A&M International Students Give Thanks to Scholarship Donors

While Thanksgiving is some time off, students at Texas A&M International University will be giving a special thanks Tuesday to a group of individuals, foundations and corporations who've made a world of difference in their lives.

On Tuesday, Oct. 5 from 6-8 p.m. in the University's Great Room, students will meet with donors who have helped to provide the scholarships that have enabled them to pursue their dreams of a higher education.

The Annual Donor-Scholar Reception is one of the University's most treasured traditions, says University president Dr. Charles Jennett.

"This is a special evening because it celebrates the ramifications of partnerships, the good of giving and the power of one person to make a difference, " Dr. Jennett said.

The support provided by these partnerships have the power to change students' futures, he confirmed.

"These partnerships profoundly affect the future of a student's life and, by extension, the life of our community. This year alone, our donors have elected to become a partner in the success of over 450 young scholars," he said.

Jennett said that as the University continues to grow, so does its need for student scholarship.

"The State of Texas has indeed blessed our campus, but the need for student scholarship support is growing. Almost 85% of our students qualify for and receive assistance. This semester,we're reporting our highest enrollment to date of 3,220 students, up 7.3% from last Fall. The support provided by our donors is crucial to us for student scholarship assistance," he explained.

Gilbert Cardenas, a scholarship recipient, has helped to organize the evening's program and will function as master of ceremonies. The A&M International junior majoring in Political Science says it is an honor for him to do so.

"I've been very lucky to have received scholarship assistance from the American Petroleum Institute, Mall del Norte and the Dr. Henry R. Cuellar Endowed Scholarship Fund. I'm proud to be able to represent my fellow scholarship students as we salute these very special people," he said.

For more information, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 326.2175.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu