April 3, 2009
COLLEGE STATION - The Texas A&M equestrian team received a second large donation towards its facilities efforts from ieSmartSystems on Friday afternoon at the Brazos County Expo Complex.
Doug, Kim, and Nick Colvin of ieSmartSystems, an audio/visual, cabling infrastructure, and security company, presented head coach Tana McKay, horsemanship coach Beth Bass, director of operations Katie Cahill, and senior associate athletic director Joe Powell a second check for $25,000 for additional aid to the equestrian program's facility efforts.
"This helps build a good foundation and helps recruiting," Kim Colvin, a former team member from 2001-2004, said. "This team is used to winning. We want it to have the facilities to compliment how successful the team is and has been."
Kim Colvin competed for the Aggies during the primarily Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) days of the program. She competed in intermediate I and II horsemanship during her time wearing the maroon and white.
"We appreciate this university giving Kim an opportunity to join a team like this one," her father Doug Colvin said. "Equestrian was probably the first organized sport she was involved in and we were really happy at how A&M encouraged her to join the program. She really enjoyed being a part of the team. The teamwork and camaraderie she experienced here has taken her confidence to a whole different level, a level that has helped make her a successful person."
The initial $25,000 donated by the Colvins in February of 2008 went to build the tack room in the Aggies' practically-finished horse barn. This new donation will go toward the creation of increased turn-out pens for A&M's four-legged athletes.
"Their donations, especially in this day and time economically, really mean the world to us," A&M head coach Tana McKay said. "This is a great step in continuing our efforts for our athletes. It's also a little extra special for us to see an alum give back after being a member of the team."