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140 Impacts In 140 Years

Caitlin "Cait" Shields '11 April 8, 2019 11:51 AM updated: December 20, 2019 10:13 AM

To mark 140 years of serving the Aggie Network, in 2019 The Association of Former Students is highlighting #140Impacts we've made. 

Follow along @AggieNetwork on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!

No. 1: Each year, The Association recognizes 12 young Aggies who have graduated within the past 12 years for their outstanding accomplishments in business and in their community. Read more about the 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight

No. 2: The Association perpetuates the tradition of Muster by annually sending out more than 250,000 postcards inviting Aggies to their local Aggie Muster. Here

No. 3: The Association maintains AggieNetwork.com as a resource for the Aggie Network.

No. 4: For years, The Association has proudly helped the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band with travel expenses. In 2017, with Aggie Band members already headed to California to play at a football game, they got an invitation to play for thousands more at a completely different venue: Disneyland in Anaheim. The Association helped A&M secure the chance to make an impression on countless young park-goers. Watch a video here!

No. 5: The Association founded Aggie Entrepreneurship Saturday, which is now hosted in conjunction with the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship. It aims to connect entrepreneurial Aggies with successful Aggie entrepreneurs to share knowledge, collaborate, build connections and create mentoring opportunities. Learn more here.

No. 6: The Association has lent support to Aggie Guide Dogs & Service Dogs, a student organization that educates and promotes the training and use of guide and service dogs. 

No. 7: Every year, The Association hosts dozens of student events free or at reduced cost in the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. These can range from camp sendoffs to award ceremonies to formal banquets.

No. 8: The Association supports student organizations like Aggie Mental Health Ambassadors, 63 members that are changing the culture around mental health at A&M

No. 9: There are 85 current students serving as Aggie Network Student Ambassadors! These members of The Association's student group help with A&M events and help Aggies learn about the work of The Association.

No. 10: The Association maintains several Aggie Ring collections, which chronicle the history of this storied tradition and the lives of the Aggies who wore them.

No. 11: The Association distributes about 15,000 Aggies Rings each year during three different Aggie Ring Days. Here.

No. 12: By overseeing all Aggie Ring orders and deliveries, The Association is able to maintain and protect the integrity of the Aggie Ring. 

No. 13: The Association organizes an Aggie Ring for Veterans scholarship program. Learn more about Aggie Ring Scholarships at tx.ag/RingScholarships.

No. 14: The Association of Former Students proudly helps support Aggieland Saturday, an annual campus-wide event where over 10,000 prospective future Aggies and family come find out what Texas A&M is all about!

No. 15: The Association sends out its monthly e-newsletter, Aggie News, to 250,000 former students, updating them on news from Aggieland and Texas A&M. Sign up here

No. 16: Every two years, The Association hosts Aggies on the Hill and sends leadership to Washington D.C. to meet with elected officials and former students to increase public and legislative support for higher education. 

No. 17: The Association provided funds for the construction and 2014 remodeling of All Faiths Chapel.

No. 18: The Association hosts the All-Aggie Tailgate at every away game in order to bring Aggies together. Here

No. 19: The Association opens the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center for every home football game for the All-Aggie Tailgate.

No. 20: The Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, opened in 1987 and remodeled in 2008-09, is “a campus focal center... an integral part of the life of the university.”

No. 21: The Association organizes away game Midnight Yell Practice with the Aggie Yell Leaders. 

No. 22: In 2011, The Association provided support to students who traveled to Bastrop to replant trees after wildfires caused widespread damage.

No. 23: In December 2018, The Association provided funds for two staffers from The Battalion to travel to Washington D.C. to cover President George H.W. Bush's funeral. 

No. 24: The Association supports Big Event, a one-day community service project that allows Aggies to demonstrate selfless service and give back to Bryan-College Station residents.

No. 25: The Association donated a sculpture commissioned to reflect former students' love for Texas A&M to the Department of Residence Life at Texas A&M University, and it was placed in the Southside Commons to be enjoyed by students living at the heart of the Aggie experience. Read more here.

No. 26: The Association provided more than $700,000 in relief funds when Bonfire collapsed in 1999.

No. 27: The Association established the Buck Weirus Spirit Award, which recognizes current students who demonstrate their Aggie Spirit through organizational involvement and leadership opportunities.

No. 28: The Association supported student organization BUILD with costs to transform shipping containers into functioning medical clinics. Read more about their work in the September-October issue of Texas Aggie.

No. 29: To ensure the tradition of campus Muster continues, The Association supports the annual event and the Student Muster Committee.

No. 30: The Career Center and The Association provide resources to current and former students to help them in their careers.

No. 31: With funding from The Association in 2016, Aggie students renovated a space in the MSC to hold Career Closet’s professional attire that fellow students can check out to wear for job interviews and career fairs. The Dallas A&M Club and Brazos County A&M Club also provided funds!

No. 32:  A&M faculty and teaching assistants benefit every year from the Center for Teaching Excellence. The Association of Former Students provides nearly $150,000 annually to the Office of the Dean of Faculties to support such programs.

No. 33: Since 1965, thousands of Aggies have proudly claimed their Century Club plaques, a token of appreciation honoring their gift of $100 or more to provide services, scholarships and support to the next generation of Aggies. 

No. 34: More than 200 Texas A&M Clubs worldwide have been chartered by The Association! Find yours at tx.ag/Clubs.

No. 35: The Association supports Class gifts that help shape the landscape of Aggieland. Read more at tx.ag/ClassGifts. https://twitter.com/AggieNetwork/status/1128668356104658945

No. 36: The Association works with Class Agents to send out Class Newsletters and keep Aggies informed and connected with Classmates.

No. 37: Thousands of Aggies come back to campus every year for Reunions hosted by The Association of Former Students. In addition to landmark Reunions for different Aggie Classes and Mini Reunions, thousands attend Young Alumni Weekend in the fall and the Sul Ross Reunion each spring. 

No. 38: The Association supports hundreds of A&M Clubs worldwide, connecting Aggies of all generations and providing them their own piece of Aggieland wherever they go. 

No. 39: A&M current and former students in education unite in the Aggie Educators Network, a Constituent Network of The Association that supports Aggie students and professionals, and disseminates professional development and graduate school opportunities based on the latest research at Texas A&M involving best practices. Join them at AggieNetwork.com/educators.

No. 40: The Association helps Aggie Moms stand with their students through various outreach events and charters the The Federation of Texas A&M University Mothers' Clubs.

No. 41: The Black Former Student Network was chartered in 2001 as an Association constituent network and grows every year, with mentoring, fundraising and get-togethers in cities across Texas and the nation. Connect with them at TAMUBFSN.org.

No. 42: The Association supports Constituent Networks like the Bush School Former Student Network. Learn more about Constituent Networks here.

No. 43: Through the Greek Former Student Network, The Association helps former students involved with Greek life unite and give back to Texas A&M. 

No. 44: Among The Association's Constituent Networks is the Aggie Real Estate Network, which has several hundred members who are active in real estate throughout Texas and the United States

No. 45: The Association charters the Sea Aggie Former Student Network, strengthening the bond between Texas A&M University at Galveston graduates.

No. 46: The Student Government Association Constituent Network, chartered by The Association, connects generations of former students of A&M student government.

No. 47: The Texas Aggie Bar Association, chartered and supported by The Association, develops relationships with and unites Aggies in the law industry. There are 500 active members in TABA. 

No. 48: The Association charters a number of Constituent Networks, including the Texas A&M Hispanic Network. TAMHN works as an advocate and support group on Hispanic concerns and issues at the university and local communities.

No. 49: The Association supports the Aggie Women Network, a chartered Constituent Network, connecting Aggie women with each other and the university.

No. 50: The Association, with Texas A&M Clubs, plans Coach's Night events across the state, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for scholarships that send local students to A&M.

No. 51: In 2017, The Association helped MSC OPAS and Jordan bring Conspirare: Considering Matthew Shepard to Rudder Theatre. 

No. 52: By taking the step of creating Aggie Ring Day in 2000 to add celebration to the act of picking up your hard-earned Aggie Ring, the Association helped bolster this tradition that remains strong at Texas A&M. Read how Ring Day fits into more than a century of respect and appreciation that makes the Aggie Ring Program unmatched nationwide.

No. 53: The Association has been finding Aggies jobs since the 1900s. The Jobs Bank was launched by the Alumni Bureau in the early 1900s to find former students jobs. It eventually became A&M's Career Center.

No. 54: The Association has provided funds for books on tape and Dinner in the Ark for Disability Awareness and Educational Programming

No. 55: Since 1955, The Association has honored more than 1,000 exceptional faculty and staff members with Distinguished Achievement Awards.

No. 56: The Association with Texas A&M annually bestows the Distinguished Alumnus Awards, the highest honor for a former student, on deserving Aggies. The Association also organizes the annual Distinguished Alumni Gala. Learn more about this award and how to nominate someone here.

No. 57: The Association has provided 628 Distinguished Graduate Student Awards to deserving graduate students since 1965.

No. 58: Every year since 1997, The Association has funded the Tradition of Excellence Staff Awards in the Division of Academic Affairs – helping to celebrate staff members who make Texas A&M academics better.

No. 59: The Association supports Elect Her, hosted by The Offices of the Dean of Student Life and the Texas A&M Women's Resource Center. The conference trains college women to run for student government and future political office. 

No. 60: Elephant Walk is held before the final home football game each fall, giving the seniors a chance to walk around campus and reflect on their student days before their last game as part of the 12th Man. This nearly century-old tradition is one of many organized by the student Class Councils, which receive support from Association donors.

No. 61: The McFerrin Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans offers entrepreneurship training and small business management to veterans; because of donors' generosity, The Association has been able to support it.

No. 62: The Association is proud to support assistive technology, such as audiobooks, e-textbooks and adaptive software, for students with disabilities. 

No. 63: When the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band marches at away games, Association donors are helping them spread the Aggie Spirit! The Association provides over $100,000 to the Aggie Band every year.

No. 64: The Association helps Aggies find their local Muster from the more than 200 events each year. Find yours here

No. 65: The Association hosts the online directory of current and former students, Find An Aggie. More than 76,000 Aggies have accessed it since it went online.

No. 66: The Association formed Aggie Hostel in 1988 to allow former students to return to campus, stay in modern dorms, eat in dining halls and attend classes. Student Hosts would also organize special events, including 42 tournaments and two-stepping classes, so visitors could get the real experience of current students. This program bridged generations of Aggies with one common theme: love for A&M.

No. 67: More than half of Aggie freshmen attend Fish Camp, which gets substantial support from The Association – as do all the Aggie Transition Camps, including T-Camp and Howdy Camp (in spring) for transfer students and S.A.L.T. Camp at Texas A&M University at Galveston.

No. 68: Association donors provide $10,000 each year for Fish Drill Team travel and performance costs (part of over $300,000 annually that The Association provides to the Corps). 2019 saw FDT continue their streak as national champions!

No. 69: The Association supports Aggie Recovery Community and the Sober Tailgate, which provides a safe and supportive environment for students struggling with or recovering from addiction. 

No. 70: The Association secures lodging for pilots of flyovers of Kyle Field during football season.

No. 71: Created by the Young Alumni Advisory Council, Former Student Big Event is hosted by A&M Clubs around the country. The Association provides resources to Clubs to help organize and plan this service project.

No. 72: More than a million people were reached on social media in 2016 by an Association video telling the history of Texas A&M's two most famous Musters: 1942 and 1946. It was first shown to several participants from the '46 Victory Muster on Corregidor who came to campus for the 70th anniversary of that event and to dedicate the collection of Corregidor Aggie Rings at the Williams Alumni Center. Watch the video on Facebook or YouTube; it is also one of many Muster resources available for Muster chairs' use at tx.ag/MusterMedia.

No. 73: The Association offers free @AggieNetwork.com email accounts with large storage for free. Get yours here.

No. 74: The Association welcomes new freshmen to campus each year during Howdy Week with GatheRing, which features the first on campus yell practice of the year. See a clip from a past event here.

No. 75: Gathright Phi Kappa Phi Dean's Excellence Awards: In conjunction with LAUNCH: Academic Excellence and the A&M chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, The Association recognizes freshmen, sophomores and juniors who have outstanding scholastic achievement.

No. 76: The Association maintains a database of all Aggies who have given their lives while serving on duty, including those lost in World War I, those who are listed as MIA during the Vietnam War and those who have been killed in active duty since Sept. 11, 2001.

No. 77: To help Aggies who were in the path of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, The Association of Former Students and Texas A&M University set aside $200,000 that was made available to A&M Clubs in the storm-torn areas.

No. 78: After Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017, The Association supported recovery efforts including the student-run organization BTHOharvey.

No. 79: The Association assisted Texas A&M at Galveston students who were displaced by Hurricane Ike by helping them replace personal items, books and other academic resources.

No. 80: The Association supports Heritage Month opening events like Bienvenidos a Aggieland, which was attended by 800 Aggies in 2018.

No. 81: More than 1,400 Aggie students a year get Association scholarships; for the 2018-19 academic year, the total number was 1,823 Aggie students. To lend your support, visit tx.ag/give. To apply, use the standardized application at scholarships.tamu.edu. There are also many scholarships provided directly to students by Association affiliates and chartered groups such as the A&M Clubs and Aggie Moms’ Clubs. Visit tx.ag/clubs and aggiemoms.org/findaclub to locate a Club near you and inquire about any scholarships they may offer!

No. 82: The Association provides $125,000 each year to fund the bright ideas of student organizations. In 1989, with $500 in seed funding from The Association, A&M students launched the Southwestern Black Students Leadership Conference. Now in its 32nd year, it's one of the largest student-led conferences in the nation; learn more at sbslc.tamu.edu

No. 83: The Association annually supports the International Student Association and I-Week, a week on campus dedicated to showcasing various cultures and traditions around the world. 

No. 84: With help from The Association, the International Student Mentor Association is able to fulfill its mission and better serve international students by helping them acclimate to campus through mentorships.

No. 85: The Association supports the annual International Women's Day Conference on Texas A&M's campus, which recognizes and empowers Aggie women and hosts about 130 attendees each year. 

No. 86: Telling Aggie stories is part of The Association’s work. Documentaries about Muster, the Corps of Cadets, and the history of A&M (narrated by Lyle Lovett ’79) are among the videos produced by The Association for sale at tamuvideo.com.

No. 87: Visit tx.ag/MusterChairResources to see all the resources The Association makes available to more than 300 Musters worldwide.

No. 88: Dating back to 1995, The Association has presented 18 Outstanding International Alumnus Awards.

No. 89: During the U.S. recession in 2009, The Association made access to the online directory free for all Aggies, to help them network. It remains free for all Aggies today, thanks to funding from Association donors. Set up your free login and watch a video on how to use it at tx.ag/FindAnAggie. Help us make sure all Aggies are included and are able to reach each other by ensuring your profile is included and up-to-date: tx.ag/Profile.

No. 90: The Association supports the Maroon Out and Class Councils organizations.

No. 91: The Association helps the student organization Mi Casa Es Su Casa carry out their mission of creating support systems between students and professors over a home-cooked meal. 

No. 92: The Association provides funds to cover the cost of security at home Midnight Yell Practice.

No. 93: The Association has supported the annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast held at Texas A&M.

No. 94: The Association provided the initial gift to build Texas A&M's Memorial Student Center and continues to provide funds to operate the MSC and its many programs—in which 1,800 students a year participate, from OPAS to ALOT and SCONA. Read more: tx.ag/MSCsupport.

No. 95: Association donors provide thousands of dollars each year to operate the Memorial Student Center and to support MSC Student Programs. This video highlights Association support for just one of these committees: MSC Town Hall, which has booked concerts in Aggieland for decades.

No. 96: In coordination with Texas A&M Cultural Councils, The Association helps unite students through multicultural services programming. Find a list of cultural councils here

No. 97: The Association supports and helps organize hundreds of Musters each year, including the first known instance of Muster in the sky. Here

No. 98: The Association secured funds to erect a monument on Corregidor Island in memory of the 1946 victory Muster. Read more here

No. 99: Muster wasn’t called “Muster” until The Association adopted that name in 1943 for the gatherings Aggies had been holding on April 21 for decades! Read more at tx.ag/NamingMuster.

No. 100: Each fall, The Association assists with New Student Conferences for incoming freshmen, including NSCs en Español

No. 101: The Association's Texas A&M Advocacy Network advocates for Texas A&M and higher education in Texas. Learn more here

No. 102: In 1964, board president John Lindsey '44 put the weight of The Association of Former Students behind the proposal to admit women to Texas A&M.

No. 103: The Association provides funds to offset the cost of operating the two ceremonial cannons used by Parsons Mounted Cavalry.

No. 104: The Association reports on Aggie news and history, like finding out just how old the Century Tree is! here

No. 105: The Association presents the President's Meritorious Service Awards, recognizing and rewarding Texas A&M staff for their commendable service to the university. 

No. 106: In 1936, Texas A&M arranged to have The Association build project houses on campus to provide inexpensive housing for Aggie students during the Great Depression.

No. 107: The Association has supported the Public Policy Intern Program, which provides housing and internship placements for students pursuing the public policy sector.

No. 108: The Association's Aggie Ring Program facilitates the repair of hundreds of Rings every year, including one that wound up in a blender. here

No. 109: Part of The Association’s work is helping record Texas A&M traditions’ history. Former yell leaders helped us make a video showing how yell leading has evolved over the decades! Check it out at tx.ag/tradYellLeaders.

No. 110: The Association helps unite Classes after graduation by aiding Class Agents and facilitating elections.

No. 111: Lost and found Aggie Rings: The Association operates the Aggie Ring Program and the Directory of Former Students - and we frequently use both to reconnect Aggies with their Rings. Read more at tx.ag/LostRingStories. Report a lost or found Aggie Ring at tx.ag/LostFound.

No. 112: The Association has supported some travel costs for the first lady of Aggieland, Reveille!

No. 113: The Association remembers students who have passed away at a Ring Remembrance ceremony held on Muster day.

No. 114: Today, the Haynes Ring Replica is a 3-ton campus landmark. See how it was created and installed in 2009 as part of The Association’s mission to bring Aggies together in this video.

No. 115: Since 2005, more than 150 Aggie Ring Scholarships have been created through The Association to help deserving students afford their Rings. Learn how students can apply at tx.ag/RingScholApply and how you can help fund such scholarships at tx.ag/RingScholarships

No. 116: Through annual support, The Association preserves the legacy and tradition of the Ross Volunteer Company.

No. 117: The Association collects and maintains our Speakers Bureau, a list of Aggies who want to speak at various events around the country, including local Musters, A&M Club meetings and more.

No. 118: To help students focus on education rather than financial barriers, The Association provides various scholarships every year; in 2018, the scholarships totaled $2,600,000. 

No. 119: The Association has supported SALT Camp for incoming freshmen to Texas A&M Galveston. The camp teaches Aggie traditions and helps ease the transition into college. Learn more here

No. 120: The Association provides short term loans to students who experience temporary financial difficulty, helping them get back on their feet. 

No. 121: The Association provides resources and support to families of Aggies honored at Silver Taps.

No. 122: The Association provides $20,000 to $30,000 per year to support the Singing Cadets' tours across Texas, the U.S. and internationally representing Texas A&M. https://twitter.com/AggieNetwork/status/1123288909373411330

No. 123: The Association has connected current and former students to each other and Texas A&M through social media since 2009.

No. 124: The largest known Aggie Heisman watch party was held on campus in 2012 by The Association of Former Students! Current and former students shook the Williams Alumni Center with a roar when Johnny Manziel ’15 became the first freshman ever to claim the most prestigious trophy in college football. Watch a video here!

No. 125: The Association provided $58,759 in student assistance funds in 2018 and about $1.1 million since 1984.

No. 126: With financial support from The Association, A&M's Department of Multicultural Services can host its annual RISE Conference, which brings together student leaders to take part in important dialogues on issues that impact Texas A&M and beyond and cultivates an understanding of diversity, race identity and social equity.

No. 127: The Association supports student experiences through organizations like the Sounding Rocketry team. https://twitter.com/AggieNetwork/status/1164558595389886466

No. 128:  Every year, the Sul Ross Group Reunion brings back hundreds of Aggies from the Class years that have been out of A&M for 55 years or more. Association staff work year-round to help plan and host this special weekend.

No. 129: With help from gifts made to The Association's annual fund, supplemental instruction sessions are free for all students. These peer-led programs provide academic assistance in a number of classes, and statistics have shown that students who attend at least 10 sessions receive a full letter grade higher than those who do not attend. 

No. 130: The Association provides funds that allow student organizations, like the TAMU American Medical Student Association, to travel to organization events.

No. 131: The Association publishes Texas Aggie magazine, sharing Aggie news and the latest information from campus. Make sure you get your copy by visiting here.

No. 132: Through the Traveling Aggies program, The Association organizes and hosts trips around the globe for former students and friends of Texas A&M. 

No. 133: The Association works to engage young alumni including through its annual Young Alumni Weekend. Learn more at tx.ag/YAW.

No. 134: The Veteran Resource and Support Center and its 26 application to vocation programs are supported by The Association annually.

No. 135: After his family suffered a devastating loss, Alfredo Alvarez ’21 was able to remain in school thanks to support from The Association, and Association donors helped make it possible for Alfredo's father to see his son march on Kyle Field with the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. Watch the video here.

No. 136: In 2018, to ensure that no Aggie’s name would go uncalled on April 21, The Association began a new tradition: the Live Worldwide Roll Call, reading all 1,600-plus Muster names aloud each year, and answering “Here” for each. (If you know an Aggie who has passed away since the last Muster, you can ensure their name is on the roll: tx.ag/AddAName)

No. 137: The Association created and serves the Young Alumni Advisory Council, the official ambassadors for The Association and the sounding board for their demographic. 

No. 138: The Association hosts the All-Aggie Grad Party during each commencement season to celebrate graduating students and help keep them connected to A&M and each other. Leaving campus? Find out what's next!

No. 139: The Association covers some travel and hotel costs for the Aggie Yell Leaders.

No. 140: In 1914, The Association helped build the iconic YMCA building on campus, now home to the philosophy department. 

The Association has served the Aggie Network for 140 years only through the generous support of Aggies. Help us serve for another 140. Add your gift at tx.ag/give.



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