Riley Richardson '20, a Sul Ross scholarship recipient from Maryland who is studying molecular and cell biology.
Eric Maxwell ’19, another Sul Ross recipient, is a third-generation Aggie. “Receiving this scholarship allowed me to feel more confident in the financial aspect of my life and focus on the things that will make me successful in the future.”
Both Richardson and Maxwell look forward to leading by example in their careers after graduation. Richardson hopes to one day contribute to cancer or stem cell research and although she didn’t originally plan on joining the military, she is now seeking a Navy Contract. Maxwell hopes to begin a career in the United States Marine Corps. “I am studying psychology because I like to understand how people think and how to better help them achieve their goals,” he said.
Taking part in Corps traditions has been an influential part of their college experience. “The memory that stands out most to me is the March to the Brazos we undertook in April 2016,” said Maxwell. “I will never forget the feeling that we all shared during that march—the feeling that no matter how difficult it became, we would support each other and we would get through it.” Organized entirely by students in the Corps, March to the Brazos is the largest and most successful annual student-led fundraiser for the March of Dimes in the United States.
Rising Costs
In 2018, more than 90 percent of Texas A&M cadets were awarded a Corps Scholarship. While Sul Ross Scholarships are the most commonly awarded, they also have the lowest monetary value of the four Corps Scholarships available.
Eric Maxwell '19, a third-generation Aggie who hopes to begin a career in the United States Marine Corps.
When the program began in 1978, two fifteen-hour semesters for Texas residents cost $120 and room and board cost $986. For a nonresident, tuition was $1,200. Today, a year of tuition for a Texas resident is $10,210; for a non-resident, tuition is $36,962, while a year of housing and meals costs roughly $10,368.
In addition to rising tuition costs, as of fall 2017, undergraduate students must be awarded and maintain competitive scholarships of at least $4,000 per academic year to qualify for an in-state tuition waiver, so a Sul Ross Scholarship alone cannot meet these specifications.
At present, there are multiple endowed scholarships for cadets: Sul Ross Scholarships, General Rudder Corps Scholarships, Corps of Cadets 21st Century Scholarships and Keepers of the Spirit Scholarships. Original Sul Ross donors who wish to further mitigate student financial burdens or support out-of-state students can enhance their original gift by boosting their scholarship(s) to provide more support to today's cadets.
Support Texas A&M Cadets
You can endow the following four scholarships for members of the Corps of Cadets. Scholarships can be established by an individual or group with a one-time gift or with a series of gifts over a period of up to five years. Gifts to the Foundation are tax-deductible and may be made in the form of cash, securities, real estate or other property.
Keepers of the Spirit Scholarships are the premier Corps Scholarships, awarded to cadets who aspire to the highest scholastic and leadership standards. You can fund a Keepers of the Spirit Scholarship with a $500,000 endowment, which will annually fund four scholarships for cadets in each class year (freshman through senior). Recipients must maintain a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average. These scholarships defray the cost of tuition and expenses by $20,000 to $25,000 over four years.
Corps of Cadets 21st Century Scholarships ensure that future generations of our nation’s leaders continue to come from Texas A&M. Recipients of this scholarship must maintain a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average. You can fund a Corps 21 Scholarship with a $100,000 endowment and defray the cost of tuition and expenses by $16,000 to $18,000 over four years.
General Rudder Corps Scholarships encourage outstanding students with a high potential for success to commit to learning leadership in the Corps. Recipients of this scholarship must maintain a minimum 2.5 overall grade point average. You can fund a General Rudder Corps Scholarship with a $50,000 endowment and defray the cost of tuition and expenses by $8,000 to $10,000 over four years.
Sul Ross Scholarships are awarded to deserving students with financial need. Recipients of this scholarship must maintain a minimum 2.3 overall grade point average. You can fund a Sul Ross Scholarship with a $25,000 endowment and defray the cost of tuition and expenses by $4,000 to $4,800 over four years. Previous Sul Ross donors can now boost their former scholarships to another level, such as adding an additional $25,000 to create a General Rudder Corps Scholarship that will provide more support to the modern cadet.
To learn more, contact Matt Jennings '95, senior director of development for the Corps of Cadets, at (979) 845-7604 or mjennings@txamfoundation.com.
