Paige P. ’98 and R. Brant
Baird ’98
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Sugar Land, TX
Paige ’98 and Brant ’98 Baird’s desire to give back to Texas A&M was driven by their desire to maintain A&M’s core mission. The Bairds want to help maintain the ideals that make Texas A&M unique from other universities.
They remember going on many trips where they were noticed for their Aggie Rings and they appreciate the sense of belonging that comes with that recognition: “No matter where you go, you always feel like you belong,” Brant said.
William P.
Mayes ’98
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Southlake, TX
Payton is a Founder and Partner of Cephas Partners. Payton was previously a Managing Director in the Global Real Estate Principal Investments (REPI) group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He was responsible for all of REPI’s proprietary real estate investment activities in Latin America and shared responsibility for REPI’s investment activities in the U.S. and Europe. He has sourced, underwritten and closed numerous transactions across the capital structure at the project and operating company level. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 2000, Payton worked at UBS Warburg in their real estate principal finance business.
Payton has a Bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, and an MBA from Texas A&M University and is a CFA charterholder. He remains engaged with the university through an advisory board role at the Mays Business School and is the current president of the Gig 'Em Club among other activities. Payton is an active member of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church. He and his wife Andrea reside in Southlake, Texas with their three children Merritt, Channing and Stella.
I grew up in Coleman, a small town in West Texas. Although I had been to cities such as Dallas, Houston and Austin, attending Texas A&M really opened my eyes to the fact that there is a world outside of West Texas. I attended a program called Aggie on Wall Street which brings 20 students from the Mays College of Business to New York City for a three week program taught by Former Students. That experience changed my life forever. I was so impressed at how Former Students gave so unselfishly to teach students they had never met. If my donation helps change one life half as much as Texas A&M has changed mine, it will be well worth it. I hope other class members of the 90s will follow my lead and increase their giving to an institution that has positively shaped their lives.
Jessica and Laurent C.
Therivel ’96
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Dallas, TX
Laurent Therivel ’96 double-majored in marketing and business administration at Texas A&M and went on to receive his MBA from Harvard Business School. His time at Texas A&M shaped his approach, beliefs, and philosophy for working with other people and gave him a sense of unity and purpose. He wants future students to have that same experience and to feel part of something special, as he did. Therivel understands that education is a combination of exposure to new ideas, beliefs, and opportunities, as well as knowledge, and that the university requires adequate resources to remain a place where students not only learn a skill, but also learn how to lead and treat each other with empathy and respect.
Therivel remembers earning his Corps Brass as a freshman in Corps of Cadets Company E-2 and how proud he felt that his team worked together to achieve this goal. He was regiment commander and also served as vice president in Student Government. Through those experiences and Aggie rituals like Silver Taps, the Aggie Honor Code, and Muster, Therivel learned how to inspire people to be a part of something bigger than themselves. This gave him the foundation to be successful in the Marine Corps, in business, and as a husband and father.