Texas A&M Foundation Welcomes Ninth Maroon Coats Class

The Texas A&M Foundation honored 23 new members of the ninth class of Maroon Coats, its student ambassadors organization, at a ceremony on Friday. As part of the event in the Jon L. Hagler Center, each new member received a maroon blazer, the emblem of the organization.

Maroon Coats enhance the impact of the Foundation through stewardship and service. The group includes Texas A&M University student leaders involved in a range of activities — from student body presidents to Big Event directors to student athletes — and who are pursuing various educational disciplines.

Their duties include 20-plus volunteer hours a semester spent interacting with donors at special events, such as banquets and tailgates; hosting tours; and giving speeches at Foundation receptions. For the past three years, Maroon Coats have hosted a Student Organization Advancement Conference (SOAC) to provide student organizations the opportunity to learn about fundraising and philanthropy.

“The Maroon Coats program is special in a number of ways,” said Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel. “First, it exposes our donors to some of the best and brightest students at Texas A&M while also allowing our students a unique opportunity to engage with and learn from our amazing donors.

“Second, these students play a meaningful role in serving as ambassadors to donors, faculty, staff and fellow students on behalf of the Texas A&M Foundation. It is a privilege to work with these amazing students, and I am proud of the special role they play for the Texas A&M Foundation.”

Candidates underwent a three-part selection process that began in January. Current Maroon Coats first reviewed 344 applications, a jump of nearly 100 submissions compared to last year. The second phase of the process gave 144 students a chance to socialize with current Maroon Coats and Foundation employees. During the third phase, standing members interviewed the final 64 applicants.

Current Maroon Coats made the final selection by secret ballot; they sought to select student leaders who are well-intentioned, passionate and who represent a diverse range of backgrounds.

“Every year, the Maroon Coats organization seeks to find new members with a unique background and Aggie story, and who are ready to serve this great institution,” said Cameron Blizzard, president of Maroon Coats. “We also strive to find students who appreciate how many opportunities that have been bestowed upon them here at Texas A&M thanks to donor support. I believe we have found just that in these 23 outstanding students.”

Blizzard, a senior in the Mays Business School, will graduate in May with bachelor’s degrees in finance and business honors from Texas A&M.

“I could not be more excited for these new members to forge relationships with donors, faculty and their fellow students as they represent the Texas A&M Foundation,” said Blizzard. “So many donors have shaped my life, and I cannot wait to see the same impact upon the ninth class of Maroon Coats.”

The newest members of the Texas A&M Foundation Maroon Coats are:

Ifeanyi Anyaoha ’18, a biochemistry major from Carrollton, Texas
Justin Benavidez ’13, an agriculture economics Ph.D. candidate from Tulia, Texas
Ross Bodeker ’17, an electrical engineering major from Houston
Christopher Bybee ’17, a finance and business honors major from Austin
Sara Greaves ’18, a business honors major from Austin
J.J. Gustafson Jr. ’17, a supply chain management major from Dallas
Ana Gutierrez ’17, a biomedical sciences major from Caracas, Venezuela
Kai Jones ’17, an industrial distribution major from Houston
Madeline Kinnaird ’16, an electrical engineering major from Plano
Ian Kocher ’17, a finance and business honors major from Austin
Alex Lambros ’17, a petroleum engineering major from Brooklyn, New York
Sebastian Lossner ’16, an accounting and marketing major from Schmidt, Germany
Margaret Malone ’16, a human resources and business major from Geneva, Nebraska
Justin Martinez ’17, an international studies and Spanish major from Fort Benning, Georgia
Hope Miller ’17, an accounting and business honors major from Southlake
Garrett Notzon ’17, a business major from San Antonio
Georgia Grace Osteen ’17, an allied health major from Houston
Blake Parsons ’16, a history major from Dallas
Rebecca Polk ’18, an international studies major from Dallas
Nathalie Simoes ’17, an environmental geosciences major from Houston
Thomason Waldo ’13, a masters student in financial management from Austin
Christopher Wilder ’17, an economics major from Dallas
Hannah Wimberly ’17, a human resource development major from Friendswood