COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS—The Texas A&M Foundation welcomed 27 students into its 13th class of Maroon Coats at a virtual coating celebration on Sunday, Sept. 6.
Made up of student leaders from across campus involved in a diverse range of activities and pursuing various educational disciplines, the Maroon Coats enhance the Texas A&M Foundation’s impact through ambassadorship and selfless service to help build a culture of philanthropy at Texas A&M University. More than 250 students have served as Maroon Coats since the organization’s founding in 2008.
Former Texas A&M Foundation president Dr. Ed Davis envisioned the Maroon Coats as a group of students who could represent the Foundation while honing their interpersonal and leadership skills. Today, they accomplish this by interacting with donors and giving speeches at Foundation events, writing thank you notes and conducting campus tours. In 2014, the Maroon Coats also began hosting the annual Student Organization Advancement Conference (SOAC) to provide Texas A&M student organizations the opportunity to learn about fundraising and philanthropy.
Sunjay Letchuman '22 is one of this year's new Maroon Coats inductees.
Typically, the Foundation honors new Maroon Coat inductees with a coating celebration at the Jon L. Hagler Center. Due to COVID-19, this year’s celebration was held virtually with inductees receiving their signature maroon blazers beforehand. “This ceremony was a powerful reminder that even in a season of life marked by profound uncertainty, physical distance does not preclude the opportunity to make a meaningful impact,” said Jack Tucker ’21, current Maroon Coats president. “I earnestly look forward to all the good these 27 Aggies will do in service to the Foundation and our beloved university as Maroon Coats.”
Texas A&M Foundation President and Honorary Maroon Coat Tyson Voelkel ’96 congratulated inductees on completing the organization’s judicious selection process. “Each of these Aggies was chosen not just for their personal achievements, but also for the way they represent Texas A&M’s core values—selfless service especially,” he said.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, Maroon Coats cumulatively logged in 97 campus tours, 27 personal visits to donors and 1,900 total volunteer hours. “The Maroon Coats are the living link between donors and the student body, helping us advance our mission of building a brighter future for Texas A&M, one relationship at a time,” Voelkel added. “These students provide an integral layer of the donor experience at Texas A&M by exposing our donors to some of the best and brightest students the university has to offer. The program also allows these students to interact with and learn from our amazing supporters.”
To Sunjay Letchuman ’22, one of this year’s inductees, his selection as a Maroon Coat symbolizes the beginning of a journey where he will have the honor to serve alongside the kindest and most dedicated students at Texas A&M. “Serving in Maroon Coats will allow me to show my appreciation for our generous donors and give back to the university that has provided me with unimaginable opportunities,” he said. “I've been graciously given this coat, and it is my privilege to wear it."
The newest members of the Texas A&M Foundation Maroon Coats are:
- Ashley Read ’22, a mechanical engineering major from Houston, Texas
- Bella Nowland ’21, an international studies major from Spring Branch, Texas
- Braden White ’20, a business management major from Florence, Alabama
- Bridget Higgins ’22, a biomedical science major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Brock Jones ’21, an industrial distribution major from Schertz, Texas
- Caden Scott ’21, an international studies major from Bryan, Texas
- Caitlin Garcia ’22, a communication major from Thorndale, Texas
- Caleb Feste ’21, a finance major from Austin, Texas
- Caleb Fleck ’20, an agricultural economics major from Phoenix, Arizona
- David Brookins ’21, a mechanical engineering major from Coral Springs, Florida
- Ellie Parker ’21, a biomedical science major from Mansfield, Texas
- Erica Pauls ’21, a political science major from Corpus Christi, Texas
- Hunter Owen ’21, an accounting major from Albany, Texas
- Jack Fisher ’21, a business honors and finance major from San Antonio, Texas
- Jadha Gunawan ’21, a mechanical engineering major from Jakarta, Indonesia
- Jaevin Reed ’20, a marketing major from Frisco, Texas
- James Kirkland ’21, an electrical engineering major from Cape Town, South Africa
- Jessica Johnson ’22, a biomedical engineering major from Plano, Texas
- Jimmie Fields ’21, a business honors and finance major from Austin, Texas
- Jose Cura Zuniga ’21, an economics major from The Colony, Texas
- Joshua Korb ’21, a biomedical science major from Burleson, Texas
- Justyn Tedder ’21, a business honors and marketing major from Mason, Texas
- Kiersten Potter ’21, a chemical engineering major from Katy, Texas
- Michael Sporkin ’21, an electrical engineering major from Katy, Texas
- Ryan Storch ’21, a business honors and marketing major from Coppell, Texas
- Sunjay Letchuman ’22, a business honors major from Shreveport, Louisiana
- Travis Cantwell ’22, a business honors and finance major from Austin, Texas
Texas A&M Foundation
The Texas A&M Foundation is a nonprofit organization that aspires to be among the most trusted philanthropies in higher education. It builds a brighter future for Texas A&M University, one relationship at a time. To learn more, visit txamfoundation.com.
