August E-Newsletter
     News from The Association
»  Away Game Plans Announced for 2006 Football Season
»  Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni to be Honored
»  Call Issued for International Alumnus Award Nominations
»  The Association Welcomes Students Back to Campus
»  Fall Reunions Bring Classmates Together
»  Fill in Missing Year Bars on Your Century Club Plaque
»  Aggie Ring Orders and Repairs Available
»  Join the Traveling Aggies on an Upcoming Trip

News from Texas A&M University
»  Texas A&M to Launch New Ad Campaign
»  Washington Monthly Ranks Texas A&M Fifth in Nation
»  Nearly 2,000 Grads Honored at August Commencement
»  Zahin Memorial Playground Dedicated
»  Maroon Out 2006 Efforts Under Way
»  First Yell Takes Place Sept. 1-2
»  Guerrero Named VP, Associate Provost for Diversity
»  Texas A&M, Red Cross Partner for Campus Blood Drive
   Aggie Calendar
  
   Aggie Links

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News from The Association
Away Game Plans Announced for 2006 Football Season
The The Texas A&M football team's road schedule this season has the Aggies traveling to play against Army, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas. If you plan on making a trip to support the Aggies or if you live near any of these areas, we invite you to join in the away game activities sponsored by The Association of Former Students and the 12th Man Foundation. For details on away game receptions, Yell Practices and pregame activities, go to www.AggieNetwork.com/AwayGames.

Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni to be Honored
The Association and Texas A&M University will honor the school's 2006 Distinguished Alumni at the Distinguished Alumni Gala on Friday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in Duncan Dining Hall. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student and is presented to individuals whose accomplishments, affiliations and careers have distinctly honored the legacy of excellence at Texas A&M. This year's inductees are L.C. "Chaz" Neely, Jr. '62, Erle A. Nye '59, Rear Adm. Robert Smith III '61, Richard W. Younts '67 and the posthumously recognized Col. E.B. Cushing, Class of 1880, and Dr. Frederick E. Giesecke, Class of 1886. Tickets and table packages for the event are currently available for purchase. Also, nominations are currently being accepted for next year's Distinguished Alumnus Awards and must be postmarked by Nov. 6. For information on this year's gala or for nominating next year's Distinguished Alumni, please call The Association of Former Students at (979) 845-7514 or visit www.AggieNetwork.com/DistinguishedAlumni .

Call Issued for International Alumnus Award Nominations
Texas A&M University, The Association of Former Students and the International Programs Office are currently accepting nominations for the 2007 Outstanding International Alumnus Award. Since 1995, this award has honored Texas A&M graduates who were not U.S. citizens when pursuing their degree and who went on to achieve prominence in their fields while remaining loyal to and supportive of Texas A&M. All nominations should be sent to the International Center at the George Bush Presidential Library Complex and postmarked by Friday, Sept. 22. The Outstanding International Alumnus Award will be presented during International Week in the spring. For nomination and selection guidelines, visit http://www.AggieNetwork.com/events/intlalum.aspx.

The Association Welcomes Students Back to Campus
On Aug. 22, The Association hosted its fourth annual Hot Diggity Dog cookout as part of Texas A&M's Gig 'Em Week - the official week of welcoming for students arriving to campus. More than 900 students visited the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center to mingle in a festive environment, enjoy free hotdogs and drinks and participate in a special Aggie Yell Practice. To learn more about Hot Diggity Dog, go to http://www.AggieNetwork.com/events/hotdiggitydog.aspx .

Fall Reunions Bring Classmates Together
One thing that sets Texas A&M apart from many other schools is the camaraderie we share through the Aggie Network. An excellent way to take part in that camaraderie is by attending our Class Reunions. If you are wondering when your Class will have its next Reunion, it may be sooner than you think. Go to www.AggieNetwork.com/Reunions to see what Reunions are being held this fall. If your Classmates already get together on a regular basis to watch football games, have an annual barbecue, go on a fishing trip or just share good bull stories, be sure to send us pictures of your group enjoying these activities. For more information on how to submit them, email Class@AggieNetwork.com or call our former student programs staff at (979) 845-7514.

Fill in Missing Year Bars on Your Century Club Plaque
Although you may be a loyal Century Club member, circumstances may have arisen over the years that caused you to sporadically miss making a donation to The Association of Former Students. In correlation to this common occurrence, The Association is proud to offer you the opportunity to purchase missing year bars to complete your Century Club plaque. You may obtain any or all of your missing year bars at the Century Club level of your choice. If you would like to take advantage of this special offer, please call the Annual Giving office at (979) 845-7514 or email AnnualGiving@AggieNetwork.com. Thank you for your support and loyalty to Texas A&M University and The Association of Former Students.

Aggie Ring Orders and Repairs Available
The Association of Former Students' Aggie Ring Office is currently taking Aggie Ring orders for qualified students. Rings ordered by Sept. 7 will be delivered on Nov. 2 at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. Rings may be ordered in person, by mail or by fax. The Aggie Ring Office can assist you with your Aggie Ring if it needs to be resized as well. You can either stop by The Association or mail your Ring directly to Balfour for repairs. For more information, go to www.AggieNetwork.com/Ring.

Join the Traveling Aggies on an Upcoming Trip
Join the Traveling Aggies on their many journeys around the world, including the following.

Peru: Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu; Feb. 8-15, 2007
Nestled in the Andes Mountains, explore a unique land where vast Incan civilizations once flourished and Spanish conquistadors ruled.

Treasures of New Zealand; Feb. 22-March 7, 2007
Experience this island nation's blend of British influence and Maori mythology and take in its landscapes, harbors, lakes and wine country.

Cruise the Treasures of Italy; May 10-22, 2007
Join us as we take an unforgettable cruise from Venice to Rome and enjoy the breathtaking scenery, amazing architecture, fabled history and incomparable romance of one of the world's most storied countries.

For more information on these trips and others, contact the Traveling Aggies at (800) 392-2096 or (979) 845-7514. Also, visit www.AggieNetwork.com/TravelingAggies to read about upcoming trips, see pictures from previous trips and meet our dedicated staff.

News from Texas A&M University
Texas A&M to Launch New Ad Campaign
This fall, Texas A&M University will launch a new ad campaign that focuses on showcasing the school's core values to the public. Titled "Welcome to Aggieland," the campaign looks to portray the unique culture of Texas A&M and appeal to prospective students who share its ideals. The effort attempts to break away from typical higher education ads and will instead aim to evoke genuine emotions of what sets Texas A&M apart from other universities-the traits of leadership, excellence, integrity, loyalty, selfless service and welcoming. While not overtly emphasizing education, the media spots will convey a newly proclaimed mission of the university to develop leaders of character who are dedicated to serving the greater good. For more on this story, go to http://www.theeagle.com/stories/081006/am_20060810023.php .

Washington Monthly Ranks Texas A&M Fifth in Nation
In their latest issue, Washington Monthly magazine listed Texas A&M University at No. 5 in its annual rankings of the best colleges and universities in the United States. The publication considered several variables in its ratings, including research activity and spending, doctorates awarded in engineering and the sciences, community service work and overall excellence. "Unlike other college guides ... this guide asks not what colleges can do for you, but what colleges are doing for the country," say the editors. "Are they, in short, doing well by doing good?" Ranked ahead of Texas A&M was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at No. 1, followed by the University of California-Berkeley, Penn State University and UCLA. Texas A&M was the highest ranked university in the Southwest and the only university in Texas ranked in the top 15. For more on this story, go to http://communications.tamu.edu/newsarchives/06/080806news-11.html.

Nearly 2,000 Grads Honored at August Commencement
Almost 2,000 Texas A&M students received degrees at two separate commencement ceremonies on Aug. 11 at Reed Arena. Twenty of the graduates, all members of the Corps of Cadets, were commissioned into the military. Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Chairman John D. White '70 and Distinguished Professor James E. Womack served as the commencement speakers. "Only 27 percent of United States citizens have a college degree," said White. "That means 73 percent of your fellow Americans have not achieved what you are achieving today." For more on this story, go to http://www.tamu.edu/tamunews/News/stories/06/081506news-12.html.

Zahin Memorial Playground Dedicated
On Aug. 1, the Lamiya Zahin Memorial Park, a playground next to the University Apartments Community Center, was dedicated by the Texas A&M University community. Lamiya, the four-year-old daughter of graduate students Saquib Ejaz and his wife, Lufthansa Kanta, died Aug. 2, 2004, as the result of injuries sustained in a tragic fire and explosion at the apartments. Her paternal grandmother, Rabeya Chaudhury, was also injured in the fire and died on Sept. 6. "The playground will be a living tribute to a life of promise ended all too soon - and in a place half a world away from Lamiya's ancestral home," said Texas A&M University President Robert M. Gates in a statement read at the dedication. The memorial marker features butterflies, a favorite of Lamiya's, and a bronze plaque displaying her picture. For more on this story, go to http://www.tamu.edu/tamunews/News/stories/06/080306news-15.html.

Maroon Out 2006 Efforts Under Way
The Texas A&M Class Councils are currently working to promote Maroon Out 2006. Maroon Out is an annual event in which all Aggies are encouraged to wear maroon for a specific home football game to unify the 12th Man and provide extra support for the team. This year's Maroon Out game is scheduled for Nov. 11 when the Aggies take on Nebraska. In an effort to include as many people as possible, Class Councils will be selling specially designed Maroon Out T-shirts throughout the fall for $5 each. Shirts may be purchased online or at G. Rollie White Coliseum during the four hours leading up to every home football game. For further information on Maroon Out, go to http://maroonout.tamu.edu.

First Yell Takes Place Sept. 1-2
The eighth annual First Yell will be held Sept. 1-2 in conjunction with the Texas A&M football game against The Citadel. The featured event of the weekend will be a performance by comedian Wayne Brady on Friday, Sept. 1 in Reed Arena. Brady is best known for his work on ABC's improvisational comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? as well as The Wayne Brady Show . He will headline the show, which in the past has featured such guests as Bill Cosby, Jeff Foxworthy, Martin Short and Bill Engvall. As has been done in previous years by such acts as the Singing Cadets, Aggie Wranglers, Freudian Slip and Percussion Studio, First Yell 2006 will again open with performances by Texas A&M students. For more information, go to http://yell.tamu.edu .  

Guerrero Named VP, Associate Provost for Diversity
Dr. Tito Guerrero III '70 has been named Texas A&M University's vice president and associate provost for diversity. A South Texas native, Guerrero holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M, a master's degree from North Texas and a doctorate from Harvard. His extensive experience in higher education includes work at Texas A&M at Corpus Christi, the University of Southern Colorado at Pueblo and Stephen F. Austin State University. "I look forward to joining President Gates' outstanding leadership team and to playing a part in Texas A&M University's mission to enhance its role as a leader among the world's prominent universities," said Guerrero. For more on this story, go to http://www.tamu.edu/tamunews/News/stories/06/080106news-15.html .

Texas A&M, Red Cross Join for Campus Blood Drive
Texas A&M's Alpha Phi Omega and the American Red Cross will partner for a fall blood drive during the second week of classes from Monday, Sept. 4 through Friday, Sept. 8. People making donations at any of the various locations across campus will receive a commemorative T-shirt for giving the "gift of life." To donate blood a person must be in good health, be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and present an official form of picture identification. The American Red Cross supplies blood locally to the College Station Medical Center and St. Joseph's Regional Health Center. For more information, please call Theresa Evangelista at the College Station Center at (979) 450-2632.

Aggie Calendar
Sept. 1: Soccer vs. Illinois (13)
Aggie Soccer stadium, 6 p.m.
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=WSO

Sept. 1: First Yell
Reed Arena, 8 p.m.
http://yell.tamu.edu

Sept. 2: Football vs. The Citadel
Kyle Field, 6 p.m.
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=MFB

Sept. 3: Soccer vs. Penn State
Aggie Soccer stadium, 1:30 p.m.
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=WSO

Sept. 9: Football vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
Kyle Field, 6 p.m.
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=MFB

Sept. 13: Volleyball vs. Oklahoma
G. Rollie White, 6:30 p.m.
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=WVB

Sept. 14: Aggie Ring Day
Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, 3 to 6 p.m.
www.AggieNetwork.com/Events/Calendar.aspx

Sept. 16: Football vs. Army
San Antonio Alamodome, 8:15 p.m.
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=MFB

Sept. 23:  Football vs. Louisiana Tech
Kyle Field, 6 p.m.
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=MFB

Sept. 29: Registration Deadline - Brazos Co. A&M Club Golf Tournament
Tournament held on Oct. 13 at 8:30 a.m.
Briarcrest Country Club, Bryan.
Call Heath Poole '95 at (979) 846-4727 for more information.

Sept. 30: Football vs. Texas Tech
Kyle Field, 6 p.m.
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=MFB

Oct. 13: Fourth Annual Computer Science Former Student Picnic
H.R. Bright Building, 12 to 4 p.m.
RSVP online at www.cs.tamu.edu/invite

University Links

Subscription Information
To read this E-Newsletter online, go to www.AggieNetwork.com/HTMLEmails/ENewsletter/August2006/.

This monthly electronic newsletter from The Association of Former Students keeps you informed and up-to-date on happenings at Texas A&M University and throughout the Aggie Network. If you received this as a forward, visit www.AggieNetwork.com/Login.aspx to update your information with The Association and to receive your own copy in the future. 
 



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