Dates Set For 10th Aggie Big Kick It, Sept. 20-22

Dates have been set for the 10th-anniversary Aggie Big Kick It, an annual get-together at A&M hosted by the Black Former Student Network, an Association constituent network. 

Mark your calendars for Sept. 20-22 (the weekend Texas A&M plays Auburn) and watch for updates at AggieBigKickIt.com, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

On Jan. 29 and 30, A&M current students can get involved in planning the event at informational meetings at 7 p.m. in MSC 2502.

Big Kick It has been getting larger every year, with hundreds turning out for this annual get-together at Texas A&M.

“The first two were held in summer, but the students aren’t here, so we missed the networking aspect,” said Shannan E. Johnson ’04, the event’s main organizer for all 10 years. 

Big Kick It’s chances for former students and current students to interact have been growing. 2018 was the first year in which BFSN incorporated a student committee, which hosted leadup events before the big weekend, and were involved in all the Big Kick It events Nov. 9-11.

Fifteen A&M student groups took part in the Saturday tailgate welcoming former students back for the Aggies’ football game vs. Ole Miss, with a hot catered lunch, dancing, and game-watching.

Couches, coffeetables, DJ music and a giant Connect Four gameboard encouraged socializing in the big tent at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr., Alumni Center.

“We wanted it to be a fun, family, come-and-hang-out type of setup,” said organizer Raisha Smith ’13.

Sunday featured the Big Kick It networking brunch in the MSC organized by the students of the MSC’s Carter G. Woodson Black Awareness Committee (WBAC).

A&M former student panelists shared career and professional experiences, including how to leverage the Aggie Network. They included Smith, who is a senior consultant at Union Pacific Railroad; Sade Hill ’18, a management consulting analyst; scholar, writer, actor and musician Eric Washington ’16; Dr. Danielle Harris ’00, A&M’s assistant dean for student success; and Col. Kenneth Allison ’85, associate director of the Corps of Cadets’ Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership.

Col. Allison gives advice on activating your Aggie Network through HireAggies.com and tx.ag/FindAnAggie, two resources that The Association supports.

Color-coded nametags let the brunch participants know if they were in similar professional fields. Table topics and other activities encouraged interaction.

BFSN president Llewellyn Derry '88 talks with networking brunch participants.

WBAC external director Felicia George ’20 said the alumni enjoy meeting students and students “get a chance to see what career fields they went into,” how it related to their major, and get other advice.

“I’d say that’s exactly what the students are looking for.”

Your Association active membership and gifts help provide support for Association constituent networks like this one. Learn about all 11 networks here and lend your support at tx.ag/give.