Royce Hickman, Community Liaison, visits with WTAW’s Sean Burnett about the success of Aggie sports, Founders Night, other Chamber events, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
Listen to “B/CS Chamber of Commerce Update on The Infomaniacs” on Spreaker.
Texas A&M system chancellor John Sharp has announced he will retire, effective June 30, 2025. Sharp sent an e-mail stating in part that “soon it will be time for this Chancellor to disappear around the bend. I will move to Austin to spend more time with my daughter Victoria, son Spencer, and Diana’s and my grandchildren.” Sharp also said “While I am retiring from this job, I will find ways to continue to serve the great state I love.” He also said “I will never retire from work, and I look forward to telling you next year about the next phase of Diana’s and my life work. One thing is for certain, I will never be too busy or too old to help Texas A&M and the A&M System.” Sharp began his run as the A&M system’s longest serving chancellor in September 2011. The 1972 A&M graduate served as student body president. He later served in the Texas House the Texas Senate, the Texas Railroad Commission, and two terms as state comptroller. Click below to hear comments from John Sharp, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver. Listen to “Texas A&M system chancellor John Sharp announces he will retire next year” on Spreaker. Statement from John Sharp: Colleagues and friends, I notified the Board of Regents several weeks ago that this coming year will be my final year as Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. My retirement will be effective June 30, 2025. By then, I will have served almost 14 years in this position. Leading this grand enterprise has been one of the great privileges of my life, a challenge, and an honor. I feel a deep sense of gratitude to all of you who have shown confidence in me and contributed to our collective endeavor. Together we have lifted the Texas A&M System to historic heights. I thank the 21 regents who I have faithfully served, and I thank those past and present who have served with me: the presidents of 11 universities, the CEOs of eight state agencies, the members of my executive committee; our students, faculty, and staff. I thank our supporters at the Chancellor’s Century Council and in the Texas Legislature; Governors Greg Abbott and Rick Perry; Lt. Governors Dan Patrick and David Dewhurst; Texas Speakers Joe Straus, Dennis Bonnen, and Dade Phelan; and members of the Texas Congressional delegation. With your assistance, we have become one of the genuinely great university systems in the world. We have increased enrollment more than 25 percent during a time when too many people are questioning the value of a college education. We added a law school that has risen faster in the national rankings than any other in history. We consolidated the state’s disaster response and recovery by adding the Texas Division of Emergency Management as our 8th state agency. We increased our National Academy memberships five-fold, and our research expenditures now exceed $1 billion a year. And the past 13 years have seen a historic building boom with $11.4 billion for 306 projects. Texas A&M University, in particular, has become the school of choice, with one of the biggest student enrollments in the nation. Texas A&M is no longer anybody’s little brother. Despite the remarkable things we have accomplished, I am proudest of the fact that our culture, our traditions, and the patriotic fervor of our students remain intact. We reflect the great traditions and culture of the state of Texas. Best of all, the next 12 months have the potential to be the most remarkable year of all. The System is a movable feast of innovation at Texas A&M-RELLIS, the new Fort Worth campus, the McAllen Teaching Center, the Port in Brownsville, the Johnson Space Center in Houston, and elsewhere. Stay tuned. There is more innovation in the works as we continuously strive to serve Texas and the nation. Whatever I have accomplished, I owe much to the love of my family and friends. I thank you for the outpouring of support when Charlotte passed in 2020. I also thank you for extending your friendship to Diana, who has been steadfast in her support of me and the Texas A&M System. While the road goes on forever and the party never ends, soon it will be time for this Chancellor to disappear around the bend. I will move to Austin to spend more time with my daughter Victoria, son Spencer, and Diana’s and my grandchildren. While I am retiring from this job, I will find ways to continue to serve the great state I love. I will never retire from work, and I look forward to telling you next year about the next phase of Diana’s and my life work. One thing is for certain, I will never be too busy or too old to help Texas A&M and the A&M System. I have been blessed with more years as Chancellor than I had imagined back in 2011. I feel like, together, we have accomplished remarkable things and built momentum for future generations. We are blessed to have our best set of university presidents and agency CEOs ever. We are blessed to have a Board of Regents committed to thoughtfully choosing our next chancellor, and I offer them my steadfast support. As always, I thank you for your support. News release from the Texas A&M system: Porter Garner jokes that he is not sure John Sharp ever sleeps. “It’s not uncommon to get a text from John late at night, or at four in the morning,” said Garner, longtime president of The Association of Former Students at Texas A&M University. “He has some new idea or concept he’d like to discuss. Ultimately, it is about A&M, to benefit our students, our former students our university.” “He’s the best chancellor we’ve ever had,” Garner added. “No chancellor in history has ever advanced Texas A&M and the Texas A&M University System like John Sharp has.” Garner is among the Texans praising the era of the longest serving […]
Construction of new rental housing south of the Texas A&M campus was discussed at the end of the last College Station city council meeting (June 27). Councilwoman Linda Harvell described as “horrifically ugly”, three story rental structures on Highland north of Fidelity. Harvell asked if the city could create architectural standards. She was told that was not allowed by state law. Then councilman Bob Yancy brought up potential fire safety issues with the three story rentals. A council majority supported discussing a future workshop, what the city can and can not do. Click below to hear comments from the June 27, 2024 College Station city council meeting.
Non profit agencies around the Brazos Valley are invited to register for the sixth annual Brazos Valley Gives fundraiser. Last year, 168 non profits participated, generating a combined $1.5 million dollars and almost 8,800 hours of volunteer time. The event on October 15th is administered by the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley. Click HERE to be directed to registration information. The deadline is September 6th. Those who register by August 2nd are eligible for an early bird prize of $500 dollars. News release from the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley: The Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley’s 6th annual Brazos Valley Gives is officially set for Tuesday, October 15, 2024 when nonprofits from throughout the 7-county region will engage donors to “give where you live.” Registration is now open for all Brazos Valley 501(c)(3) nonprofits to register to participate in Brazos Valley Gives — brazosvalleygives.org. The deadline to register is Friday, September 6. Nonprofits pay a $150 registration fee; nonprofits that have an endowment at the Community Foundation are eligible for a discounted fee of $50. This registration fee is used for administrative-related giving day expenses to include the marketing/promotion of the event regionally. Register at brazosvalleygives.org. Nonprofits that register by Friday noon, August 2, will be eligible for a $500 Early Bird Registration Prize. Brazos Valley Gives is a month-long community giving effort that culminates in 18 hours of online giving on the third Tuesday of October. Giving together as one community to raise money and awareness for local nonprofits. Nonprofits are an important part of our community and provide important quality of life needs throughout the Brazos Valley. Brazos Valley Gives provides citizens and businesses an easy platform to support the mission and “good works” of local nonprofits that serve the Brazos Valley. Nonprofits from throughout the 7-county Brazos Valley region are invited to participate. Brazos Valley Gives empowers individual donors and business leaders to come together to support causes close to their hearts. This day of giving where you live is powered by the Community Foundation, and all donations pass-thru directly to the donor’s charity(ies) of choice. This year’s goal for Brazos Valley Gives is $1.5M with 170 nonprofits participating! Last year, donors rallied to raise $1,454,920 and donated 8,754 volunteer hours to support the good works of 168 nonprofits. Over the past 5 years, the Community Foundation’s Annual Brazos Valley Gives Day has raised $4,723,708 for participating Brazos Valley nonprofits, including over $213K in sponsorship prizes. Let’s all join as we strengthen nonprofits, empower donors and build community throughout the Brazos Valley.
Bryan Broadcasting Corporation