Twenty students were inducted into the 10th class of Maroon Coats during a coating ceremony held April 9 at the Jon L. Hagler Center.
From serving in the armed forces to cheering on a favorite sports team, wearing a uniform is one of the most visible ways for an individual to demonstrate his or her values. When student ambassadors of the Texas A&M Foundation don their maroon coats, they embrace a unique role as representatives of Texas A&M University.
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Maroon Coats were the brainchild of former Texas A&M Foundation President Dr. Ed Davis ’67, who envisioned students who would serve as ambassadors for the Foundation. A decade later, more than 180 Texas A&M students have called themselves Maroon Coats.
The Maroon Coats enhance the impact of the Foundation through stewardship and selfless service. They thank donors for their gifts through handwritten letters and personal phone calls, interact with guests at Foundation and university-sponsored events, and provide campus tours to donors and prospective students alike. In 2014, the organization also began hosting the Student Organization Advancement Conference, which provides an opportunity for students to learn about creating endowments for their organizations through the Foundation.
Despite growth and changes, one constant remains: Maroon Coats are student leaders from diverse disciplines who are passionate about Texas A&M and active in a range of activities. Seven Yell Leaders and seven student body presidents have earned coats, but it’s not just multigenerational Aggies and Texas residents who feel drawn to this service-oriented group: Maroon Coats come from all over the nation and world, even as far away as Germany and Venezuela.
As the organization continues to make a name for itself on campus, wearing the maroon coat has become a highly sought-after honor. In 2017, 386 students applied to fill 20 coveted spots.
Aggie in the Big Apple
Participating in the Maroon Coats is about much more than socializing and service; it’s also about preparing students for the demands of the working world. Many members go on to careers in public, private and government industries, and connect their success to their time in the organization.