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When a group of 45 junior high school students from Richardson ISD came to College Station to tour Texas A&M University’s campus Saturday, Nov. 17, members of Corps of Cadets Squadron 11 stepped up to provide meals during its first annual Cadet BBQ.
The students were visiting Texas A&M through a grant program, #STEM4All, funded through the Texas Instruments Foundation. The program is designed to expose students to the college experience. While the grant covered the cost for the students to visit Texas A&M, it did not cover the cost of food. That’s where Squadron 11 stepped in.
Cadet Luke Stotts, a sophomore in Squadron 11, learned of the grant and the trip from his mother, an educator at Liberty Junior High School located in the Richardson Independent School District. When Stotts learned that the students would be able to travel to College Station for the day but would not have any money for food, he went to his outfit’s commanding officer, Logan Wolff. Together, with the support of Squadron 11, they hatched a plan to provide for the students during their time in Aggieland.
“Selfless service means helping people in any way you can,” Wolff said. “Everyone has pitched in to help. It’s our responsibility as Aggies to be able to show people the spirit of Aggieland rather than trying to explain it to them. Our actions speak louder than our words.”
The Liberty Junior High students could have been split up amongst several outfits. However, Squadron 11 had the capacity to take all of the students in. Outfit and major unit leadership agreed that the students would have a much better experience on Saturday if the group stayed together.
In addition to food, the cadets also talked with the Liberty students about what they’ve learned in college and gotten from the experience. Through the #STEM4All program, students will learn why going to college is a good thing.
“These students are underrepresented in the college environment,” Matthew Hill, 1st Wing Major Unit Commander said. “So our actions go even further, being able to show our experiences and how great it’s been for us. It makes [the experience] a little more important.”
Media contact: Amy Thompson, 979-862-1922, amy.thompson@tamu.edu.
