Contribution to society

In previous versions of this publication, you had an opportunity to read about the tremendous accomplishments of our students. Mays students set the tone on campus for leadership and service; for example, Mays students have held the position of Student Body President and Student Commander of the Corps of Cadets for three of the past four years. In addition, our Business Student Council annually operates one of the largest student-run career fairs for Mays Business School students, with more than 200 companies visiting the Wehner Building and Cox Hall to meet and recruit their next generation of outstanding employees.

Recently, Texas A&M University was cited by Washington Monthly for our university’s contribution to society. Texas A&M was ranked fifth (behind Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, Pennsylvania State University, and University of California at Los Angeles). In addition, Princeton Review favorably cited Texas A&M University students for their relationships with the local community.

While these rankings may be surprising to some, I am fortunate to view the “service” side of our students on a day-to-day basis. The following are a few examples of how Mays students made our campus, community and world a better place in the past year:

• As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina recently passed, I can’t help but recall the efforts of our Fellows students, who established and manned a welcome center for the 95 Gulf Coast students who arrived at Mays last fall. Our students provided assistance, advice, clothing, supplies, textbooks, tutoring and a willing ear to listen.

• Mays MBA students served as business plan editors and judges in the Prison Entrepreneurship Program at the Hamilton Unit in Bryan, Texas. Through their SHOC organization (Students Helping Our Community), our MBA students also raised more than $7,000 and provided service to local organizations such as Family Support Network, Scotty’s House, Phoebe’s Home, Food Bank and Helping One Student to Succeed.

• Dan Crownover, a student in our Land Economics and Real Estate (LERE) program, heads Chilifest, Inc., an organization that supports charities in both Brazos and Burleson counties. Since 2003, this organization has raised $600,000 to support Burleson County Go-Texan, Brazos Valley Boys and Girls Clubs, Hospice of the Brazos Valley, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and the Special Olympics, among others. Of the 150 volunteers for Chilifest, 70 are students enrolled in our LERE program.

We are proud of the academic accomplishments of our students. However, when I think of examples such as those above, it makes me realize how fortunate I am to interact with such outstanding young people as a part of my job. I have truly learned much from the example they set.

Best regards,

Jerry Strawser '83
Dean