Farewell Letter From Student Body President Amy Sharp
The following is a Friday, April 19 message from 2018-2019 Student Body President Amy Sharp to Texas A&M University students, faculty and staff:
Howdy Texas A&M,
With mixed emotions, I am writing my last official email to you, as Muster, April 22nd, is my last day as Student Body President. I know I will always think fondly of the short year that I was able to serve you, and I am immensely grateful to have had the honor to do so. Although my term is ending, I am confident that the next administration under Student Body President-Elect, Mikey Jaillet, will work diligently to carry the torch and serve you well.
As the chapter closes, I’d like to reflect on the milestones of the year and the initiatives that your voices created in Student Government. Please see the bottom of this email for a comprehensive list of what this year has held.
It has truly been an unforgettable year and I am confident that the work of SGA along with the work of so many incredible student organizations has changed our university forever. Serving as your Student Body President has been the greatest honor I’ve ever known, and I am so grateful for every single one of you. Thank you for making my experience all that it was, but beyond that, thank you for loving this university with all your heart.
This Monday at 7 p.m. in Reed Arena will be the Campus Muster Ceremony. This serves as an incredible opportunity to honor those we have lost over the last year and bring together the Aggie family in a time of remembrance, mourning, and celebration. Please note that the doors will open to the general public at 6 p.m. I strongly encourage you to take time out of your busy weekends to attend and honor your fellow students, and all Ags we have lost. If you would like further information on the ceremony and time-honored tradition, please visit muster.tamu.edu.
Finally, my parting request from you is that you find the time to say “Howdy” to someone today. “Howdy” is a part of what makes Texas A&M more than a university — “Howdy” makes us a family. Let’s keep it that way.
Thank you for a year like none other,
Amy Sharp ‘19
Executive Cabinet and Student Senate
- Launched the Say Howdy to Health campaign focusing on nutrition, fitness, mental health, and safety that has spread across campus and will be continuing in a student led committee under the Dean of the School of Public Health
- Assisted the Aggie Recovery Community in Fundraising $20,000 to go toward recovery resources and support
- In case you missed it, Student Rule 7 passed granting excused absences for interviews, shout out to Jacob Powell for leading the charge on a multi-year effort that will tangibly benefit hundreds of thousands of students
- Coordinated a Town Hall between students and upper administration featuring Provost Fierke and President Young, shout out to Madi Telschow
- Established a foundational framework for diversity commission, established student leader lunches with administration, implemented goals set by students for a comprehensive diversity plan, and created the created Matthew Gaines task force, shout out to Kassandra Corona, Adel Quntar, and Valentina Tovar
- Student Services worked in so many areas of advocacy from student health to dining to transportation and performed an unprecedented amount of communication with the student body, shout out to Katie Morris
- Selected finalists for speakers at 3 graduation terms, speakers of invocations in Kyle field, Student Regent finalists, and THECB finalists as well as sitting committee members on hundreds of university committees
- Made trips to Austin every week of the legislative session to push through the legislative agenda to improve the Aggie experience, shout out to Gregory Cross & Eric Mendoza
- Completed the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Brick Campaign, shout out to Katina Economides
- We hosted Gig the Vote, helping hundreds of students get registered for their civic duty, shout out to Rohan Sethi
- Established a Menstrual Health Pilot program that will provide free menstrual products for students in bathrooms across campus, shout out to Ashali Chimata
- Passed many bills and resolutions, notably Money Education Course support, Open Access Resources support, and Reinstate the Rivalry support shout out to Student Senate.
- And lastly I want to highlight the Judicial Court, who never gets any of the recognition, but works hard to maintain the integrity SGA on a grand scale. Chief Justice Neumann would like to recognize Vice Chief Justice Ryan Woolsey for his hard work this year.
Student Government Association Committees
- CARPOOL hit a milestone and has officially given more than 238,926 free, safe rides home
- Campus Muster Committee will organize the Muster that honors both Former President George H.W. Bush and Former First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush
- In addition to planting 2200 seedlings for Trees for the Blanco, Replant started a new partnership with a local Bryan business that sells succulents, called Succs N Such, and held a large scale, 3-day, on-campus raising over $1800 towards Replant Day.
- From 2017, the 12th Can has seen a 527% increase in overall clientele as well as distributing over 40,000 pounds of food product during each pantry opening.
- Alternative Spring Break sent four groups of students to four different states to volunteer and help the local communities
- EIC has a wonderful celebration event coming up for Earth Day that will gather 10 environmental organizations on campus to participate and spread sustainability.
- GLC sent 40 freshman delegates to their annual four day conference and expanded their staff to include a new position to help foster relationships between former and current delegates
- COSGA saw a 35% jump in new school attendance and was able to increase the number of Town Hall sessions held at the conference from 5 to 7, benefiting all attendees greatly.
- As of mid-February, Career Closet’s rental numbers had increased over 10% from last year making their total more than 1,440 suits rented since opening in the spring of 2016.
- Traditions Council granted 9 Aggie Ring Scholarships through their fundraising efforts and traveled 3,759 mi across Texas to share Texas A&M University history and traditions with thousands of people.
- One-third of the entire student body signed up to serve more than 2,500 residents in the community and The Big Event lived out their vision of “Serve the Purpose, Build the Community.”
- Fish Aides saw increased fundraising levels for their annual custodian banquet that says “Thank You” to approximately 475 TAMU custodians.
- Between ARC’s two conferences, they reached close to 400 high school juniors and seniors combined showing them Aggie experience.
