No. 3 Texas A&M Baseball Looks to Punch Tickets to College World Series Final

Texas A&M System’s Chancellor Announces His Retirement

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. 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 chancellor in the history of the Texas A&M System. Sharp announced Monday that he will retire as chancellor in 12 months. “Texas is grateful for Chancellor John Sharp’s unwavering […]

Brazos Valley Non Profits Are Invited To Register For The Sixth Annual Brazos Valley Gives Event

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.

Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo Announces This Year’s Entertainment

Entertainment has been announced for the 13th Brazos Valley Fair and Rodeo. Headliners are Bart Crow on October 18th, Lonestar on October 19th, and Grupo Secretto on October 20th. The first weekend, October 11-13, the lineup includes welding and woodworking build-offs, steak and BBQ cook-offs and a bigger and better car show. Additional events the second weekend, October 18-20, includes the Extreme Dogs stunt dog show, Sealion Splash Show and Swifty Swine Pig Races. Rodeo performances are October 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. and October 20 at 4 p.m. Additional information from the Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo: The Brazos Valley Fair and Rodeo will “Let the Good Times Grow” for its 13th year October 11-13 and 18-20. The Fair & Rodeo, held at the Brazos County Expo Complex, is excited to announce the 2024 entertainment lineup. The event will feature artists from multiple genres catering to the wide array of musical interests in Brazos Valley. Entertainers for this year’s main stage begin on Friday, October 18th with Bart Crow, Saturday’s headliner Lonestar and Sunday’s performer Grupo Secretto will close out the weekend. All three bands bring their exceptional talents and musical tunes to the main stage located in the rodeo arena during the main weekend. Additional entertainment at the 2024 Fair will include an exciting Kick-Off weekend (October 11-13) events with welding and woodworking build-offs, steak and BBQ cook-offs and a bigger and better car show. The main weekend October 18-20 will include Extreme Dogs stunt dog show, Sealion Splash Show and Swifty Swine Pig Races, plus the always popular mutton bustin’ in addition to the main stage performers. All showtimes can be found on the fair’s website www.BrazosValleyFair.com. Ticket Information – general admission tickets required for ages 10 & older will be available for the discounted price of $15 online until September 1st at www.BrazosValleyFair.com. $20 tickets will be available online beginning September 1st. General admission tickets include entry to rodeo and concert each day. Discounted carnival ride passes are available for $25 and are valid for one day unlimited rides during posted times. Tickets will be $20 at the gate, and carnival rides pass $30 at the gate. The 2024 fair is partnering with the Brazos Valley Food Bank to present “Food from the Fair”. This canned food drive will allow fair goers to get $1 off their entry per canned good, up to $5 off. The discount is only available at the gate for general admission tickets for the car show October 12th and main fair October 18-20. The Brazos Valley Fair is a family-friendly event in Bryan, TX that continues to grow and has become a much-anticipated event in the Brazos Valley every fall. The fair hosts competitions for youth and adults from across the state of Texas.