picked to finish ninth in the SEC. Townsend, Goldsmith and Renee McBryde helped three sophomores get off to a program best 8-0 start. Freshman Lucia Quiterio later cracked the starting lineup and the Aggies finished with a 24-8 record and were fifth in the SEC at 8-5 for their best finish in four years. The Aggies then went on

to make the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament with a 4-1 victory in the second round against host Texas. Overall, the freshmen were 61-32 during the dual match season. All four had winning records, including Townsend, who made the bracket for the NCAA singles tournament. Townsend won her first match before eventually losing to the No. 1 see Estela PerezSomarriba of Miami. Coach Mark Weaver could have fielded an even younger lineup, but freshman Jessica Anzo had to sit out the season with an injury. The Aggies ended the season ranked 17th after losing at SEC tournament champion Vanderbilt in the third round of the NCAA tournament. With Anzo, the four sophomores and juniors Tatiana Makarova and Riley McQuaid, who have started for A&M since stepping on campus, there will be no sneaking up on anybody in the 2020 season. Then again, there likely will be no need to if all goes well.

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JULY 29, 2019 | 7

BUZZ Buzz Williams address the fans and media a er being named Texas A&M men’s basketball coach in April. (Eagle photo Laura McKenzie)

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A Familiar Face

a rebuilding year we want, I think -- I don’t think that it’s for the Aggies, who necessarily been bad. lost four starters, I think maybe one of three of which left the things that it’s in before their senior season. A&M’s lone need of is energy. One of the things that it’s in returning starter, need of is passion. And Admon Gilder, so, obviously, that can never played a come from the fans, game, sitting out the but I think it has to season because of a come from everybody. blood clot in his right And I hope that I’m at bicep. the front of that line.” Williams will likely One of four new open his first campaign coaches in the SEC, back at A&M with Williams will have his five of last season’s top six scorers, including juniors Savion Flagg and TJ Starks and senior Wendell Mitchell. While at Flagg originally Virginia Tech, put his name in Buzz Williams the NBA Draft, but led the Hokies withdrew it before to three NCAA tournament the deadline. appearances, Kennedy’s 2019 including recruiting class of a Sweet 16 four four-star players showing in 2019. each opted to attend (AP photo) other programs and Williams has added five new recruits. He also dismissed Kennedy’s entire staff. The SEC schedule was kind to Williams and the Aggies, with no Kentucky, Florida nor Ole Miss among the teams A&M plays twice. “I think everybody is important. I think that’s one thing that’s hard to quantify, is the energy required in building something, particularly when you have the foundation that’s here,” Williams said at his introductory press conference. “And I think in order for us to get FOLLOW US ON it back going where

is being counted on to bring the buzz back to Reed Arena By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

Buzz Williams was an assistant coach for Billy Gillispie when Gillispie revitalized the Texas A&M men’s basketball program from 2004 to 2007. Gillispie started a string of six straight NCAA appearances and maybe just as important made it en vogue to be at Reed Arena long before the tipoff. Williams, who had tremendous success during his six years at Marquette and five at Virginia Tech, is being counted on to put a jolt back in a program that for eight years under Billy Kennedy had a couple of A&M’s most memorable moments in history, but overall missed making the NCAA tournament 75 percent of the time, including in 2019 when the Aggies finished 11th in the Southeastern Conference. He was 151-116 overall and won one title, the SEC regular season in 2016. Enter Williams, who was rumored to be the next A&M basketball coach long before his Hokies nearly knocked off the No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet 16. Days after the loss, Williams was introduced in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Reed Arena as the new coach. His history, a record of 239-138,

three Sweet 16 and one Elite 8 showing in seven appearances in the NCAA tournament, gives A&M fans hope the Aggies can at the very least get back to the days when A&M won at least one NCAA tournament game in five straight seasons. Williams signed a six-year contract starting at S3.8 million a season with an annual raise of $100,000. He will be the second highest paid coach in the SEC, trailing only Kentucky’s John Calipari. Kennedy was making $2.45 million. Williams is the second huge coaching hire Texas A&M made in a about a 20-month period. The Aggies hired football coach Jimbo Fisher for $75 million over 10 years in December of 2017. Williams, 46, was born in Greenville and grew up in Van Alstyne, 50 miles north of Dallas. He attended Oklahoma City University and Texas A&M-Kingsville and started coaching as an assistant at Texas-Arlington in 1994. His wife was also involved in basketball starring for Amarillo Canyon Randall when it won a state title. Williams takes over a team that finished 14-18 overall and 6-12 in the SEC. It was predicted to be

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work cut out for him to begin with, but he is one of those who would have it any other way. He took over a Virginia Tech program that had only reached the NCAA tournament once in the previous 18 years before he arrived. The Hokies made the NIT tournament in his second season and were the NCAA in year three.

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Jimbo Fisher shows off the Taxslayer Gator Bowl trophy a er the Aggies defeated North Carolina State 52-13 for their ninth win of the season. (AP photo)

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher went 9-4 in his first season with the Aggies thanks in part to a seven overtime 74-72 victory over LSU. (photo by Laura McKenzie) By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

For the third time in four years the Texas A&M football team went 8-4 during the regular season. And although the record had a similar look, it was about the only thing Jimbo Fisher’s first year at A&M and Kevin Sumlin’s last four years of leading the Aggies had in common. With a lopsided bowl victory, the Aggies finished 9-4 for the first time since 2013, Sumlin’s second season and coincidently quarterback Johnny Manziel’s final year at A&M. The 52-13 victory over North Carolina State in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl was the first bowl win in four years and capped a successful first season under Fisher, who had arrived from Florida State a little more than a year earlier with a 10-year, $75 million contract. It also made for a more enthusiastic offseason after the Aggies finished the campaign ranked (16th) for the first time in five seasons.

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There were other signs that 2018 was different than at least the previous four seasons. The most celebrated one was the Aggies not only beat LSU for the first time since joining the Southeastern Conference, but they did it in historic fashion, rallying to force overtime, before claiming a 74-72 victory in the seventh overtime. The regular-season ending victory gave the Aggies its first SEC winning season since their first year in the new conference and matched their highest finish, tied for second in the SEC West. A&M won all its conference home games for the first time since leaving the Big 12, and came within a field goal from being perfect at home for the first time since 1999. It took the eventual national champion Clemson Tigers to spoil A&M’s opportunity to go 7-0 at Kyle Field. A&M lost 28-26 to the then No. 2

Tigers. Four of A&M’s seven home games were against ranked opponents. With a solid home record, the Aggies avoided the one out-ofno-where loss at home that had dampened quick starts and essentially ended any hopes of high finishes in the standings or the polls. The product was also different on the field, most prominently in the rushing game on both sides of the ball. With tight ends on the field nearly 100 percent of their plays and fullbacks lining up in front of all-conference running back Trayveon Williams, the Aggies outrushed their opponents 2,847 to 1,238 yards. The previous season A&M rushed for 2,023 yards and gave up 2,227 yards rushing. Williams in 2018 came within 263 yards of the entire 2017 team. A&M was third nationally against the run

behind only Mississippi State and Michigan State after ranking 70th the previous season, which was good for only eighth in the SEC. Another thing the fans celebrated with regularity were completions to the tight end. Jace Sternberger, a transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and one of Fisher’s first additions to the team, was named a consensus All-American after hauling in 47 passes for 804 yards and 10 touchdowns. Williams and Sternberger both elected to enter the NFL Draft early. Sternberger was picked by the Green Bay Packers in the third round and Williams went to the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round. The Aggies lost four juniors to the NFL, with all-conference center Erik McCoy and linebacker Tyrel Dodson also leaving early. McCoy was the first Aggie drafted, going

in the second round to the New Orleans Saints, while Dodson went undrafted. The Aggies will also have to replace five senior starters. But the 125th football campaign at Texas A&M should pick up where it left off in 2018 with the players more accustomed to Fisher, his coaches and his schemes. A top five recruiting class should help fill some of the holes if not provide depth for a team that has been picked as high as No. 10 in some of the early preseason polls. The biggest hurdle for the Aggies will be a schedule that includes four teams ranked above the Aggies. A&M must face the defending national champion Clemson Tigers, the runner-up Alabama Crimson Tide, the SEC East defending champion Georgia Bulldogs and LSU. All but the Alabama game are on the road.

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By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

Name the sport over the past decade that Texas A&M has had more athletes percentage wise go on to play professionally. So the suspense doesn’t linger, the answer is men’s golf. That’s right, men’s golf, and it trails only football and challenges baseball for players that have reached the highest level of the sport. Since the year before Texas A&M won the national championship in 2009, no less than 10 former Aggie golfers have made a living out on the links. Four were on the roster that

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won Texas A&M’s first NCAA title as a Big 12 team in any sport. Three have gone on to have stellar careers, while the fourth made it to the big leagues for a year in 2018. Bronson Burgoon, who hit the approach shot on No. 18 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio to secure the title for the Aggies, Andrea Pavan and Nacho Elvira, who came to A&M from Italy and Spain, respectively, all played on secondary tours for a few years before establishing themselves at the highest level – The PGA Tour and European Tour – on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. Burgoon’s rookie year on the PGA tour was in 2016. The two-time All-American had his best year in 2018 with two top 10 finishes and was No. 78 on the FedExCup. He made $1,179,615 that year and has a career earnings of $2,885,739 going into the 2019 U.S. Open. (Note: All earnings and stats are through June 16). Pavan and Elvira have made their money on the European Tour. Pavan, who resides in McKinney, has played 132 tournaments, has nine top 10s and won the D+D Real Czech Masters in 2018 and the BMW International in June. He has won 1,868,778 pounds. Before becoming a regular on the European Tour, he won four events on the Challenge Tour (Europe’s equivalent to the Web.com Tour, now known as the Korn Ferry Tour). Elvira, who was not on the five that played at Inverness, turned pro in 2011 and has been a regular on European Tour since 2014. He has earned 2,748,767 pounds, thanks in a big part to three runner-up finishes, the last coming earlier this year when he lost to Scott Hend in a playoff. He won four Challenge Tour events from 2013-15.

Two players who graduated the year before A&M won the NCAA title are Robert Former A&M golfer Cameron Gates and Martin Champ, le , won his second Piller. event on the PGA Tour, Gates was the better claiming the Sanderson Farms collegiate golfer, but Championship in October of Piller has carved out 2018. (AP photo) the more productive Championship, his second pro career and is still PGA Tour event. He had earning money. He has made three top 10 finishes in $1,704,675 in 86 PGA Tour his first 26 events for a starts, with a best of third at total of $1,565,894. In his the CareerBuilder Challenge short time on the Web. in 2018. Piller also won six com Tour he won the events on the Web.com Tour, Utah Championship to where he has banked another earn $278,671. Champ, $1,262,463. He has also at 6-foot, 175 pounds, starred in Barbasol and Pure is known as one of the Silk commercials with wife longest hitters on tour Gerina, who has been on the and because of his start LPGA Tour for 10 years and as a pro and length has represented the United States donned the cover of Golf three times in the Solheim Magazine. Cup. One of the more Gates earned $330,233 on the Web.com Tour in 43 events surprising names to make it on the pro circuit and another $1,601,528 in 51 is Johannes Veerman PGA Tour events, with five (2014). Veerman has top 10 finishes. His Web.com teed it up at 19 European victory came in 2010 at the events and has earned New Zealand Open, the same 225,278 pounds, with year he finished 40th at the 144,981 pounds coming in U.S. Open. six events in 2019. More recently, players There are others making their mark are Adri Bronson Burgoon, who won that have toyed for an Arnaus and Cameron Champ. the final match at the 2009 extended time on one NCAA championships, has made Arnaus graduated in 2016 and tour or another. Among $578,147 on the PGA Tour in has become a regular on the those still playing are the 2019 season. (Eagle photo European Tour this season. Stuart Villanueva) Conrad Schindler, a He won a Challenge Tour member of the national event in 2018 and finished coach J.T. Higgins said is championship team, and second at the Magical Kenya Greg Yates (2015). Open in March for a big part arguably the most prominent Shindler gained his card on of his 257,042 pounds he’s golfer to play for the Aggies. the PGA Tour in 2018, a year won in 2019. Arnaus qualified after joining the Web.com Tour Phillips, who as a senior shared for the 2019 U.S. Open, shot a the 2019 Building Champions 2-under 69 on the opening day and has collected $492,179. and went on to finish at 5-over He won the Rex Hospital Open Male Athlete of the Year par for a $25,350 payday. With in 2017. Yates gained exempt award for 2019 with tailback status on the Web.com Tour in a second-place finish in the Traveon Williams, is the only 2019 and has a total earnings latest event in Spain he also American amateur to make the of $124,047 with three top 10 qualified for the British Open. finishes. Champ burst onto the PGA Palmer Cup team three times. There also promises to be Tour the fastest and loudest The only player to make the of all. He left A&M early in more, beginning with threeInternational team three times 2017 and in the fall of 2018 time All-American Chandler won the Sanderson Farms Phillips, who A&M men’s golf is Pavan.

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Article provided by Blinn College

Founded in 1883, Blinn College is the premier twoyear college in Texas. Nationally recognized for its affordable educational excellence, Blinn complements its traditional course offerings with online courses and high school dual credit, and prepares students for quick employment through its workforce certification programs. Out-of-district students who enroll in 30 credit hours at Blinn during the 201819 academic year will save $3,914, approximately 42 percent, in tuition and fees compared to the average Texas public university, and $24,268, or 81.9 percent,

compared to the average Texas private university. On top of Blinn’s low tuition and fees, the Blinn Foundation offers more than 200 endowed scholarships available to incoming and returning students from a wide range of backgrounds, majors, academic backgrounds and experiences. Blinn students and prospective students can register for external scholarships and participate in grant programs. Blinn’s academic transfer rate regularly ranks among the highest in the state and the nation. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Blinn’s academic transfer rate of 36.9 percent ranks second in the state and far exceeds the statewide average of 20.9 percent. In addition to transfer agreements with the state’s leading four-year universities,

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TEAM

Blinn is home to pioneering co-enrollment programs such as the Texas A&M-Blinn TEAM (Transfer Enrollment at A&M) Program and the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn. That combination of affordability and academic rigor helped Blinn attract 18,977 students district-wide in Fall 2017. Blinn recently announced a new partnership with The Texas A&M University System that will allow Blinn to build a new facility at Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus, formerly Riverside Campus. The new campus establishes a new educational community combining a major university system and a community college at a single physical location. This co-location will allow Blinn College students to transfer seamlessly to leading universities throughout The Texas A&M System in the

students will take their Blinn Classes at the Blinn College – RELLIS campus. TEAM students reap the benefits of both campuses, including access to Texas A&M’s on-campus housing, library resources, recreation center, health center, food services and student tickets to Aggie sporting and performing arts events. At Blinn, Article provided by Blinn College they experience lower tuition and The Texas A&M-Blinn TEAM smaller class sizes, which many (Transfer Enrollment at A&M) students find advantageous in the Program is a collaborative, transition from high school to a co-enrollment partnership that university. allows students to enroll at both “The TEAM Program is a schools with part-time admission tremendous partnership that to Texas A&M. Since 2001, demonstrates the collaborative this pioneering initiative has potential between elite four-year allowed thousands of additional, institutions such as Texas A&M and qualified students admission community colleges with strong into the Texas A&M University academic standards such as Blinn,” freshman class. said Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor The TEAM program is of the Blinn College District. “We are offered to qualifying students very proud to be part of a program during the Texas A&M that has proven so successful in freshman admissions process. helping students realize their Participating students are academic dreams.” enrolled in one academic course Through TEAM, students enjoy at Texas A&M each semester the university experience afforded and complete the remainder of by Texas A&M and the smaller their courses at the Blinn-Bryan classroom environment and lower campus. Students who complete costs offered at Blinn. Students 45 Blinn credit hours and 15 enrolled in 15 semester credit hours Texas A&M credit hours within in the TEAM program save as much two years, with a 3.0 grade as $1,500 compared to students point average at each school, are enrolled in 15 credit hours at Texas automatically admitted to Texas A&M. A&M. TEAM students can apply “Cost savings for TEAM students for transfer admission sooner are phenomenal,” said Dr. John when they meet the eligibility O. Beaver, Dean of Educational Partnerships. “In addition to the requirements. First year TEAM

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years to come. The site also creates opportunities for Blinn to partner with other organizations and institutions located on the RELLIS Campus, including high-end, innovative, private research and development companies, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. Located adjacent to State Highway 47 and Highway 21, the RELLIS Campus is named for the Texas Aggies’ core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. In addition to its strong academic reputation, Blinn is a leading workforce trainer for the region. A recent publication from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board indicates that 94.9 percent of students enrolled in Blinn College

technical programs in Fall 2015 are now employed and/or enrolled in higher education. This marks the third-highest percentage among the 82 public two-year Texas institutions in the state. Blinn offers a wide range of technical programs, including applied business, art and visual communication, child development, criminal justice, hospitality management, information management, office administration, paralegal, real estate, and veterinary technology. Blinn also offers renowned health science programs. Based at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, where students obtain hands-on learning at the 26,000-square-foot Blinn College Simulation and Clinical Labs, Blinn’s Health Sciences Division includes the associate degree nursing, dental hygiene, emergency

lower costs Blinn offers, students are eligible for Texas A&M financial aid, dorm residence and activities such as sporting events.” The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recognized TEAM with its “Recognition of Excellence”

medical services, fire science, health information technology, physical therapist assistant, radiologic technology, surgical technology, therapeutics manufacturing, and vocational nursing. Blinn’s state licensure exam pass rates were 89.74 percent for the 2016 academic year. Additionally, Blinn’s Division of Technical & Community Education offers a wide range of technical and career course offerings, including certified medication aide, certified nurse aide, electrical technician, HVAC technician, machinist, medical secretary, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, professional truck driver, and welder. For enrollment and financial aid information, visit www. blinn.edu.

in 2013, and in 2014 awarded the program its coveted Star Award as one of the top educational initiatives in the state. For more information on the TEAM Program, visit: www.blinn.edu/team.

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TRANSPORTATION

SERVICES Article provided by A&M Transportation Services

What you need to know! Howdy! And welcome to Texas A&M University. As the school year begins, Transportation Services is here to guide you through the process of getting on and off campus, so you can navigate the community like a pro! With so much taking place throughout the year, getting around can be a dizzying experience – even for the most seasoned student. Transportation Services provides many options, including alternative transportation choices, which make navigating the campus and community as easy as possible. Let’s take a look at some of the great services offered to you as a new or transfer student. Parking and Parking Permits First, let’s talk about parking. If you plan on bringing a car to campus you will need a permit. Permits are required to park on campus, even on the first day of class. Parking permits are available for purchase at transport.tamu.edu. Once you purchase a permit, display it properly then park in your assigned lot or garage in a valid space. Please be aware that if you loan your permit out, you are responsible for any citations issued to it. Permits may not be resold or transferred between individuals but may have a refund value if returned to Transportation Services. If you drive to campus and do not own a permit, you can still park using one of the many pay-by-the-hour parking locations. Get realtime visitor parking garage availability at transport. tamu.edu/realtime or by downloading the Texas A&M University mobile app (also available at m.tamu.edu), and clicking on “Transportation & Parking.”

Move-in Parking and Loading Zones Move-in can be chaotic, but Transportation Services eases the process by offering free parking in designated locations during this special time. As a new or transfer student, you will receive a

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map highlighting additional locations to park and designated areas where you can unload the items needed in your dorms. These limited unloading zones are meant for drop offs only; parking in a lot or garage that is designated for move-in and moving your items with a cart or hand truck is your best option.

Riding the Aggie Spirit (Bus Service) Texas A&M transit service is fare-free to all students, faculty and staff; however, a Texas A&M ID is required to ride off-campus routes. Aggie Spirit buses service students on and off campus, providing a hassle-free way to get around throughout the year. When boarding the Aggie Spirit bus at off-campus stops, you must have your student ID ready to show the driver. Customers who do not live directly on a bus route may drive a short distance to a free Park and Ride located at First Baptist Church of College Station (Route 34). For real-time information, including bus schedules, location and occupancy, visit m.tamu.edu. Students may also use the Brazos Transit District public transit system free of charge by showing their student IDs when boarding. Direct bus service runs from the Brazos Transit District main hub to campus daily. For more information on their routes, visit www.btd.org.

Aggie Games As a new student you should be prepared for football game days. Texas A&M has sporting events throughout the year, but just like the saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas,” football is larger than life here in Aggieland. As more than 100,000 people descend on Kyle Field, there is more vehicle and pedestrian traffic than normal. As the game day environment changes, so do the rules for parking. For important information about parking rules for football or other special events, visit transport.tamu.edu.

Texas A&M will host its first Thursday football game in over a decade at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 30, 2018 against Northwestern St. This means the university will host two typical days in one: regular classes and football gameday. Transportation Services is working with several campus departments and entities and with the City of College Station to deliver an all-encompassing plan for Football Thursday with minimal impact on regular activities. However, on-campus parking and transportation options will be limited. For more information, visit footballthursday.tamu.edu often for the most up to date details. To keep up to date with sporting and other events throughout the community, Texas A&M’s Event mobile app, Destination Aggieland, is a must have for everything you need to know about game day and other events. Download Destination Aggieland (transport.tamu. edu/da) and follow us on Twitter @ GetToAggieGame.

semester depending on the bike. The program provides durable bikes for your transportation needs in and around the Bryan-College Station community. Leasing a bicycle will allow you to save time and money and have a dedicated bicycle just for you. Maintenance is included. Or you can ride bikes one trip at a time by taking advantage of the ofo Bike Share Program that offers 3,000+ eco-friendly bikes 24/7. Bike share offers all the benefits of biking without the costs or hassles of maintenance. Download the “ofo” app to locate bikes nearby then scan the QR code to unlock and ride. When your ride is complete park and lock the bike in a rack. Be sure to create your account with your @tamu. edu email address to get preferred pricing. There are three affordable options. Go to transport.tamu.edu/ bikeshare to learn more. Want to share the ride as a driver or passenger? We have you covered with Zimride, the social network for ridesharing. Whether you are looking for a daily commute to share as a driver or passenger or a one-time weekend trip, just post your ride on the Texas A&M private Zimride network and

Zimride will search for your perfect match. Sign up today at www.zimride.com/tamu. If you need a car for any reason, Zipcar is here! The car sharing program is a convenient transportation option available at rates starting at $7.50 per hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty and staff ages 18 and older. Gas, insurance and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates. Cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. Students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at www. zipcar.com/tamu. Need to get away? Leave the driving to Kerrville Bus Company with their weekend, holiday and semester break bus service between College Station and Houston, Waco, Dallas and Grand Prairie with connectivity to many other cities via Megabus.com at their Houston, Grand Prairie and Dallas hubs. For more information, including costs and pick-up and drop-off times and locations, visit www.iridekbc.com/collegetransport.html. Want to save $300 every year on gas purchases? Get a FREE carwash or windshield chip repair? Replace lost car keys without having to tow your car to the dealership?

Or travel anywhere in the U.S. and have fast access to roadside assistance? Many more savings are available in Bryan College Station through AggielandAutoClub. com, a partner of Texas A&M Transportation Services. Membership not required! Get the free phone app, RoadAngel Maroon by texting the word: AGGIES to 469-919-9518. Lastly, Transportation Services offers a variety of digital services to help you stay informed. Before you pack your bags, make sure you take time to download the following mobile apps to your smart device: • Texas A&M University app – also available online at m.tamu.edu • Destination Aggieland app – read more and download at transport.tamu. edu/da And stay connected with us for the latest updates on gameday, traffic, parking and event info and more! • Twitter: @aggieparking, @aggiespiritbus, @ GetToAggieGame • Instagram: @ tamutransportation • Facebook: @ tamutransportation, @ daytoride Wishing you safe travels to Aggieland. See you soon!

Alternative Transportation Services Don’t have your own wheels? No problem. Transportation Services offers many alternatives to owning a vehicle on campus. In 2015 Texas A&M University was named Bike Friendly University, and we don’t take that title lightly. You can feel safe knowing we have you covered, so why not switch from horsepower to pedal power and get on a bike and ride. Don’t own a bike? No worries. We’ll let you borrow one for the day to see if you like it. If you decide that biking is right for you, a bike can be leased through the Bike Lease program for $50 or $75 per

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS! PARK IN G

A LTERN ATIVES

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AND MORE!

Visit footballthursday.tamu.edu & download the Destination Aggieland mobile app to ﬁnd your best options!

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ABOUT

TAMU

History

Texas A&M University is the state’s first and largest public institution of higher education, created as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act of 1862 to provide a practical education to a broad cross-section of the population. In 1871, the Texas Legislature established the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and provided funds

Article provided by Texas A&M University’s Division of Marketing and Communications

for construction on land donated by Brazos County. The college opened in 1876 as an all-male college, and all students were in the Corps of Cadets. In 1963, the Texas Legislature elevated the college to become Texas A&M University. Soon after, Texas A&M admitted women as degree-seeking students and made participation in the Corps of Cadets voluntary. Today, women students make up nearly half of the total enrollment of 68,625 (62,527 on the College Station campus), and the Corps has more than 2,000 cadets, a record in recent decades. The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum opened in 1997 on west campus, making Texas A&M one of only a few universities to host a presidential library.

TEXAS A&M TODAY

Texas A&M is one the nation’s largest, most comprehensive and most prestigious universities, ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide. It is one of only 17 institutions nationwide to hold the triple land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designations, is a member of the Association of American Universities, and is ranked in the top 20 nationally in National Science Foundation funding. Texas A&M operates two branch campuses: a marine-oriented campus in Galveston and an engineering-oriented campus in Doha, Qatar, fully funded by the Qatar Foundation. In addition, it operates centers in Mexico, Costa Rica and Italy. Texas A&M offers nearly

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200 undergraduate majors and nearly 250 graduate degree programs through 19 colleges and schools, including the Texas A&M School of Law in Fort Worth and the Texas A&M Health Science Center, with locations throughout the state. The university also offers professional degree programs in law, veterinary medicine, medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and public health. In keeping with its land-grant mission, Texas A&M emphasizes student involvement in research. Faculty, who are among the top scholars in their fields, work toward innovative solutions to some of the most daunting challenges facing the world today, including human, animal and plant health; environmental sustainability; and energy. Texas A&M is known around the world for providing an excellent education at a reasonable cost. More than one in four members of each freshman class are the first in their families to attend college. Texas A&M ranks first in the nation for success with low-income students, and is first in Texas (and among the top nationally) in graduation rates. In addition, Texas A&M ranks first among the state’s public institutions for the lowest student loan debt held by graduates. Texas A&M is a global university, ranking third in the nation in the number of students who study or work abroad, and attracting more than 5,500 students from more than 150 countries outside the United States. Students and faculty are committed to learning for a lifetime through a variety of high-impact teaching practices. These include undergraduate research,

study abroad, internships, writing-intensive courses, service learning, diversity and global learning and collaborative projects. Graduates from Texas A&M must demonstrate the ability to think critically, work and cooperate with others, communicate effectively, practice ethical leadership and live and work effectively in a diverse and global society. Texas A&M graduates are known as leaders. Texas A&M ranks in the top 10 nationally for graduates who get well-paid jobs, and is first in Texas (and among the top nationally) for earlyand mid-career earnings of graduates. The Aggie Network provided through The Association of Former Students is ranked third among the nation’s alumni associations.

Student Activities

The majority of new Texas A&M students begin their college experience at Fish Camp, the largest student-

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run, extended orientation program for undergraduates in the nation. Fish Camp helps incoming freshmen learn how to succeed academically, get to know the university’s history and traditions and make lasting friendships. Students develop leadership skills through more than 1,000 student-run clubs and organizations that focus on academic cohorts, community and volunteer service, professions and careers, international cultures and global issues, sports and special interests. In keeping with Texas A&M’s core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service, many Aggies are involved with service projects, fundraisers and other charitable efforts, including the following: The Big Event, which began when six students spent a Saturday cleaning up a cemetery in 1982, has become the nation’s largest one-day, student-run service project. Aggies spend a day each March working in the local communities on projects ranging from painting, to yard work, to

cleaning. In 2017, more than 22,500 students (and some faculty and staff) completed more than 2,500 tasks. The Big Event has been adopted at several universities across the United States and other countries. CARPOOL is a studentrun, safe-ride program through which any community member can receive a free, nonjudgmental ride home from Aggie student volunteers on weekend nights. Since its founding in 1999, CARPOOL volunteers have given nearly 260,000 rides. Replant Day is an annual fall event when hundreds of Aggies plant trees around the local community and in areas of need, such as Bastrop State Park after it was decimated by wildfires in 2011. Efforts such as this helped Texas A&M become a Tree Campus USA honoree by the Arbor Day Foundation. Texas A&M’s academic excellence, core values and focus on leadership development have made it a destination of choice for students, faculty and staff from around the world.

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SPIRITUAL

LIFE REC SPORTS Article provided by Texas A&M’s Department of Recreational Sports

After your first day on campus, you’ll be in a daze. Too many faces, too many places and too many instructions. After a week, you’ll miss home and the simplicity of life before college, at least until the first Aggie football game. Your academic life has many avenues to help nurture it along and keep your head from spinning, like tutors and study groups. In the midst of all the action, you may forget to take a step back and indulge your spiritual side. Many organizations around the BryanCollege Station area have programs to help nurture your spiritual life. These programs come in various forms, and can be found all around the area. There are Bible- and churchrelated programs such as Bible study groups, worship services, retreats and choirs. If you want to find a religion that fits you or wish to join a church that reminds you of the one where you grew up, The Eagle has a complete listing of all churches online. The worship directory lists the pastors and gives information about each church across the Brazos Valley. For more information, visit www.theeagle.com/brazos_life/worship_ directory. For a list of A&M religious groups, visit the Student Activities website at studentactivities.tamu.edu, and click on “Get involved,” then “Organization Search,” and look under the “Religious” category.

The Department of Recreational Sports provides Texas A&M University students with a wide range of opportunities for fitness, fun and recreation. Drop-in recreation at the Student Recreation Center (“Rec Center”) costs nothing each time you visit because the fee is automatically included in your fee statement. Just show your student ID for access to the recently renovated and expanded Rec Center, which includes the strength and conditioning room, indoor courts and gymnasiums, thirdfloor track, natatorium, indoor climbing and bouldering walls, outdoor recreational area and more. Free play is also available at the Penberthy Rec Sports Complex (the department’s outdoor fields) and the Omar Smith Instructional Tennis Center. In addition to drop-in recreation, Rec Sports offers a variety of programs and services to help students live an active, healthy lifestyle. Offerings include: • Intramural sports • Sport clubs

• Group RecXercise classes • Specialty programs • Boot camps • Aquatics classes • CPR certification courses • Outdoor Adventures • Indoor climbing • Strength and conditioning • Massage therapy • Equipment rental Visit the Rec Sports website, recsports.tamu.edu, or pick up a Fall

2018 Rec Sports Guide for program schedules and cost information. Rec Sports is proud of the development opportunities made available to Texas A&M students in the form of employment and leadership. Each year, Rec Sports employs close to 1,000 Aggies, making it the largest employer of students on campus. To find out what types of jobs are available and how to apply, visit the employment page on the Rec Sports website. For more information about Rec Sports, visit recsports.tamu.edu.

TAMU Rec Center

Serving The Aggieland Campus Community

University Lutheran Chapel and Student Center  Lutheran Student Fellowship  All Nations Christian Center

WORSHIP

Sunday Worship Celebration 9:30am Weekly services are held during the Fall and Spring semesters.

BIBLE STUDIES

Sunday Morning Bible Class 11:00am Meets weekly during Fall and Spring semester.

Weekly Small Group Bible Studies TBA Please check our website for updates.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Service Projects & Mission Trips Social Activities • International Student Ministry English Classes

University Lutheran 315 College Main • C.S. • 979-846-6687 e-mail: ulctamu@verizon.net • website: ulctamu.org

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ApartmentGuide BRAZOS VALLEY

Moving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Moving with a Pet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Arrange Furniture, Design Rooms more Easily . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Take a Course in Apartment Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 This Design Trend is coming Back. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 How to Prepare for & Tackle Unexpected College Costs . . . . 24

MOVING TIPS TO MAKE UNPACKING EASY (StatePoint) When it comes to moving,

edge by hand and pull off the tape.

we usually focus on the process of getting organized and boxing up valuables. But we often forget about the debatably more stressful part of moving: unpacking.

5. Avoid breaks and spills. Fifty-five percent

In fact, Americans take an average of 182 days -- more than six months! -- to finally unpack the last box after moving into a new home, according to Duck Brand research. To make settling into your new abode much easier, start by thinking about the process backwards and consider these tips:

1. Measure everything during the home

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inspection. Use your time on inspection day to collect all room and cabinet dimensions. This will help determine if furniture will fit, where items will go and how much storage is available. Pro tip: Precut shelf liner to instantly line drawers and cupboards on move-in day.

2. Pack based on where it will go, not where

it was. Envisioning where items will go in your new space is key. Then, label each box with its contents, as well as the room where it should be unpacked. Not sure what moving supplies you’ll need? The free online moving calculator at DuckBrand.com is a great resource. Simply input your number of bedrooms and baths, and you’ll receive a printable/sharable shopping list based on your specific needs.

of Americans have experienced an important item being damaged during a move, according to Duck Brand research. To make sure your valuables arrive intact, use products that offer increased protection like Bubble Wrap cushioning and Foam Pouches. Pro tip: For additional safeguarding, use plastic grocery or storage bags to contain any items that could potentially spill.

6. Pack storage items in plastic bins rather

than boxes. While cardboard boxes are an easy and cost-effective way to transport the majority of your belongings, plastic storage containers are more ideal for seasonal items that may not be unpacked, but instead stay in storage. Not only will the bins shield contents from the environment, like a damp basement or dusty attic, but their uniform size also will make it easy to create an organized and efficient storage space. For additional moving tips and how to choose the best supplies for your relocation, go to DuckBrand.com. Regardless of whether you’re moving across the country or down the street, the best way to guarantee a smooth transition is to plan ahead.

3. Use plastic bags and tape to keep pieces

together. For smooth assembly, use packaging tape and small plastic bags to attach screws, nuts and bolts to the bottom of dismantled furniture. This can prevent losing those small, essential pieces and perhaps even reduce the number of hardware store trips on move-in day.

Utilize tools that make opening boxes easy. Choosing a heavy-duty packing tape is critical to ensure boxes stay secure, but searching for a blade to open boxes while unpacking can be frustrating. Instead, try Duck brand Mover’s Edge, a unique heavy-duty packaging tape and refillable dispenser system that makes it easy to seal and unseal boxes -- no blade or boxcutter needed. As tape flows through the dispenser, the edges on each side of the tape are slightly folded. This allows for easy removal when you’re ready to unpack; just lift up the folded T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

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Top Tips for Moving With a Pet (StatePoint) Your furball is part of the family, so if you’re like most, you don’t make major life decisions without thinking of your pet’s needs — including where you live and how you move into a new home. When people decide on new homes and communities, pet priorities are often equal to or more important than humanfocused amenities, according to the 2019 Mayflower Mover Insights Survey. American pet owners say one-third of their overall decision to move was related to their pets. What’s more, survey respondents cited a willingness to pay significantly more in living costs per month (32 percent) and even forgo perks like shorter commutes and updated kitchens in favor of pet-friendly features. Pets may get the priority for perks when their humans relocate, but moving is still a stressful activity for animals. Half of pet owners reported their pets struggled to adjust to new homes. However, there’s good news: more than nine in 10 owners say their pets adjusted to new settings in less than a

month. And, more than 90 percent agree that wherever they and their pets are together is instantly home. Moving with a pet? Consider the following: • Yard Matters: Dog owners consider yard size 85 percent of the time, and 82 percent of dog and cat owners consider a fenced-in backyard. If you’re looking to let your dog off-leash or allow your cat into the yard, prioritize homes with fencing and plenty of space for pets to exercise. • Walking Trails: Don’t just consider the house when home-shopping. Look for neighborhoods offering proximity to parks, dog runs, walking trails and other amenities that make dogwalking safe and enjoyable. • Scope Out Pet Services: Try not to leave a gap in veterinary care or pet services. If you’re moving far enough away to require a new veterinarian, identify who that will be in advance. If anything arises as you’re settling into your new home, you won’t want to deal with the added stress of researching where to take your sick pet. Likewise, get recommendations for

services such as dog walkers, pet sitters or dog boarding so you and your pet can hit the ground running in your new community. • Anticipate Bumps: A move can be difficult on pets — dog owners reported their dogs had trouble adapting to new neighborhoods, while cats had more trouble adjusting to new houses. Nine out of 10 dog and cat owners recommend being patient, spending more time with pets and showing them where everything is in the new home. • Pack Pet Gear Wisely: Make moving day a breeze by keeping all your pet supplies — food, medications, etc. packed in an easy-to-access box that’s clearly labeled. Consider keeping several days’ supply with you and transporting these necessities in your car. Planning a move? For tips and insights, visit mayflower.com. With a bit of extra preparation, you can pave the way for a smooth move for everyone in your family, including your pet.

Monkey Business / stock.Adobe.com

Arrange furniture, design rooms more easily METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Redesigning a room can involve several steps, from choosing a paint palette to taking down walls to buying new furniture. When it comes time to put the space back together, finding an appealing furniture arrangement or layout renovation that maximizes space efficiently can be challenging if it requires moving heavy pieces of furniture around. To make such tasks easier, homeowners can rely on a bevy of room-designing apps that enable one to manipulate a room in the digital realm. Some people have great spatial reasoning and can

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work out designs in their head or by plotting items on graph paper. But many homeowners may need a little extra help. By figuring out a floor plan, anyone can start laying out their furniture and other design elements. Room planners come in various forms, from free downloads available through popular furniture companies to pay-for-use, third-party software. The following are some the more popular room planners homeowners can utilize. Amikasa: This app enables users to create room layouts using furniture and more from real brands. It

features a walk-through mode so you can take a virtual tour afterwards. Autodesk Homestyler: Brought to you by the company that produces professional design programs for architects and designers, like AutoCAD, Autodesk and Revit, this user-friendly technology allows you to create 3D renderings and move around furniture, decorative items, appliances, and other elements right in the app. Floor Plan Creator: Start with the basics by plotting out precise and accurate floor plans. This app enables you to create multiple floor rooms in 3D

and get automatic figures for perimeters, walls and more. Ikea Home Planner Tools: The free, easy-touse home planner tool from the popular furniture giant enables you to see how items from the store can look in your space Ñ before you bring it home. The Kitchen Planner from the company also makes it simple to enter Ikea components and see how much the proposed kitchen design may cost. Magic Plan: This is another popular featurefilled app for planning designs. The technology even allows you to take a

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picture of your existing room and create floor plans. Planner 5D: This is an extensive room-design tool that helps you design rooms down to the smallest architectural details. It also can be taken outdoors for landscaping and pools, utilizing 3D graphics. Room Scan Pro:

This app draws floor plans simply by having you hold the phone up to a wall. The software will then scan the circumference and plot out the requisite measurements. These are just a few of the room planners that can make it easier to see what a finished design product may one day look like.

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Take a course in Apartment safety

Metro Creative Connection

For many students, college represents the first time they will live anywhere other than the homes they grew up in. Apartment life can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be one that may open new college students up to inherently risky situations. While students should look forward to fun and excitement at school, it’s also important for them to be prepared for what lies ahead at college and in apartment living – and to take the proper safety precautions. Great Friends Friends can be informed of your schedule for both classes and work, so they are aware of where you are supposed to be at certain times of the day. If something is amiss, these friends can alert authorities or investigate your whereabouts further. Lock Your Doors Always keep your room door locked, and make sure your roommate is on the same page. Locking the door can deter people from entering without your permission and prevent theft. Person Belongings When preparing to move into an apartment with roommates, leave

heirlooms or expensive jewelry at home. Once you move in, store your more valuable belongings out of sight or in a locked box or safe. Consider getting insurance for your belongings, which will protect you in the event of theft. Travel in Groups When attending parties or other functions, always arrive and leave in a group. This offers extra protection, as assaults and other crimes are less likely to occur when criminals are outnumbered. Evacuation Routes Learn your apartment complex’s evacuation policies. Know where all exits are and how to get out of the building if exits may be blocked. Find out if fire drills or other safety procedures are practiced, and participate in them. Use the Elevator Stairwells are secluded and dark and often provide the perfect opportunity for would-be criminals to take advantage of unsuspecting students. Use common sense and trust your instincts with regard to apartment safety. Make college memories good ones by emphasizing caution.

This design trend is coming back Metro Creative Connection

Design trends come and go, but some have a funny way of resurfacing years after they first became popular. Homeowners who may have been considering renovating their home to remove a design element they believe to be passŽ might want to see if that feature has experienced a resurgence in popularity. In fact, one of the more derided home decor trends of yesteryear has slowly crept back into style, albeit in moderation. Wood paneling is back and better than ever, advise many design professionals. ItÕs the formerly ugly duckling that filled homes starting in the 1950s, creating drab dens and faux-wood family rooms. Paneling had long been an element of choice because it is relatively easy to install and can camouflage problem walls in a home, like those covered in boisterous wallpaper prints. Wood paneling reach the peak of its popularity in the 1970s, and since then

homeowners have been tearing down these faux offenders for years or masking them in paint to brighten up spaces. However, the experts at Apartment Therapy report that wood paneling in shades of brown are making a comeback in cozy spots such as dens or studies. The warm tones of wood paneling elicit a retro vibe. But unlike their fake predecessors, todayÕs paneled walls are being outfitted in real wood, making them more eco-friendly and stylish than ever before. Designers have flocked to reclaimed wood and veneer panelings to incorporate them into design elements. And while wood paneling used to be hung vertically, designers

now experiment with hanging paneling. Many people no longer use paneling to cover an entire space. Paneling is used sparingly as an accent wall or another feature for character. Wood walls can be stained in a rich mahogany to look upscale or be weathered and rustic. Homeowners ready to reembrace wood paneling can choose to enhance one wall in a room. Think about the space above a fireplace or a strip of wall behind a sitting chair and side table. Paneling also can serve as a headboard behind a bed in a master suite. Painted horizonally, paneling can add dimension and texture to walls, even in a bathroom. Wood paneling is slowly making a comeback, proving that no design trend every truly goes away.

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JULY 29, 2019 | 23

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How to Prepare for and Tackle Unexpected College Costs

(StatePoint) Smart financial decisions can help your family make good college investment decisions. Unfortunately, unexpected costs throw many families for a loop. To plan realistically, consider the following: • Pad Your Budget: Many college expenses are variable -- from fun stuff, like entertainment and trips, to the serious, like books, supplies and other educational fees. Pad your budget in case these costs are larger than anticipated. • Look Beyond the Letter: Those receiving financial aid from their

24 | JULY 29, 2019

school should look beyond their Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Fortythree percent of parents of college students nationwide report paying more than their EFC, according to a recent survey by College Ave Student Loans and conducted by Barnes & Noble College Insights. The bright side? Of those families that received financial aid award letters, 17 percent appealed, with 58 percent of those parents successful in receiving more aid from the school. • Stretch Book Budgets: The cost of textbooks and supplies often surprise families.

While the exact amount is unpredictable, the College Board reports that the average student spends $1,240 each year on course materials. Purchasing used, renting or downloading textbooks electronically are all smart strategies for reducing costs. • Grow Your Budget: Families surveyed were nearly split on whether a child helps pay for the cost of college -- 49 percent said yes, 51 percent said no. Having a child kick in can teach responsibility and grow your overall budget, whether that contribution comes in the form of a part-time job or a work-

study program. Another substantial way a student can help is by reducing or even eliminating housing costs and becoming a resident advisor. • Borrow Strategically: If you need to borrow to pay for college, first take out federal loans in the student’s name, which carries special benefits, such as public service forgiveness and income driven repayment options not typically available on private loans. When federal loans in the student’s name don’t cover you fully, determine whether private student loans or private parent

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loans may be right for you and your family. Those from College Ave Student Loans, for example, are available at competitive rates and feature a wide range of repayment options. Its customerfriendly experience -from application through repayment -- takes some of the stress out of the equation. • Control Loan Costs: You can reduce the overall cost of a loan by starting to make payments while in school, even if it’s only a small amount. To see the impact that various repayment options have on total loan costs,

use the student loan calculator available at collegeavestudentloans. com. “Whether parents are advocating for more financial aid, helping create a budget or helping pay off loans, their support serves as a cornerstone in many student’s financial plans,” says financial industry veteran Joe DePaulo, CEO and co-founder of College Ave Student Loans. “Being realistic and having a plan can help families face both the expected and unexpected costs of college.”

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JULY 29, 2019 | 25

TAMU TRADITIONS

Article provided by the Traditions Council

Howdy

Howdy is the official greeting of Texas A&M University. Greeting each other with a “Howdy!” separates us as the friendliest university in the world.

Gig ‘em

Gig ‘em is the universal sign of approval for Aggies. Coined by P.L. “Pinkie” Downs, Class of 1906, when at a Yell Practice before the 1930 TCU football game Downs asked, “What are we going to do with those Horned Frogs?” In reference to frog hunting, he said, “Gig ‘em, Aggies!” and made a fist with his thumb extended up as one would when using a gig. It was the first hand sign of the Southwest Conference for 25 years until t.u. copied the idea from the Aggies and created their Hook ’em Horns. Now Aggies give each other this sign to encourage and motivate each other.

The 12th Man

On Jan. 2, 1922, the Aggies from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas played the Prayin’ Colonels of Centre College, Kentucky, in the Dixie Classic. After the tough 1921 football season, the Aggies were “completely exhausted, both physically and mentally,” according to Red Thompson, a yell leader at the time. But the Aggies came ready to play, and the game’s first points (and the first points allowed by Centre all year) came on a safety off a muffed punt in the end zone. At half time, Coach Dana X. Bible’s Southwest Conference Champion Aggies were winning, but every player on the Aggie team except for the 11 on the field was injured. Coach Bible remembered that a sophomore multiple sport athlete, who had recently stepped down from football to focus on the new basketball season, was sitting in the press box helping identify players on the field. Coach Bible requested that the player, E. (Earl) King Gill ’24, come down to the field and suit up. E. King Gill went under the stands with a couple blankets and the injured team captain, Heine Weir, to put on his uniform. E. King Gill then stood next to Coach Bible for the rest of the game, ready to play, but was never asked to. Texas A&M went on to beat Centre College 22-14. Today, Aggies stand at all football and basketball games, from the opening kickoff “till the final gun is sounded,” symbolizing our readiness to go into the game or help our fellow Aggies whenever we are needed.

Midnight Yell

Beginning in 1913 Corps companies would practice and learn yells; “learning

26 | JULY 29, 2019

heartily the old time prep.” Aggies in 1934 said that yell practice was “something that cannot be experienced by an outsider” and “something only an Aggie can feel.” In 1931, the first official Midnight Yell Practice was held before the t.u. game on the steps of the YMCA building. Today, Midnight Yell is held the Friday night before a home game in Kyle Field. If playing an away game, Midnight Yell is held on Friday night close to where the game is being played. Aggies practice yells and sing songs for the next day’s game; the yell leaders tell a junior and a senior fable; and then the lights go out. That is when you get to “mug down” and kiss your date, or if you don’t have a date, take a lighter, “flick your Bic” and hope to find another Aggie looking to mug down.

Silver Taps

Silver Taps is one of the most sacred and significant traditions at A&M. Silver Taps is one of the final tributes held for any current graduate or undergraduate student who has passed during the year. Silver Taps is held the first Tuesday of the month following a student’s death. Starting in the morning, the flags on campus are flown at half-mast. The names, classes and majors of the fallen Aggies are on cards placed at the base of the flagpole in the Academic Plaza and on the Silver Taps Memorial. Throughout the day, students can write letters to the families of the fallen Aggies. That night at 10:15, all the lights on campus are extinguished. Hymns are then played on the Albritton Bell Tower. Around this time, students gather silently in the Academic Plaza. The families of the fallen Aggies are also led into the plaza. At 10:30, the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad marches into the Academic Plaza at a slow cadence. Once they arrive, they fire a three volley salute in honor of the fallen Aggies. After the last round is fired, buglers atop the Academic Building begin to play a special rendition of “Taps” called “Silver Taps” which is unique to A&M. They play it three times, once to the north, once to the south, and once to the west, but never to the east, because it’s said the sun will never rise on that Aggie again. After the last note is played, the one thing you can hear is the shuffling of feet as students return silently to their lives. Silver Taps has been occurring for over 100 years. The first Silver Taps was in 1898 for Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Texas A&M’s seventh president. At Silver Taps, you stand where Aggies have stood for generations. You are connected to those who have come before you. This tradition is unique to Texas A&M, as no other university in the world honors their students in this way.

Bonfire

Students used burning Bonfire as a pep rally where speeches were made and yells were led, often outlasting the actual burning of the fire. The first Bonfires in 1909 were built with trash and other scraps around campus. It wasn’t until 1912 when logs started to become the standard for building Bonfire. Starting in the 1950s, building Bonfire became more organized while each class strove to make it bigger and better than the ones before. The tallest Bonfire was built in 1969 and was about 109 feet tall with a 105-foot center pole. Ninety-two years after bonfire first began, almost to the hour, on Nov. 18, 1999, at 2:42 a.m., the Bonfire stack collapsed and took with it the lives of 12 of our fellow Aggies and injured 27 others. The Bonfire collapse was quite possibly the most trying event in the history of Texas A&M, but it also allowed us to better understand the true meaning of the Aggie spirit. Many of us believe that Bonfire did burn that year when 90,000 Aggies, friends and families gathered at the Polo Fields on the night Bonfire was to burn to silently hold candles together.

Muster

Muster represents the Aggie spirit that binds Aggies to their school and to one another. It is more than a ceremony; it is a responsibility that is handed down from one generation to the next. Muster is a way for Aggies to renew their loyalty to their school and their friends. Aggie Muster is a special time set aside to honor members of the Aggie family. Aggie Muster traces its roots back to San Jacinto Day, which was a Texas holiday in the 1840s that celebrated Texans’ defeat of the Mexican Army in the battle of San Jacinto. In 1899, the cadets decided to hold a San Jacinto Field Day on April 21. It was a day of fun and activities without class. During the world wars, this tradition of meeting on April 21 evolved to include a memoriam for those who were absent. In World War I, Aggies met all over the trenches of Europe and at army posts all over America. The most famous Aggie Muster was held during World War II in 1942 on the small island of Corregidor in the Philippines. Major General George Moore, ’08, led a group of recently commissioned Aggies in a moment to honor the valiant Aggies who had died, hold a yell practice, and sing the War Hymn with all their strength, all under heavy enemy fire. In 1924, the first campus Muster was held in Guion Hall, and Muster has been held on campus since. Campus Muster is now the largest of the over 300 Musters held worldwide. The most important and moving part of the Muster ceremony is Roll Call for the absent. The Roll Call lists the names of every local Aggie who has passed

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during the year, as well as missing members of the 50 year reunion class. As each name is read, a candle is lit, and the family and friends answer, “Here,” to symbolize that while that Aggie has fallen, they are still with us in spirit.

Reveille

Reveille is Texas A&M’s beloved mascot and the First Lady of Aggieland. She has been mascot since 1931, when some cadets found her wounded by the side of the road in Navasota and snuck her into their dorm. All Reveilles since Reveille III have been Rough Collies. Miss Rev leads the football team onto the field at every game, and is attended by a sophomore in Company E-2 of the Corps of Cadets.

Aggie Ring

The Aggie ring is a unique representation of achievement by an Aggie. Aggies take pride in earning their little piece of gold from the greatest university in the world. The Aggie ring is unlike any other because students cannot design their own class ring or order it at any time. The Aggie ring can only be ordered when an Aggie completes 90 hours, 45 of which must be from Texas A&M University. The top of the ring features a shield that symbolizes the protection of the good reputation of the alma mater. There are 13 stripes in the shield that symbolize the 13 original states and Aggies’ intense patriotism. The five stars found in the shield refer to the five phases of Aggie development: mind or intellect, body, spiritual attainment, emotional poise and integrity of character. The eagle on the top of the Aggie ring symbolizes agility and power and ability to reach great heights and ambitions. One side of the Aggie ring holds a large star encircled with a wreath of olive leaves joined together by a ribbon near the bottom of the ring. The large star symbolizes the seal of the State of Texas authorized by the Constitution of 1845. It is encircled with a wreath of olive leaves, symbolizing achievement and desire for peace and live oak leaves, symbolizing the strength to fight. The leaves are joined at the bottom by an encircling ribbon to show the necessity of joining these traits to accomplish one’s ambition to serve. The other side of the Aggie ring contains an ancient cannon, saber and rifle, symbolizing that the citizens of Texas fought for their land and our determination to defend our homeland. The saber stands for valor and confidence, and the rifle and cannon stand for preparedness and defense. On both sides, the United States and Texas flags are crossed to symbolize the dual allegiance to nation and state.

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ALL AROUND

AGGIELAND Article provided by Experience Bryan-College Station

So youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be new in town, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to find your way around! While thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much more to see and do in Aggieland than can fit in this publication, here are a few of our iconic locations that are essential to being a Bryan-College Station local.

Time to Explore

Downtown Bryan and College Stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Northgate District are major hotspots for food, fun and live music. Downtown Bryan features the â&#x20AC;&#x153;must doâ&#x20AC;? monthly event of First Friday, which is held on the first Friday of the month and includes art, music, a

great shopping experience and awesome restaurants. The newly restored Queen Theatre shows classic movies from the 1930s through the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;90s. The Northgate District features some of the best food and bars in the area! While at Northgate make sure to stop by the Dixie Chicken for their famous Tijuana Fries and a game of 42, Aggielandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of dominos. Both Downtown Bryan and the Northgate District are packed with things to keep you busy day or night.

For the Foodies

Bryan-College Station has a variety of unique restaurants for all the foodies coming into

town. You can head down to Mad Taco and Fuego for outof-this-world handcrafted taco combinations, or if you are running low on clean clothes you can go down to Harvey Washbangers, which is a famous laundromat and dual hamburger joint. If you venture to Downtown Bryan, be sure to take an obligatory picture with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love Carbsâ&#x20AC;? wall at Caffeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Capri, and end the night with an exquisite piece of chocolate from the legendary Chocolate Gallery.

Can â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Make it Home for Break?

During the Thanksgiving holiday, take a day trip to the

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Texas Renaissance Festival, where you can go explore the land of lords and ladies, along with purchasing a turkey leg and a flower crown. Thanksgiving also gives way for the beloved festivities leading up to the Aggieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showdown with LSU. Winter Break calls for a visit to one of Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest Christmas Attractions, Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wonderland. From a stroll under the lights to steaming hot chocolate, we guarantee it will put you in the Christmas spirit! If you are in B-CS for spring break, then make plans for a lake day. Lake Bryan is the perfect water hot spot to float and catch some rays, while listening to live music. The Easter holiday features a â&#x20AC;&#x153;presidentialâ&#x20AC;? experience. The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum hosts its annual Easter Egg Roll that is modeled directly from the White House Easter Egg Roll and features food, prizes and

a whole lot of fun.

Entertaining the Family

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need somewhere to go when the family comes to town, and luckily the Brazos Valley is full of great places to choose from. From Messina Hof Winery to the Franklin Drive-Thru Safari, plan a fun-filled weekend that shows off Aggieland! To see a resourceful list of all of the exciting attractions B-CS has to offer, head to our website, experiencebcs.com.

And Much, Much More

There are plenty of adventures to be had in your time in Aggieland. Be sure to follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ ExperienceBCS to stay up to date on the awesome happenings all year long!

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CARPOOL

Provides safe rides in Aggieland

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Article provided by CARPOOL

CARPOOL is a student-run safe ride program that provides free, safe, non-judgmental rides home to anyone within the Bryan/College Station city limits. Our operating hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., when Texas A&M University is in session. To receive a ride, call our phone lines at 979-6939905 or, if you are on Northgate, you can find our members behind the Dixie Chicken in lime green shirts and sign up there. CARPOOL will only take you to the place you are staying for the night. We do not take patrons to parties, bars, restaurants or any other business establishments. Additionally, CARPOOL is completely confidential, meaning there will be no mention of who was taken home, what occurred during the actual ride, or what a member witnesses while working. The only information that is asked of patrons is a name to list the ride under, the number of riders, the address from which to pick them up, the address for where they are staying for the night, and a phone number to call when the ride is there to pick them up. We do not ID patrons, and CARPOOL does not care how old the patron is. Our only concern is to get the patron home safely. CARPOOL believes that it is the student’s choice whether to drink or not to drink. If a

student does choose to do so, however, CARPOOL only asks that the student take responsibility and never drink and drive. Such a mistake was made by our founder, Jeff Schiefelbein, on Oct. 23, 1997, when he received a DWI in College Station, and began an 18-month probation sentence in which he lost his license and did 60 hours of community service. Schiefelbein was required to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Victim Impact panel where he heard a mother’s story of her high school daughter’s death. Her story inspired Schiefelbein to begin a program the community could rely on to get home safely after a night of partying. To ensure the comfort of patrons, CARPOOL vowed never to preach to students about drinking, but rather to accept everyone and let them know that CARPOOL is here to help. Thus, CARPOOL’s founding objective became to provide a free, safe, non-judgmental ride home to anyone, including current CARPOOL members, in the area who needed one. After a year’s worth of hard work, CARPOOL gave its first ride on Sept. 16, 1999, and has given 269,194 rides since. You can find more on Schiefelbein’s story at docs.bryantx. gov/dwi/#chapter5. None of this would

be possible without the volunteers who devote their time to keep the community safe. CARPOOL opens applications each semester at Texas A&M, allowing for students to join the organization in order to volunteer and become members. The application is online, and consists of a few short essay questions, which is then followed by an interview before acceptance. The only requirements to join are that you be a current A&M student and at least 18 years of age. We highly recommend having a driver’s license and car insurance, but they are not required, and a car is not

necessary as we receive rentals from Enterprise. Volunteering for CARPOOL is not limited to strictly driving. Members may answer phones; drive; navigate; sign up patrons on Northgate; or advertise that we are running, by

walking bar to bar. To find out more or to contact CARPOOL, visit our website at carpool.tamu.edu, email publicrelations@ carpool.tamu.edu or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@tamucarpool).

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Committed to your success, the Career Center is here to help you. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff members are passionate about helping students to make their dreams come true, and we encourage you to drop by, get to know us, and learn more about our services. As you consider what your dreams may be and what career success may look like for you, keep in mind that the key is figuring out what you want to do and then focusing your search for jobs, whether these are full-time, internship, cooperative education or summer jobs. For those of you seeking further education after you graduate, focus your attention on those programs that interest you the most, whether these are graduate programs or professional schools, such as law and medicine. And it is never too early to start! The Career Center has staff dedicated to first- and second-year students, helping freshmen and sophomores to explore their interests and discover opportunities. Take advantage of all the Career Center’s resources. Start by scheduling an appointment with your career coordinator. These advisors have both work experience and education in the majors they serve and will give you in-depth information about your career options. They will also work closely with you to develop effective jobsearch strategies. Our professional school advising staff can help you to learn about, and to plan for, admittance to law, medical, dental and other professional schools. We also have a wide variety of programs, so meet with employers and graduate and professional school representatives during career fairs and networking events, learn from leaders in their fields through panel discussions and videos, connect with former students through the Aggie Network, and take part in resume reviews and mock interviews. Further, our online system, HireAggies, provides you with the opportunity to apply for full-time, internship and cooperative education jobs with thousands of employers. HireAggies also offers Career Explorer, an interactive tool that helps you figure out what jobs best fit your interests, values and skills. The Career Center serves all students, regardless of major, classification, grades or work authorization. The Center does not require a minimum grade point average to apply for positions listed in HireAggies. And we continue to provide support to Aggies after graduation. Former students can access job postings, advising and several of our online resources for life. The Career Center is located in 209 Koldus, just across the street from the Memorial Student Center. Please find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and view our videos on YouTube - #StartNow - #HireAggies. We’re committed to your success and we’re ready to help you. For more information, visit HireAggies. com or call 979-845-5139.

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THE ASSOCIATION OF

TAMU CAREER CENTER

Article provided by Texas A&M University Career Center

FORMER STUDENTS Article provided by The Association of Former Students Throughout your Aggie experience – from your new student conference to ordering your Aggie Ring, to commencement, to Muster and even your 50-year class reunion – one organization, The Association of Former Students, will be with you each step of the journey. Founded in 1879, The Association of Former Students will provide a total impact of $12.6 million to Texas A&M University during the 2018-2019 academic year. Your first experience with The Association will likely be during your New Student Conference, as you experience the historical and interactive exhibits in the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, detailing the organization’s history and impact on Texas A&M. On these same grounds, you and your classmates will try on a Class of 2022 Aggie Ring and gather for yell practice surrounding the 12-foot bronze Aggie Ring on the Haynes Ring Plaza during Howdy Week. As you become involved in student life, The Association will be there, as well, providing staff support and funding for scholarships, traditions and student activities. Toward the end of your time as a student, you will visit The Association to order your own Aggie Ring and celebrate that achievement on Ring Day! As graduation approaches, you and your family will be invited to attend The Next Tradition (TNT) to learn how you can remain active with the Aggie Network and become involved in supporting the organization that enriched your collegiate experience. When you graduate, you

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may leave College Station, but you will always be part of the Aggie Network and will have a home in Aggieland – the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. When you return for football games, you can watch the game on the Alumni Center’s Huddleston Video Wall in a family-friendly environment. As you gather for class reunions, you can reminisce and share the story of Texas A&M with your family through exhibits housed on the Neely Mezzanine. You can find information on local A&M Clubs, Aggie Muster gatherings in your area and the annual Coach’s Nights events through AggieNetwork.com. And who knows, you might even become one of the select few honored each year by

The Association and Texas A&M as a Distinguished Alumnus! Most importantly, as a former student, you can assure that future generations of Aggies enjoy an inspiring and enriching collegiate experience by faithfully giving back through The Association’s Annual Fund, just as those who preceded you have done for 139 years. The Association of Former Students proudly promotes Texas A&M and our core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service, and connects Aggies to one another and to their alma mater. To learn more about The Association, please visit www. AggieNetwork.com, call 979-845-7514 or follow Aggie Network on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Keepers of the spirit, guardians of tradition at Texas A&M

CORPS OF CADETS

Article provided by the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets The Corps of Cadets develops well-educated leaders of character who embody the values of honor, courage, integrity, discipline and selfless service; are academically successful; highly sought-after; and who are prepared for the global leadership challenges of the future. • The Corps is the largest student organization at Texas A&M, and it is also the largest uniformed Corps of Cadets in the nation, outside of the military academies. • Cadets learn leadership in a military-style environment that complements their academic education and prepares them for a lifetime of success; however, membership in the Corps carries no military obligation. • This fall, over 2,500 men and women will be members of the Corps — all participating on a voluntary basis. • Most cadets pursue a career in the public or private sector; however, the Corps consistently commissions more officers than any other institution in the nation other than the service academies. An average of 40 percent of cadets pursue a military commission in the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps. • The Corps also offers the Hollingsworth Leadership Excellence Program, a unique program through which cadets can earn an “Academic Certificate in Leadership Studies.” The program also offers opportunities for internships and

job placement for cadets. • The Corps of Cadets Athletics Program offers opportunities for athletes in the Corps to compete at the club sport level in a variety of sports. Corps club sports teams participate in competitive sporting events across Texas and the United States. Corps Club Sports teams include baseball, soccer (men and women), basketball (men and women), marksmanship (men and women), triathlon (co-ed), marathon (co-ed) and CrossFit (co-ed). • The Corps Global Leadership Initiatives program provides opportunities for cadets to study abroad as part of Cadet Exchanges (currently programs established with Germany and Australia), and participate in international excursions, which are high-impact, shortduration overseas experiences in countries of strategic importance to the United States. These international excursions focus heavily on the four elements of national power: diplomacy, information, military and economics, with a heavy emphasis on religion and culture, as well. Recent excursions have taken cadets to Israel, Japan/ Okinawa, Mexico, Singapore/ Indonesia, Georgia/Armenia, Germany/Poland, China/Taiwan, Korea, Qatar, the Philippines, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Chile and India. Traditions Cadets in the Corps are at the heart of the Aggie Spirit. Because Texas A&M was a military college for most of its first 100 years, many of its most cherished traditions grew out of the Corps

experience. The university’s Bonfire, Yell Practice, the Twelfth Man, yell leaders, the Aggie mascot Reveille, Aggie Muster and Silver Taps traditions all originated with the Corps. The Corps of Cadets is thus referred to as the “keepers of the spirit” and “guardians of tradition.” Cadet Life The Corps of Cadets delivers the ultimate Aggie experience. It starts with a world-class university with 140 years of tradition. The Corps builds on that foundation, guiding cadets as they develop their leadership abilities, while focusing on academic success at one of the nation’s premier universities. Cadets have their own unique military-style organizations, wear distinctive uniforms, live in dedicated residence halls and eat in their own dining facility, and participate in a wide variety of university student organizations and events. Cadets are a large, visible tradition at Texas A&M, and enjoy the benefits of being the premier leadership organization in the state of Texas, while also being an integral part of a world-class tier one research institute. Academics Academic excellence is the top priority of the Corps of Cadets. During the academic day, cadets attend class, study and attend to their personal business. Freshman and sophomore cadets also have a study period called “Evening Study Time” (EST), which is a mandatory multi-hour period Sunday through Thursday evenings. This time is dedicated to studying, projects, group work, supplemental instruction and test reviews.

freshman cadets. They compete football games and several away There are three full-time in precision drill competitions games, the Aggie Band is one scholastic performance around the country, and have of the most-traveled university specialists in the Office of the won the National Championship Commandant, who provide marching bands in the nation. tailored academic advice and almost every year since they were This fall, the band will have mentoring to all cadets, no created in 1946. approximately 430 members. matter what their major may Additional Corps special units The Ross Volunteer be. They provide instruction for also include the Corps Color Company, the oldest student coping with college academics, Guard, the Corps Center Guard organization in the state, is a assist with course schedules, and and the O.R. Simpson Honor very prestigious, highly select provide mentoring and academic Society, a prestigious corps student organization composed assistance to cadets. unit for those cadets who have of junior and senior cadets. The The Corps has four, four-story unit is the official Honor Guard achieved academic excellence at Leadership Learning Centers Texas A&M. for the Governor of Texas and equipped with state-of-the-art Reveille, the official mascot marches in major parades and computer labs, as well as small of Texas A&M, is cared for by participates in various campus and large group study rooms. Company E-2 in the Corps of events throughout the year. These facilities are located on Cadets. Parsons Mounted Cavalry, the Quad, where the cadets Members of the Corps formed in 1973, is the only live, and are dedicated solely represent Texas A&M University collegiate mounted cavalry unit to the academic success and at numerous public events in the nation, and is reminiscent professional development of our throughout the year. They of the mounted cavalry once cadets. provide a visible reminder of the present at Texas A&M. This is a The Corps provides academic legacy of Texas A&M at many parade and show unit composed support for cadets to help them campus, state and national of 50 horses and four mules, as achieve academic success. ceremonies. well as an artillery half section. Supplemental instruction, The Corps of Cadets is open The Cavalry unit, comprised tutoring, test reviews and on-call to all qualified applicants, and of junior and senior cadets, academic assistance are all membership in the Corps carries represents the university at provided free to cadets to help no military obligation. ceremonial events and parades them succeed academically For more information, see across Texas. in a very rigorous academic corps.tamu.edu or facebook. Fish Drill Team is a precision environment at Texas A&M. com/aggiecorps. drill team composed entirely of Cadets have achieved some of the highest grade Photo contributed by A&M, The A&M Corps of point ratios (GPRs) ever Cadets participates in the 2017 Final Review. achieved in recent years, and four-year graduation rates for cadets exceed the university rates. Corps Special Units The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is the largest military collegiate marching band in the United States. The band is famous for its unique style of military precision drill and is an integral part of the Corps of Cadets. Performing at all home

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