Since 1955, the MSC Council has sponsored the MSC Student Conference on National Affairs (SCONA), which has brought some of the world's foremost academic scholars, government officials and industry leaders to Texas A&M.

The goal of MSC SCONA is to bring subject matter experts alongside students across Texas, the nation and the world to empower them to exchange ideas and discuss the role of the United States in the global community. Attendees get to learn firsthand from policy leaders and history makers as well as compete in roundtable discussions based on the subject matter of each conference.

Previous conferences have enlisted speakers such as a former U.S. astronaut, a former presidential chief of staff, a former FBI counterterrorism special agent, a sitting congressman, U.S. ambassadors and a defector from North Korea, just to mention a few from a very long list of influential people.

This year's conference was no different. For MSC SCONA's 70th anniversary, the leadership team brought some heavy hitters to speak with Texas A&M students and attendees from universities across the U.S. for a dialogue on the resurgence of global conflicts in alignment with this year's theme, "World in Flames: Guiding America Through a New Era of Conflict."

However, the most impressive facet of this conference year after year is notably the fact that it's entirely student-run.

MSC SCONA’s Legacy

Empowering Students and Shaping Future Policymakers

The impact of MSC SCONA certainly goes beyond noteworthy speakers. It's a transformational experience for the student delegates who create policy position presentations in real time at the conference and also for the student leadership committee that spends the entire year prior organizing it, raising funds and recruiting the delegates and speakers.

"MSC SCONA is probably the single most impactful thing at [Texas] A&M that has shaped my college experience," said MSC SCONA Chair Alec Farris '25. "I have been a part of the committee for four years now and have held leadership positions throughout. MSC SCONA has allowed me to learn the critical skills of event planning, communication and fundraising — things that typically aren't taught within my engineering major. More broadly, being in MSC SCONA has allowed me to interact with people I would never have thought I would have. Through MSC SCONA, I have met so many high-ranking leaders within the national security world, all of whom have shaped my career aspirations and goals."

MSC SCONA also gives students from all different backgrounds the chance to explore their interests in government, policy and advocacy outside of the classroom in a unique hands-on approach.

"Being a double major in political science and history, MSC SCONA was just a perfect fit to grow in my application of the subjects I was learning about in class," said Erica Jantz '27, SCONA vice chair of development. "Participating in MSC SCONA develops not only my knowledge on several topics concerning national affairs but also helps me grow as a person and gain lifelong friendships that I couldn't be more thankful for. After graduation in May, I also plan on attending law school and focusing on governmental affairs and constitutional law, so creating connections found in MSC SCONA not only defined my undergraduate experience but will continue to help me throughout my continued educational journey."

Additionally, MSC SCONA serves as a starting point for many students to make connections, develop their skills and pursue careers after their time at Texas A&M. Last summer alone, there were four MSC SCONA committee members interning at places like the State Department, the Defense Intelligence Agency and a prominent think tank called the Special Competitive Studies Project.

• State Department - Eliza Thomas '24
• Special Competitive Studies Project - Rockney Reid '23, '25
• Defense Intelligence Agency - Adam Paris '23, '25, Jesse Zavala '24

Developing Student Leaders and Creating a Community at Texas A&M

Katelyn Preston '25, a forensic and investigative science major, started with MSC SCONA as a freshman due to her interest in national affairs. Four years later as a senior, she has moved up the ranks and now serves as the vice chair of communications.

"I first got involved with MSC SCONA during my freshman year as a delegate, said Preston. “Thanks to a sponsorship from the Honors College at Texas A&M, I was able to attend free of charge. The engaging conversations with my fellow delegates sparked my interest in national affairs, leaving me eager to learn more. Over the past four years, my involvement with MSC SCONA has grown significantly. I progressed from being a delegate to a general committee member, then to director of external marketing, and now I proudly serve as the vice chair of communications. This journey has been incredibly rewarding, allowing me to develop my leadership skills and deepen my understanding of critical national issues.

Caroline McCall '26 started out as a delegate attending the conference her freshman year at Texas A&M and quickly plugged into the MSC SCONA community.

"After freshman year, I still didn't feel like I had found my people," said McCall. "But when I joined MSC SCONA, I never felt like that again. MSC SCONA is a community with some of the most wonderful, hard-working people I have ever met. On top of providing me with incredible opportunities to engage with high-ranking military officers, national security experts and learn valuable leadership lessons, MSC SCONA has brought me a second family."

Reflecting on 70 years of MSC SCONA at Texas A&M, it’s clear that it’s a unique experience for any Aggie interested in National Affairs that is sure to leave a lasting impact on those who participate.

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More about MSC SCONA: In addition to the annual MSC SCONA conference, the MSC SCONA student organization plans smaller programs in the fall and spring semesters. To learn how to get involved or attend one of their events, visit scona.tamu.edu.