Dallas A&M Club Enhances the Aggie Experience for Students

By Dorian Martin ’06 

Sophia Garza ’26, Sarah Grove ‘26 and Ayooluwabami (Ayo) Odusote ’24 are among a large group of Aggies who found themselves in need of assistance during the 2022-23 academic year. Garza, who is visually impaired, required specific technology and support to take tests for her coursework. Grove was lacking the financial resources to cover the cost of Fish Camp, and Odusote, an international student, was unable to access his family’s bank account in Nigeria. As a result, he could not pay for food. 

Fortunately, Texas A&M University’s Division of Student Affairs provides services managed by a professional team that can meet students’ varied needs. With a recent gift from the Dallas A&M Club, more Aggies will be able to access this type of assistance. The Dallas A&M Club’s $75,000 gift was equally split between the Department of Disability Resources, the Aggie Experience Fund and Student Assistance Services, three programs that provide support to students who are facing issues like those of Garza, Grove, and Odusote. 

Founded in 1902, the Dallas A&M Club continues to strive to create offerings that support prospective and current Aggies as well as former students. The club raises funds, offers a network to connect former students, and hosts a variety of events that provide opportunities for connection and giving back to Texas A&M.  

While the club has 100 active members, its work deeply resonates with area Aggies. The club’s Annual Muster averages 500 attendees each year while Coach’s Night consistently tops 1,000 participants. The club has given over $3 million cumulatively to Texas A&M. 

The club’s support spans Texas A&M’s campus. This year, the decision to increase support of the Division of Student Affairs was an easy one. “It would be easy to continue creating scholarships, but what the club wanted to do was to reach out more and support a wider range of Aggies than we necessarily have in the past,” said Dallas A&M Club President Josh McKay ’17, who was heavily involved in Fish Camp when he was a student. “We wanted to reach out and give Aggies the support, more so than here’s an academic scholarship or a scholarship for an Aggie ring, which are all wonderful things. I’m glad that we’ll continue to do those, but it’s gratifying to our members that we can provide a wider level of support for students.” 

A New Vista for Sophia 

Garza, who is majoring in molecular and cell biology, was born with cataracts. When she was young, she had cataract surgeries, but the procedures left scar tissue that resulted in glaucoma. Now visually impaired, the Arlington native relies on adaptive technology and additional support to complete her coursework. 

Enter the Department of Disability Resources, part of the Division of Student Affairs, where Garza uses a private testing room that gives her access to closed-caption TV, which enlarges and brightens the exam so she can read exam questions. She also can change the screen’s contrast, which enhances visual acuity.  

Her impaired vision creates other challenges, qualifying her for other accommodations during exams. For example, she needs assistance with completing a Scantron since she can’t see the bubbles to mark the answers. Instead, she gives her answers on the exam and then a Disability Resources staff member transfers the information to the Scantron sheet.  

The testing rooms and technology are critical for helping Disability Resources serve the growing number of Aggies who have some form of disability. The department has three sizes of testing rooms, which allows it flexibility in serving students in terms of noise levels, technology, time and assistance.  

These types of rooms and the available technology are critical for the academic success of Texas A&M’s growing population of students withdisabilities. For example, students with PTSD (post- traumatic stress disorder) can use these rooms, which are designed to lessen a panic attack. Adjustable lighting allows Aggies who have migraines or seizure disorders to successfully take tests.  

The Dallas A&M Club’s gift will result in the first named testing room in Disability Resources. The funds will be used to update rapidly changing technology, including computers and tablets, closed caption TVs and specialized software. “These additional funds help us keep up with our equipment when it is no longer under warranty,” said Dr. Kristie Orr, director of Disability Resources. “Being able to keep up with what is going to be most beneficial for our students and in some cases, for our staff so they can do their jobs is really important.” 

A Ticket to Fish Camp for Sarah  

Grove really wanted to start her first year on a solid foundation, which meant going to Fish Camp. “Fish Camp was an experience I didn't want to miss out on!” the Groves, Texas, resident explained. “I had friends and family tell me about how I absolutely had to sign up for Fish Camp to start out my time in Aggieland.” 

But it was going to be a financial stretch for the kinesiology major and her family to afford to send Grove to the summer tradition. Fortunately, she was able to tap into the Aggie Experience Fund. 

The fund, which was first awarded in Spring 2022, supports undergraduate and graduate students’ participation in recognized campus organizations, committees, or programs. Students can use this fund to help finance their involvement in extended orientation programs (Fish Camp, T-Camp, Howdy Camp, Venture Camps and Grad Camp), Memorial Student Center programs, Freshman Leadership Organizations, The Big Event leadership, Fish Camp leadership, sport club fees, fraternity/sorority fees and leadership conference fees. Students can apply to receive $250 or 50% of the program cost, with a lifetime limit of $1,500 per student. 

Now, a year after the Aggie Experience Fund was created, word has spread and Aggies with financial need are coming forward to apply for the fund. During the 2022-23 academic year, 294 awards were given to Aggies who used the money to defray costs so they could participate in student organizations and experiences, such as the Student Conference on National Affairs (SCONA), the Stark Northeast trip, Texas A&M gymnastics, MSC Freshman Leadership International and the Texas A&M Mock Trial Team.  

Grove believes that participating in Fish Camp set the tone for her collegiate experience. “It was an amazing experience and I made lots of friends that I still meet up with today,” she said, adding that she now has her sights on joining a sorority and plans to tap the Aggie Experience Fund to help defray the cost of dues. “I want to be able to experience all that I can during my time at Texas A&M and this fund would help cushion some financial burdens I face.” 

A Food Boost for Ayo  

Ayooluwabami “Ayo” Odusote came to Texas A&M from his home in Nigeria to work on a master’s degree in water management and hydrological science, an interdisciplinary program designed to educate the next generation of water managers and scientists.  

He unexpectedly found himself unable to afford food when he had difficulty accessing his family’s Nigerian bank account. The nation had experienced an economic downturn that led to a high exchange rate and soaring black-market exchange rates. As an international student, Odusote didn’t qualify for federal assistance or other types of resources that provide a safety net. 

Determined not to be a financial burden to his parents, he began looking for a job on campus, but made no headway. However, he was determined to keep moving forward in his coursework. “I knew I needed help, so I went out to find it,” he said. “A closed mouth is a closed destiny.”  

Through his search for help, Odusote discovered Student Assistance Services (SAS), which supports Texas A&M students who are in crisis. The office provides a wide variety of support, such as providing short-term aid for food and housing insecurity; offering financial assistance to cover unexpected medical bills; and supporting former foster and adopted Aggies. The SAS team also coordinates Silver Taps, the final tribute given to Aggies who die while attending Texas A&M. 

The Dallas A&M Club gift is earmarked to support SAS’s food insecurity efforts. The office has experienced a 22% increase in need from Aggies facing this issue, which has been exacerbated by inflation as well as supply and demand.  

Part of the Department of Student Life in the Division of Student Affairs, SAS partnered with The 12th Can, a student-run food pantry affiliated with the Brazos Valley Food Bank that aids students, faculty and staff. The office sponsors 26 campus Pocket Pantries that reduce the barrier to food. The team partners with companies like HEB to provide one-time food deliveries and gift cards to students in need. 

In Odusote’s case, SAS arranged for an HEB order that provided groceries that lasted for a month. “That relieved me financially because I didn’t have to worry about food," he said. “I have been fortunate enough to meet a lot of wonderful people who were helpful to me and put me be in a much better position than when I first came to Texas A&M. It allowed me to stay focused on the reason I came here: To continue my water management studies so I can help others when I complete my education.”