Howdy and thank you for your interest in supporting our Aggie veteran and military students through the Veteran Resource & Support Center.  Our center helps facilitate the success of over 1100 students in undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across all Texas A&M University campuses, sites, and distance education programs.  All our students have two things in common:  First, they each raised their right hand and swore to support and defend the constitution of the United States of America.  Second, they each possess the highest qualities required for acceptance into Texas A&M University.

Our department is student-centered, and our most valuable program is our peer-led Veteran Aggie Leaders for Outreach, Resources, and Research (VALOR²).  These dedicated student leaders are employed in our center through the VA Work-Study program and are the department’s eyes and ears within the student population.  Each semester the VALOR² team conducts a variety of outreach events that consistently produce feedback directly resulting in the creation, design, and improvement of departmental programs.

One result of this feedback was the creation of the SAVE fund.  This emergency fund is dedicated to assisting students that find themselves in an unforeseen financial crisis.  Additionally, the SAVE-SP fund helps alleviate the burdening cost of childcare. Most of our students support a family while attending classes and live on a very fixed income.  The intent of these two funds is to keep the student in school.  A student should never have to choose between keeping a roof over their head or supporting their family and continuing their education.

Almost all our students pay for a portion of their education using finite education benefits earned through military service.  Thanks to generous donors, the VRSC awards almost 200 endowed scholarships each year that help fill student financial gaps.

In addition to those scholarships the VRSC manages a non-endowed scholarship fund.  This fund provides the VRSC flexible and immediate discretion in awarding scholarships to students in unique situations.

To complement their academic program of study, students expressed a strong desire to expand their professional development and showcase the superior reputation of Texas A&M in producing leaders of character.  Each year there are state and national opportunities for students to experience this growth.  The Student Veteran Leadership Development Program allows the VRSC to sponsor students in these opportunities.

The VALOR2 team and our dedicated staff routinely identify opportunities for impact that don’t necessarily fit within an existing program.  The general VRSC fund gives our department the discretion to fill unexpected programming gaps.  This fund often kickstarts the process of turning student ideas into programmatic reality and potential endowment.

The aforementioned VRSC programs and many more are all geared toward supporting students in reaching their ultimate goal: a degree from Texas A&M.  When graduation time comes for our students, it is important to celebrate their achievement by honoring the students and the families who have stood beside them both in service and through the rigors of academic achievement.  The Salute to Success program does exactly that, cementing the Aggie spirit in each student and family member.

Words cannot express the gratitude we have for our generous donors who make our operations possible.  One hundred percent of our programs are donor funded, meaning we cannot create lasting impact without the benevolence of friends like you. Thank you for your dedication and support to our students who chose to serve their country and chose to be Texas Aggies.