AGGIE TURNS ACORNS INTO SCHOLARSHIP
VERNON, Texas – Andy Duffie, a 1978 graduate of Texas A&M University, is growing 500 seedlings from Texas A&M’s “Century Tree,” which he will sell to fund a President’s Endowed Scholarship at his alma mater. The Century Tree, a venerable, sprawling live oak, is a well-known landmark on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. It was one of the first trees planted on campus, according to the Texas A&M website, and it has been the setting for numerous Aggie marriage proposals over the years.
Duffie, who holds a marketing degree from Texas A&M, harvested 3,000 acorns from the Century Tree in October of 2010. Within weeks, 500 acorns sprouted. Duffie plans to sell the Century Tree seedlings to fellow Aggies in the fall of 2012 when the trees are 6 to 7 feet tall. Proceeds from his tree sales will raise the $100,000 endowment needed to fund the Century Tree President’s Endowed Scholarship.
As Texas A&M’s premier scholarship program, each President’s Endowed Scholarship is a permanent legacy which will benefit future generations of Aggies. The scholarships are awarded to top students who excel in both academics and leadership.
Duffie is confident about the future success of his project. “In my opinion, Aggies will think it’s pretty awesome to have their very own Century Tree – especially Aggie couples who were engaged under the Century Tree on campus. These trees will be little pieces of Aggieland growing in yards across Texas.”
As of this month, 120 of Duffie’s trees have already been reserved by Aggies eager for their own small part of campus history. The trees will be sold next fall for $250 each (or two trees for $400) and will be delivered to College Station for distribution.
The project’s Facebook page (Aggie Century Tree Project) shows pictures of the trees at different stages of development, and includes care and planting instructions. Trees can be reserved by contacting Duffie at centurytree@aggienetwork.com
Andy Duffie, a graduate of Texas A&M University, is growing 500 Century Tree seedlings at his home in Vernon. He will sell the trees to his fellow Aggies next Fall to fund a $100,000 President’s Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M.
Young Century Tree seedlings pictured in June 2011
The Century Tree on the Texas A&M campus (photo by Ed Schipul)
[This message has been edited by ACutt817 (edited 9/26/2011 9:01p).]
VERNON, Texas – Andy Duffie, a 1978 graduate of Texas A&M University, is growing 500 seedlings from Texas A&M’s “Century Tree,” which he will sell to fund a President’s Endowed Scholarship at his alma mater. The Century Tree, a venerable, sprawling live oak, is a well-known landmark on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. It was one of the first trees planted on campus, according to the Texas A&M website, and it has been the setting for numerous Aggie marriage proposals over the years.
Duffie, who holds a marketing degree from Texas A&M, harvested 3,000 acorns from the Century Tree in October of 2010. Within weeks, 500 acorns sprouted. Duffie plans to sell the Century Tree seedlings to fellow Aggies in the fall of 2012 when the trees are 6 to 7 feet tall. Proceeds from his tree sales will raise the $100,000 endowment needed to fund the Century Tree President’s Endowed Scholarship.
As Texas A&M’s premier scholarship program, each President’s Endowed Scholarship is a permanent legacy which will benefit future generations of Aggies. The scholarships are awarded to top students who excel in both academics and leadership.
Duffie is confident about the future success of his project. “In my opinion, Aggies will think it’s pretty awesome to have their very own Century Tree – especially Aggie couples who were engaged under the Century Tree on campus. These trees will be little pieces of Aggieland growing in yards across Texas.”
As of this month, 120 of Duffie’s trees have already been reserved by Aggies eager for their own small part of campus history. The trees will be sold next fall for $250 each (or two trees for $400) and will be delivered to College Station for distribution.
The project’s Facebook page (Aggie Century Tree Project) shows pictures of the trees at different stages of development, and includes care and planting instructions. Trees can be reserved by contacting Duffie at centurytree@aggienetwork.com
Andy Duffie, a graduate of Texas A&M University, is growing 500 Century Tree seedlings at his home in Vernon. He will sell the trees to his fellow Aggies next Fall to fund a $100,000 President’s Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M.
Young Century Tree seedlings pictured in June 2011
The Century Tree on the Texas A&M campus (photo by Ed Schipul)
[This message has been edited by ACutt817 (edited 9/26/2011 9:01p).]