Ties That Bind

Once on campus, Eddie fell in love with the university’s camaraderie, core values and curriculum. He studied electrical engineering and joined the Corps of Cadets, which introduced him to lifelong friends and a passion for service that led to his Naval career during the Vietnam War. After two tours, he earned his master’s in business administration from Pan American University (now the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) and started his own financial services business in 1990.

A Family Tradition is Born

Crediting their success to their educations and supportive families, Berta and Eddie encouraged his mother, Emilia, to create a legacy honoring her passion for education with an endowed gift to Texas A&M International University in Laredo. Realizing the gift’s impact, they also planned a gift for Aggieland using Eddie’s life insurance policy. “We’ve been blessed throughout our lives, and I’ve always believed in giving back to help future generations obtain a quality education,” Eddie shared.

Their future gift will benefit Aggies from South Texas who pursue an engineering degree. “We chose South Texas because it is historically underserved,” Eddie said. “We hope to supplement students’ educations, so they can become better academics and citizens of their communities.”

A Heart for Aggieland

Rebecca “Becky” Garcia ’98 grew up listening to her father’s college stories, so it wasn’t surprising that Texas A&M was her dream school. “I didn’t apply anywhere else,” she said. At the university, Becky attended every football game, tailgate, bonfire, Midnight Yell and Muster. After graduating with her bachelor’s in management, she earned her master’s in public administration from Texas A&M International. She landed her first job with IBM in Dallas but missed Aggieland and decided to work at a Fox Sports radio station in Dallas that covered Aggie athletics. Today, she works alongside her father in the insurance business.

To pay her Texas A&M experience forward, Becky used a life insurance policy to plan a gift for first-generation college students from South Texas attending Mays Business School. “I designated my gift to first-generation students because it’s more difficult for them to attend and adapt to college,” she explained, adding that she was surprised by how easy the planned giving process was. “I was amazed I could plan a gift with my life insurance before I turned 30!”

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Beyond her gift, Becky has a heart for charity work, specifically volunteering with youth organizations like Girl Scouts of America and serving as a mentor for Aggie freshmen. “My parents taught me to be an active member in my community and to share my talents with others,” she said.

These lasting lessons make her family’s legacy to Aggieland even more meaningful. “Even though we had different experiences at Texas A&M, we were all impacted. I am proud of my family for making this commitment, and I love that we share this special bond.”

Expanding Horizons

Just like her big sister, Rosella Garcia ’00 grew up surrounded by the Aggie Spirit and couldn’t wait to experience it. “Texas A&M was a beloved place to our family, and I wanted to follow in the tradition,” she said.

Rosella’s passion for learning took her overseas to Spain through a study abroad program. “I learned so much from experiencing other cultures in such an immersive way,” she explained.

After graduating with her bachelor’s in journalism, Rosella worked for The Association of Former Students, Mays Business School and Rice University before accepting an alumni affairs position at New York University. She jumped at the opportunity to move to the Big Apple. Now, she serves as the senior director of alumni relations at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she also earned a master’s in communication and education.

Appreciative of the role her study abroad experience played in her development, Rosella used her life insurance policy to plan a gift that will provide future Aggies with that same life-changing experience. “The concept of paying it forward is ingrained in us through our parents. They have modeled that behavior for my sisters and me,” she shared. “We give back to help make the world a better place for everyone. I believe we should all be afforded the opportunity to enrich our learning. By exploring new horizons, we open our minds and our hearts.”

The Legacy Lives On

Rubiana “Rubi” Mares ’03 planned to attend Texas A&M like her family, so she enrolled in Texas A&M’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences. “Texas A&M was part of my earliest childhood memories,” she said. “From football games to visiting my sisters in college, I knew Aggieland was the place for me.”

After graduation, Rubi began working for The Texas A&M University System as an admissions counselor and recruiter for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi before joining the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Youth Transportation Safety program. There, she plans educational events to promote traffic safety to young drivers. She recently earned her master’s in adult higher education from the University of Houston-Victoria.

While Rubi didn’t meet her husband, Efrain ’01, until after graduation, the two learned they had much more in common than being Aggies: They shared values, passions and dreams inspired by their own families. As the youngest of five siblings born to Mexican immigrants, Efrain followed his older brother’s footsteps and attended Texas A&M. As a first-generation student, he took full advantage of his opportunities, joining the Corps of Cadets’ Company G-1 while pursuing his bachelor’s in industrial distribution.