Each month, the ABOVE & BEYOND Buzz Lightyear Award recognizes the work and character of a Student Affairs Space Ranger in marketing and communications. Full-time staff, our liaisons, and student employees who work in marcomm are eligible. Recipients proudly display Buzz in their office, and their names are added to his Pulsar-400 Enviro-Suit and spaceship box.
Congratulations to our 2023 Space Rangers!
January 2023
Mason Kautz | Communications Specialist II | Rec Sports
Mason went ABOVE & BEYOND when he volunteered to write a story about Clay Ozuna '19, which will be published in the Texas Aggie Magazine. He approaches his work at Rec Sports within our marcomm team with intention, efficiency, and a positive attitude. Our team is better because of Mason.
"I’m proud of you, cowboy." - Buzz Lightyear
February 2023
Jamie Arrexi | Communications Manager | Memorial Student Center
After serving Student Affairs and the Memorial Student Center since 2016, we are proud that Jamie earned a well-deserved promotion to communications manager in December. He is the mastermind behind MSC Open House, a beloved supervisor to Sophia and his student employees, and handles all things marcomm for the MSC with a positive attitude and one-of-a-kind sense of humor. Recently, he participated in the DMS communications manager search committee and also stepped in to host a big event for Gen. Ramirez. He is a team player who goes outside of his job description when asked without hesitation! To infinity and beyond, Jamie!
"Woody once risked his life to save mine, and I couldn’t call myself his friend if I wasn’t willing to do the same. Now, who’s with me?" -Buzz Lightyear
March 2023
Audrey Peña | Creative Manager | Student Affairs Central Marketing Team
Audrey has gone above and beyond since she joined DSA in 2017. While she excels in graphic design and is the DSA's friendly brand police, she is also an organizational wizard, has served on the DSA Awards Committee for several years, and has assisted with a variety of marketing and communications job duties, including website management, photography, and videography. During the past month, she has spearheaded the DSA's transition from the Four Winds digital sign platform to Reach, the new platform, and is assisting Texas A&M with the digital sign centralization process for Student Affairs. To infinity and beyond, Audrey! We appreciate your good humor and stellar talent.
"Uh, ma – ma’am? I, uh, um, well, I just wanted to say you’re a bright young woman with a beautiful yarn full of hair. A hair full of yarn. It’s ah… um… I must go." -Buzz Lightyear
April 2023
Kelly Jo Eblen | Communications Coordinator | University Center & Special Events
Kelly Jo Eblen, fondly known as "KJ," flew past infinity when she accepted an offer to become the marketing point person on the DSA Awards Committee, a role performed by Audrey Pena for many years. But that's not all! KJ is a marketing superstar for UCEN, a trusted mentor to her student team, and the architect of the annual MSC Birthday. She never fails to step up to help our team with a bright smile, unlimited creative ideas, and a nothing-is-impossible attitude. Like Buzz, she's brave and super cool. Thanks, KJ, for going above and beyond on behalf of our Student Affairs team!
"This isn’t flying, this is falling with style!" -Buzz Lightyear
May 2023
Brie Pampell | Marketing Manager | Student Activities
Brie is a creative genius and the mastermind behind the 50th anniversary logo! She has also been simultaneously working on a huge Greek Life campaign using her mad design skills to develop a solid marketing campaign to increase awareness about the largest living learning community on campus. Brie is thoughtful in her approach to all of her projects and is always willing to support however she can! We appreciate you, Brie and are so lucky to have you as a member of this team!
“I tell you – I could fly around this room with my eyes closed!” -Buzz Lightyear
June 2023
Tyson Livingston | Creative Manager | Residence Life
Tyson played an instrumental role in hiring the central team's new Communications Manager! He was more than willing to assist in any way that he could and asked the best, most thoughtful questions. Tyson made sure that we made the best decision for not only our central team, but the larger division marketing team as a whole. We appreciate Tyson's approach to his work, to embracing all of the change we are currently experiencing, and how he fosters collaboration amongst the larger team! We're so grateful you're here Tyson and appreciate everything you do!
"I think the word you’re searching for is ‘Space Ranger’." -Buzz Lightyear
July 2023
Mariah Patrick | Communications Manager | Student Life
Mariah is a project management guru and is always willing to jump in when a process needs improvement! She has worked with several of our departments to set up their Microsoft Planner and PowerAutomate flows to improve our project management systems. Mariah also volunteered to work with the project management team at the university MarComm level to help DSA implement the new project management system launching soon. She is also working hard on a website and communications plan for the reporting.tamu.edu website, another duty she willingly takes on in addition to her normal job duties. We appreciate you, Mariah!
“This is an intergalactic emergency!” -Buzz Lightyear
August 2023
Corie Ritter | Communications Coordinator | Student Life
Corie is the mastermind behind all of the fabulous Howdy Week collateral you'll see across campus as we welcome students back to campus! Summers are the busiest season for Corie, working New Student Conferences and preparing for and executing Howdy Week, but you'll never hear her complain. She always has a smile on her face! Not only does she do a wonderful job of marketing two of the most important events incoming freshman experience at Texas A&M, she also volunteers her time at the actual events, making sure things run without a hitch. Her organizational skills and professionalism shine through in everything she does. Thanks for all of your hard work this summer, Corie!
"I tell you – I could fly around this room with my eyes closed!" -Buzz Lightyear