APRIL NEWS FROM DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
THE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS TURNS 50 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR!
Join us to celebrate our 50th anniversary with these upcoming events:
- A 50th Anniversary Toast at the DSA Awards Ceremony on May 3.
- Attend the event and get your DSA 50th Anniversary stemless beverage glass!
- Summer Social at the Rec: Date and time TBA.
- DSA Tailgate on the Terrace at the Rec before the Auburn game on Sept. 23.
- Music Activities Winter Concert in Aggie Park on Dec. 4
- Basketball Games with DSA - November and December 2023
1980s Expressive Activity | Looking back on 50 years of DSA, we found this photo taken in the 1980s in Cushing Archives. It shows a group of students who believed art was dead, so they lead a processional from the library to Rudder Fountain with an empty coffin to hold a short eulogy.
Congratulations, Trevor Yelton, Our New Head Yell Leader!
Trevor Yelton, a junior studying construction science, was named Head Yell Leader for the 2023-24 academic year. The OVPSA provides administrative support to the Yell Leaders, with Dr. Vicki Dobiyanski, associate vice president for Student Affairs, as adviser. Read more about Trevor in TAMU Today.
Take a look at some new DSA photos on our Flickr channel!
Take Back the Night
Family Weekend Yell Practice
Maroon and White Game
The Big Event
DSA AWARDS COMMITTEE
All staff are invited and encouraged to attend the DSA Awards next week on Wednesday, May 3, in the MSC Bethancourt Ballroom from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Each year, staff members are nominated by their peers for awards in five categories. This year our emcees are Dr. Justin Jeffery, assistant vice president, and Dr. Martha Dannenbaum, director of Student Health Services. Breakfast is included!
STUDENT LEARNING IN THE CO-CURRICULAR
Supervisor and Advisor Summer Symposium
Save the date! June 8. Tim Bono, author of Happiness 101: Simple Secrets to Smart Living & Well-Being, will be the keynote speaker.
STAFF WELLBEING & APPRECIATION COMMITTEE
Take Me Out to the Ballgame was very well attended and a great success! View photos from the event.
About 241 attended!
Congratulations to the winners of our Corn Hole Tournament!
- Overall: Simon North and friend Hugo
- Second Place: Jason Walker and Mark Matusek’s son
- Consolation Bracket: Alyssa and Tyler Cobb
- Best Team Name: Corn in a Cup
- Best Team Spirit: Suzanne Swierc’s team, “I just hope both teams have fun!”
CORPS OF CADETS
With the Corps 2023-2024 Leadership selections recently announced, the Corps of Cadets is proud to name cadet Caitlynn Walsh ’24 as Corps commander. The third-ever female to hold this position, Caitlynn will assume her new position next month at Final Review. Caitlynn’s path to Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets is a little unconventional. Learn more about our rising Corps Commander Caitlynn!
During World War II, captive U.S. and Filipino soldiers in the Bataan Peninsula were forced to March 65 miles in an event that became known as the Bataan Death March. Across this march, thousands died. Those who survived were forced to face the harsh conditions of prisoner of war camps. This year, in honor of the Bataan Death March, Squadron 21 sent a team of six cadets to participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Read more about Squadron 21 and its participation in the Bataan Memorial Death March.
Co-Founded in 2020 by cadet Maria Hall ’23, Texas A&M Women in Aviation is a university organization focused on connecting, engaging and inspiring women to be the best they can be, both in their personal lives and in their pursuit of aviation and/or STEM careers. As the organization has grown during the last few years, so have the opportunities available to its members, regardless of their initial experience with aviation. Read more about Texas A&M Women in Aviation and the club’s impact on our cadets.
Last week, members of our national champion Fish Drill Team met with Texas A&M President M. Katherine Banks. As a part of President Banks’ trip to the Quad, two members of the Fish Drill Team gave demonstrations of their award-winning solo routines. View photos from President Banks’ visit.
Video of Corps Commander Caitlynn Walsh
MSC STUDENT PROGRAMS
- MSC Aggie Cinema welcomed Jenny Slate to campus April 20 for a screening of the Oscar-nominated animated film, “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.” Slate, co-writer, producer and voice of Marcel, took part in a moderated discussion after the screening. The discussion was moderated by Patrick Sullivan, lecturer and program director of the film studies minor in the Texas A&M School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts.
- Kyle Field Day is a one-day service event hosted by MSC FISH (Freshmen in Service and Hosting). The April 16 event hosted 1,170 attendees exploring 25 booths dedicated to service projects throughout the campus and local community.
- The MSC L.T. Jordan Institute will begin its Internship and Living Abroad Program (ILAP) for Texas A&M students. The program annually selects six to12 students for each country to live and work abroad during the summer. Through cultural immersion in an internship setting, participants experience professional development and increased cultural awareness that they bring back to campus. This year’s ILAP will visit Spain and England.
- The MSC is hosting several students for the International Honors Leadership Program, supported by Craig Brown and Sue Smith. The program will provide the opportunity for students to explore leadership development by visiting historic sites around the U.K.
MULTICULTURAL SERVICES
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month is a month to celebrate and pay tribute to the contributions of generations of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans have made to American history, society, and culture. APIDA Heritage Month is celebrated in April at Texas A&M University to allow students the opportunity to engage in festivities and educational programs before the end of the semester. The heritage month celebration is coordinated by the Asian Presidents’ Council. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Unraveling History, Weaving a Legacy.”
Our April 12 CommUnity Conversations event, hosted by the Asian Presidents' Council as part of APIDA Heritage Month, featured the film screening Chosen and a question-and-answer panel with the film director. The purpose of CommUnity Conversations is to provide an opportunity to engage the campus community and the community at large in conversations about topics related to society, culture and the world.
MUSIC ACTIVITIES
- It is not too late to get your tickets for a special Wind Symphony concert on April 30 at 2 p.m. during which Dr. Tim Rhea, our director of bands and Music Activities, will celebrate 30 years at Texas A&M. Along with other pieces, Dr. Rhea will conduct students in a composition written and played by Texas A&M Associate Professor and Trombonist David Wilborn. Read the story on TAMU Today! Get your tickets at the MSC Box Office.
- Our musical groups are wrapping up the spring semester with multiple concert performances in Rudder Theatre and auditorium. Visit the MSC Box Office to get your tickets for April 29 performances by the Women’s Chorus, Century Singers and University Orchestra.
- Auditions for fall 2023 are already underway with a record number of students signed up to participate.
- Both the Texas A&M Singing Cadets and Century Singers will perform international concert tours May 15–26. The Singing Cadets will travel to Greece and will perform in the following locations: Athens, Syros, Santorini, Heraklion and Rethymnon. The Century Singers will be travelling to Spain and Portugal with concerts in: Madrid, Salmanca, Coimbra and Lisbon.
- Travis Almany, associate director of orchestras and bands, will retire May 31 after 19 years with the Department of Music Activities. He and his wife Becky will be relocating to Colorado.
DISABILITY RESOURCES
- Discover simple, quick and easy ways to make your events and resources more accessible during our DSA accessibility workshop on June 5 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Dr. Kristie Orr and Justin Romack will share best practices and practical tips to help you promote accessibility in the work you do. Register today at https://tx.ag/DSAAccessibilityWorkshop
- Students from Spectrum in Aggieland discussed their experience and expertise on college life with autism during the April webinar for Accessibility in Aggieland. Thank you to Brianna Hillin '24, Audrey Schabel '25 and Max Levy '24 for sharing with our community!
- In April, Julie Golchuk presented on disability in culture for MSC Aggie Cinema and Leslie Casarez talked about disability and access in student organizations with the Department of Student Activities. You may request a presentation for your department or team by using the form at https://disability.tamu.edu/presentations
RECREATIONAL SPORTS
Congratulations to the Texas A&M Cheer Club for being crowned National Cheerleaders Association Intermediate Collegiate Champions for the third time in club history! The girls competed in Daytona Beach, Florida April 5–9 and placed first in their division out of 26 teams from across the country.
On March 29 Rec Sports held Women+ at Southside Rec Center, a time when all areas of Rec Sports engaged female students within their areas along with resource tables from CHAARG and Women's Resource Center. Altogether, we had about 250 swipe-ins for the event!
March 24-25 the Rec Sports operations and events team hosted the Texas Science & Engineering Fair in the Student Rec Center with more than 2,500 people from across the state of Texas, including students from grades 6-12, parents and teachers. Just over 760 individual projects were displayed at the Rec during this event.
The Texas A&M Trap & Skeet Club won ACUI Clay Targets National Championship title, making this their third national championship in a row. The club won first in overall events, super sporting, and doubles American skeet, winning second in three other contests. Congratulations to Trap and Skeet!
STUDENT LIFE
Hannah Payne has been elected as the 2023-24 Graduate & Professional Student Body President.
The LGBTQ+ Pride Center hosted 64 students at the Lavender Graduation celebration on April 15. It will host Craft & Cram from May 4-May 9 to provide a fun, relaxing environment for students before final exams.
Rick Powell, of Student Legal Services, has seen 850 students this academic year. Rick is available to all Texas A&M students for free legal counsel on their legal rights and responsibilities. He empowers them with available legal, community and university resources so they may respond appropriately to their legal challenge. Read more about Rick in Behind the Scenes with Student Affairs.
Off-Campus Student Services held a door-hanging event in April to spread education on the “Remember + 3” initiative. Volunteers from Student Life took time to go door-to-door in student-heavy neighborhoods to give them information on common city code violations.
Melissa Wilkinson, a transition coordinator with the College Station Independent School District, was named Parent of the Year. She was nominated by her daughter Gabriella Romano '24. Read the story on TAMU Today.
RESIDENCE LIFE
Dr. Carol Binzer, instructor for the Leadership Living Learning Community (L3C), was selected as the 2023 Hullabaloo U Instructor of the Year. She was chosen from among 113 nominees. L3C students cited her dedication to student success, ability to develop community and care for first-year students. She will receive the award on May 16 at the Hullabaloo U All Instructor Symposium.
At the Annual Sustainability Breakfast, the Department of Residence Life was recognized as a top performer for our contributions to the S.T.A.R.S. reporting a self-assessment for sustainability. We have received recognition for achieving maximum scores in those areas during the past five years. Read more about these initiatives. Residence Life supports student engagement initiatives and outreach to almost 12,000 on campus residents.
Residence Life hosts Study Spectacular on May 2 through finals. Rooms open 24/7 for quiet study include: Multipurpose Rooms in Hullabaloo Hall, the Commons, the White Creek Activity Center and White Creek Community Center, as well as University Gardens Apartments CLC (Community Learning Center). Free coffee and snacks are provided. Engineering Honors’ students are available in some locations to provide upper-class guidance.
Throughout finals on May 1-15, ‘Donate, Don’t Dump’ bins and ‘Grocery Give & Grab’ bookcases will be available in each of Hullabaloo and Commons, Gardens and White Creek Apartments office areas to collect durable goods and non-perishable food items residents do not wish to move. Items are donated through Goodwill and the Brazos Valley Food Pantry following the closure of the residence halls.
CAREER CENTER
- Several Career Center Staff Members traveled to the Annual NASPA Conference in Boston, MA, including Michael Shehane, Bradley Matthews, Amarette Renieri, Jasmine Zenn, Whitney Hinze, Caitlin Dartez, and Maritza Garza. Presentations included Maritza Garza and Jasmine Zenn - Focusing on the first career step: Developing our first-year students and Amarette Renieri and Caitlin Dartez - Kickstart career readiness for students.
- Susan Keough, Associate Director – Employment Services, traveled to the Albers Impact Conference in Dallas and presented on the topic of Career Readiness for Student Veterans.
- The Career Center welcomed Barclay Osborne as a Career Coordinator on our Arts & Sciences team.
- Jasmine Zenn, Senior Career Coordinator - Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (ASH) Career Services, and Elizabeth Windom Hiney, Administrative Coordinator – Engineering, were selected to serve as 2023 Fish Camp Namesakes. Taylor Henderson, Associate Director – Business, was chosen to serve as a 2023 T-Camp Namesake.
- Maritza Garza, Senior Career Coordinator – Engineering, received the 2023 Mena Valdez Award - NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community Outstanding New Professional.
- Bradley Matthews, Associate Director – Arts & Sciences, received a President’s Meritorious Service Award.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life and the Multicultural Greek Council would like to give a warm welcome back to Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc. which hosted its new member celebration April 1. The charter line that reestablished the Beta Chapter is made up of nine women who are involved and eager to have a greater impact on campus and in the community.
The 2023 Conference on Student Government Associations recently took place on campus with 222 student delegates from 33 different institutions, including the University of Monterrey in Mexico. This year’s conference included 11 Townhall speakers, 10 workshops from attending institutions and four keynote speakers, including Carlotta Walls LaNier, the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine, Reagan Pugh, Tara Storch and Dr. Dwight Roblyer.
We are excited to announce that our Campus Engagement and Traditions student assistant, Amanda Hoth, was selected as a recipient of the 2023 Student Employee of the Year Award! A huge congratulations and thank you to Amanda for the amazing work she does for our department!
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life hosted the 11th Annual Aggie Greek Awards at The Association of Former Students earlier this spring, recognizing chapters, their student leaders, advisers and former students for their accomplishments throughout 2022. Read the story on TAMU Today.
Founded in 2019, the Maroon Prestige Dance Team is committed to representing Texas A&M with the highest caliber of school spirit, personal integrity, and dance talent through high standards of excellence and tradition of teamwork. With inclusivity at the forefront of its core values, the group’s mission is to uplift and unite the community through music and morale. It promotes inclusivity and diversity through the art of dance by highlighting the unique aspects of various cultures. Most important, it emulates body positivity and self-confidence.
STUDENT AFFAIRS PLANNING, ASSESSMENT & RESEARCH (SAPAR)
The last of the Assessment Basic Courses (ABCs), Using and Sharing Results, will be offered on Tuesday, June 6, 9am and 1pm (same material presented twice). Register here.
UNIVERSITY CENTER & SPECIAL EVENTS
On April 20 UCEN hosted the annual Memorial Student Center birthday celebration. More than 2,400 students and staff joined us to celebrate 72 years of the MSC. Thank you to the Division of Student Affairs for supporting this event by sponsoring the Wild West T-shirt! Check out some photos from the event.
Watch a video short of the Pop-up Ice Cream Party in Aggie Park.
DON & ELLIE KNAUSS VETERAN RESOURCE & SUPPORT CENTER (VRSC)
The Albers Impact Conference was held April 6-7 in McKinney, Texas. Twelve outstanding Aggie student-veteran leaders were selected from the VET+MAP program to serve as delegates at this premiere capstone conference sponsored by the Veteran Resource & Support Center. These Aggies prepared and presented their individual strengths, talents and personal impact statements, and learned from industry leaders.
The TAMU Libraries and the VRSC hosted the first Veteran Research Showcase March 31-April 6. Nine students submitted posters and video presentations highlighting completed research projects. Voting on the projects was open to all those with an active NETID and the winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship award.
The VRSC has been engaging student veterans in Buddy Check Day, which encourages veterans to reach out to one another and check on their physical and mental wellbeing. On April 12 we hosted a Buddy Check Breakfast with 30 students, staff and community members.
The Student Veterans of America at Texas A&M held its Family Day event on April 15 for student and community veterans and first responders. Nearly 120 attended the event, which facilitated a sense of community for our student veterans and their families and provided fun family bonding time and character lessons for children.
Check out Philanthropy at Texas A&M, part of the Giving Academy from our partners at the Texas A&M Foundation. Get answers to some of your burning questions about the private giving process and how it benefits Texas A&M, including the Division of Student Affairs. Watch the full Giving Academy Course from the Texas A&M Foundation.