To understand these impactful years, you must first understand what got me there.
In December 2003, I attended a press conference held by former Texas A&M President Dr. Robert Gates. It was during that press conference that Dr. Gates announced the start of a new program, geared at helping first generation, low income students achieve their educational goals. I found the idea quite interesting, but I was working in admissions at the time and was quite happy. We had been challenged to recruit and matriculate a diverse student body and reverse the downward trend in our numbers of underrepresented students. That night I had a sleepless night and thought about ways we could accomplish the task. I had an idea and presented it the next day to our Director. The idea is another story altogether. What came from the idea however is the important part of the story. I was introduced to the staff across campus who would be responsible for accomplishing the goals established by Dr. Gates. I met individuals who would go on to impact me greatly- Mr. Joseph Pettibon and Ms. Delisa Falks. Along with these two staff members, I also became more familiar with the administration and really started believing in the vision of Dr. Gates. It was then that I had a bit of an identity crisis- where was I going, who was I going to be, and how would I get there. In the spring of 2004, I became familiar with a job opening in the Student Financial Aid office. I applied on a whim. I did not think I would stand a chance. Imagine by shock when I landed an interview and later landed the job. I can recall Joe asking me where I saw myself in five years. I was honest- I told the committee I thought I would be living in Australia by then.
I joined the staff in May 2004. I had no idea what ride I was in for over the next decade, nor could I ever anticipate how it would help me grow and develop into who I am today- and essentially who I wanted to be when I "grew up." That fall we welcomed the first class of Regents' Scholars, but it was not until May 2005 that I really understood what the program meant to Dr. Gates...but there will be more on that later.
That fall, as a 20 something, I was asked to work with a committee who would establish the requirements of the Regents' Scholarship and work to ensure the students could be retained year to year at the university. The committee, in my mind, were made up of giants. These were great people, researchers, established staff and faculty who knew far more than me on the subject. I could never imagine that these people would become my mentors and later my partners in the project.
That year was full of excitement, but also many tears. I was not sure I was up for the task. I knew I wanted my life to revolve around helping others and paying forward what had been provided to me while in college- a support system. I was not sure, however, that I would make it. Then came our first banquet- in May of 2005 when Dr. Gates spoke as the Key Note Speaker. I will always remember his powerful words- and they are what kept me going that year and pushed me forward each fall as a new class arrived. He stated "We will do all in our power to help you, because I believe your presence here, along with all the Regents' Scholars who will follow, is likely the best thing any of us has ever done." He said this with a tear in his eye- he had reflected on his own past. He himself would have been a Regents' Scholar. It was during this speech that I recall feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. It was then that I understood what I had gotten involved with, and it was then that I knew I was in for the long haul. Later would come orientations, leadership boards, an organization, a pen pal program, and of course the ever popular international immersion experiences.
So many people played roles in the establishment of this program. Students- you need to know these names as they are the real reason this program has been so successful. Everything that you know about the program now is a result of staff and students working together to accomplish the goal of helping all students (not just the wealthy) obtain their degree from Texas A&M. I am bound to miss a few, but here goes...the "royals" of the origins of the Regents' Scholars Program:
- Omar Venzor (First RSO President and inaugural member of the Orientation Planning Board)
- Katie Tate (Inaugural Planning Board)
- DaNeetra Kersee (Inaugural Planning Board)
- Rosa Hernandez (Inaugural Planning Board)
- Salma Abdullah (Second RSO President, Co-Chair of Orientation Planning Board, the first Regents' Scholars intern, the first Regents' Scholars GA, the original mama OWL, and the creator of the Aggie Pals Program. She was also the first student trip leader to travel to Paris with us in 2009. She is legendary...)
- David Marquez- (Second RSO VP)
- Gary Young (Chair- Planning Board and student trip leader)
- Cathy Watkins (Chair-Planning Board and student trip leader)
- Amber Briggs (Chair-Planning Board)
- Oscar Martinez (Co-Chair Planning Board)
- Asiya Bhura (Co-Chair-Planning Board and RSO President)
- Roxanne Hodges (RSO President)
- Jorge Guerra (Chair- Planning Board and RSO President)
- Elisa Serrato (Planning Board and student trip leader)
- Ben Skinner (OWL, long standing Orientation Counselor, and student trip leader)
- Aimal Khoaja (OWL and student trip leader)
- Bryant Cruz (OWL and long standing Orientation Counselor)
- Ana Davila (RSO President and student trip leader)
This list is never ending...
As far as the staff- Cheryl Rode- the very first Assistant Coordinator of the Regents' Scholars Program. Cheryl came on board when the university realized it was not a one person job. We thought we were really taking a risk when we took 6 students to Seattle. If I had known that one day I would be taking 76 students to Paris, I may have had a good laugh with her about it. That Seattle trip seems like yesterday to me.
Drew Smith- my "Drew"; I cried when she left. She had been my right hand and oversaw the growth of so many different aspects of the program. She was also my first co-trip leader to Paris. When we came home from France in 2009 we told Joe and Delisa we would never travel again with students. We made sure that happened- Drew left the university as her family moved and I got pregnant with Evan- which meant in 2010 we really would not travel. I am not sure that Joe and Delisa found this as funny as me...
Casey Gros- I will never forget when I told Casey essentially "welcome to your first job, and by the way I am pregnant and you are taking students to France over spring break." Not really- but that is what it seemed like. She has stuck by my side all of these years. I have never met someone who could smile and be so scary all at the same time! She is much more intimating that me.
Erin Fisk- Erin came to us from Honors and probably wasn't sure what to think when we told her she would be working with the Regents' Scholars Program. She has grown into her role and has put blood, sweat and tears into the RS2 and OWL program.
To these ladies- I am forever indebted. To the students, I am forever impacted. You all helped me form my identity. You all helped me become "who I wanted to be." I hope you know the impact you have had on me.
So- to ask the question proposed by Switchfoot:
"This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be? When you were younger and you had everything to lose?"
The answer to that question now is "Yes."
Happy 10th Anniversary to the Regents' Scholars Program.
