THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2021 STUDENT MEDIA
Golden opportunities FILE
Several Veterans Day events will be available to the public across Bryan-College Station.
Resources, celebrations for Veterans Day Community to show support on Nov. 11 to those who serve, served By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt The 102nd annual celebration of Veterans Day is Thursday, Nov. 11. To remember the service of U.S. military members, Texas A&M and the Bryan-College Station community will host a variety of events from Nov. 11 to Nov. 14. Events: Veterans Day Ceremony Time: Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m. Location: Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial, 3101 Harvey Road, College Station Hosted by: Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board, the City of Bryan and the City of College Station Cost: Free to attend History in Motion Time: Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: Museum of the American G.I, 19124 Highway 6 South, College Station Hosted by: Museum of the American G.I. Cost: $10 per person Recognition of Landis S. Cervenka, Class of 1969 Time: Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. Location: Jack K. Williams Administration Building, 400 Bizzell St., College Station Hosted by: Texas A&M’s Class of 1969 Cost: Free to attend Year-Round Veteran Resources: Veteran Support Office Provides financial assistance and advice, including federal benefits and education abroad benefits, to veterans and their families. Veteran Resource & Support Center “Serving well those who have served” through transition programs, peer leadership, educational programming and veteran community. Those who stop in the office during business hours on Nov. 11 can also enjoy a sweet treat. Aggie Veteran Network Professional network through LinkedIn for Aggie Veterans, providing support in the areas of academic success, financial fitness, community strength and career readiness.
Gabrielle Shreve — THE BATTALION
Over 2,000 students will receive their Aggie Rings on Friday, Nov. 12 during Texas A&M’s second Ring Day of the fall semester.
Upcoming Aggie Ring Day to see students across College Station, Galveston, Law campuses receive rings By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel
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or the second time this semester, students will receive their Aggie Rings in Kyle Field’s Hall of Champions. Due to the construction of Aggie Park near the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center, where Ring Day is traditionally held, November Ring Day will continue at its alternate location with 2,711 Aggies receiving their gold on Friday, Nov. 12. Publications manager for the Association
of Former Students Cait Shields said the mechanics of Ring Day will be almost identical to those during the September Ring Day. “This is typically the smallest of our three deliveries,” Shields said. “We’ve got about 2,700 recipients who will get their rings on Friday and hopefully have a really good day and leave happy — that’s always our goal.” To put on such a large event, Shields said the Association depends on volunteers such as former students. This November, the event will have over 230 volunteers. “We have a lot of presidents of A&M clubs or class agents who will sign up to volunteer. A lot of professors and staff from campus will [also] come and volunteer, and then we usually have a few staff members as well,” Shields said. “We keep a running list of people who are interested in volunteering, [so if anyone is interested at any time] they can reach out to us.” Education junior Katie Parker said she
has been looking forward to having her ring placed on her finger at 11 a.m. on Friday for a while. “I’ve just been looking forward to the day for so long,” Parker said. “It’s so exciting that it’s finally here, especially because a lot of my close friends got [their rings] in September, so it’s more exciting [thinking] that mine’s officially here.” Parker said although her immediate family will be making the trip to College Station for Ring Day, they will continue to celebrate her accomplishment over Thanksgiving break with more family and friends. Psychology junior Marissa Manzanarez said her Aggie Ring represents all the sacrifices that have been made for her to attend college at A&M. “In my family, [I] was the first one to leave home,” Manzanarez said. “I think [my Aggie Ring is] a big deal for me and for [my family] because they did a lot for me to get here.” Being a military child, environmental geosciences junior Jaren Queja said his mother has been a motivating factor for him as he pursues his degree. “My mom motivated me through her sacrifices in the [U.S.] Army, and I am forever grateful for her giving me a chance at going to an institution of higher learning,” Queja said. “She is very excited [about] my Aggie Ring as it shows my near-completion [of college] and an influence for my little siblings to go to [A&M].” After receiving his new gold on Friday at 4 p.m., Queja said he will have it blessed in holy water at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. “Having a priest [bless my ring helps me to] feel like I’m going to receive more blessings as I continue to strive for my bachelor’s degree,” Queja said. Industrial science senior Ty’Rae Carter said although he was not first planning to get an Aggie Ring, he decided to get one to celebrate his accomplishment. “At first, I wasn’t super hyped about it [because I was focused on] getting my education [and I thought] that’s enough,” Carter said. “After talking to my parents and then just talking to other seniors, they convinced me, so I just feel like getting the ring is enough of a celebration for me.” Carter said he believes his Aggie Ring is a representation of himself. “I am more of a representation of the ring and the ring is a representation of me, just because I’m kind of like an indifferent person at this university, just being a Black engineer,” Carter said. “I also have a lot of hobbies and other things that I do outside of education so I think the biggest thing that this ring is gonna tell people that see [it is], ‘He’s able to do all these different things, but at the end of the day he was able to receive an Aggie education while doing everything else he does.’” Construction science senior Bennett Young said he is looking forward to receiving his Aggie Ring alongside his brother Sean Young, an animal science senior. “We’re actually the first two Aggies in our [immediate] family,” Bennett said. “We’re both very excited, and we’re very RING DAY ON PG. 4
Paying it forward Association of Former Students offers ring scholarships to Aggies By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel
Courtesy of the Association of Former Students
Seniors (left to right) Lydia Prislovsky and Annie Hudson alongside Aggie Ring scholarship donors Steve and Linda Pringle.
College is already quite an expense in itself, but on top of trying to make ends meet, some Aggies also have to worry about how they will afford their earned Aggie gold. After seeing a financial need among students regarding the cost of Aggie Rings, the Association of Former Students created the Aggie Ring Scholarship program, according to its website. Manager of Development Sheila Connor said the program took off in 2013 and now has 197 endowed scholarships as well
as additional scholarships that are provided by donors in conjunction with the Association. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’ve now awarded over 1,500 Aggie Ring scholarships,” Connor said. “[The] number just continues to grow and will get bigger and bigger every single year as the program grows.” Director of Campus Programs Kelli Hutka said students can apply for an Aggie Ring scholarship by completing the continuing student scholarship application, which typically opens in October and closes on Feb. 1. “There is a supplemental question within that that asks, ‘Are you going to be ordering your Aggie Ring in the upcoming academic year?’” Hutka said. “For those students SCHOLARSHIPS ON PG. 4
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