A Message from the VRSC Director:
I'd like to start by expressing my deepest gratitude for your consideration of a contribution towards Aggie student veterans. For over a century, Texas A&M has been repeatedly challenged to support surges in student veteran enrollment. Despite continuous and increasing veteran enrollment since 1919, permanent support was not established until 2012 when the Veteran Resource & Support Center opened. The Post-9/11 era is seeing the greatest historical increases in veterans and service members entering higher education, with veteran enrollment more than doubling since the VRSC opened its doors! To sustain the level of support exemplifying our Aggie Core Values, we must continue the permanent growth of our scholarships and programming support. Thanks to the generosity of Don & Ellie Knauss, the VRSC was able to renovate and establish a permanent home in the Memorial Student Center in June 2021. Now, our focus has shifted to creating lasting opportunities that reduce the financial and academic barriers to degree completion by cementing the future our foundational programming and scholarships through endowments and gifts. This is where the benevolence of the Aggie Spirit, people like you, come in.
The following areas will provide immediate and maximum impact for student veteran success:
- Student Support is our highest priority. Our Aggie Veterans have tremendous ability to make a significant impact on our state, nation, and world and it is our duty to empower them to achieve their fullest potential. We must significantly increase direct student veteran support in the form of scholarships, textbooks, unique and individualized programs, Aggie Rings, and support for those key military-affiliated student organizations (Student Veterans of America at Texas A&M, Delta Company, & Aggie Shields) that are creating national leaders.
- VRSC Support includes the sustainability and future VRSC enhancements to accommodate the growing, diverse, and ever-changing needs of student veterans. With endowed support, the VRSC can continue to evolve our national best practices and sustain Texas A&M's place as a national leader in student veteran support.
The VRSC's current successes have only been possible due to the charitable gifts of former students and loyal Aggie supporters. We will continue our path to achieving excellence & creating life-changing opportunities for those who have so selflessly served our nation. Our Aggie Veterans and their families need others to join our dedicated ranks in "Serving Well Those Who Have Served."
Col. Gerald "Jerry" L. Smith '82, USMC (Ret.)
