From the Desk of Ross Bjork: June 2020
Howdy!
Normally at this time of year, we would be opening this letter with great news about spring sports winning championships and celebrating a great of academic success. However, the world is evolving and none of us have been immune from the wide range of emotions we've all experienced over these past several weeks. First, I'm grateful and proud to be part of the Aggie Network and this great University community. As our coaches, players and staff have responded with their thoughts on the disturbing events that surround us, I've seen what is in the heart of those who are part of this family. Talking about injustice and equality is challenging on its own, but reading these sincere thoughts has worked to open more conversations that are long overdue.
Expressing thoughts and having ideas is a start. But without turning our words into actions, change is impossible. When I first knew my family and I were headed to College Station, it was time to learn more about the Aggie culture. What impressed me most about Aggieland in addition to our tradition and spirit was the core values of this University. Those values aren't simply words, but I have witnessed those words being lived out every day. Now, we find ourselves looking at those words in perhaps a different light. No single person has all the answers and we find ourselves struggling to know what to say to friends who may be hurting, afraid, living through a fearful time. Now, more than ever, our core values should be embraced to guide us through this process.
When we apply the meaning of these words, meaningful change can take place: loyalty, integrity, excellence, leadership, respect and selfless service. With those powerful words, we have a built-in blueprint for change.
Texas A&M has experienced incredible growth in recent years. With its world-wide brand, others will be watching to see how this University, this Athletic Department, the Aggie Network, responds to these challenges. Last week, I laid out three challenges to our staff, asking that they use this past Monday, June 8th, a day of observance for George Floyd, to take this time to: 1) Educate themselves on the history of our country, injustices, and current events. 2) Engage in healthy dialogue in your community to learn about and empathize with others. 3) Help Aggie Athletics provide opportunities of growth and learning for our student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Our collective focus on changing the narrative can take us, as author Jim Collins says, "from good to great," always seeking to raise our bar of integrity. I've never known of Aggies who are satisfied with protecting the lead. World-class Athletic Departments look for ways to expand the lead, and in doing so, we continue to set an example for all to follow in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
It was a welcome sight to see our facilities re-opened to student-athletes this past Tuesday. There are extensive protocols in place to ensure the safety and well-being of those who participate in volunteer activities. Our intent remains, with appropriate safety guidelines in place, to launch fall sports like Volleyball, Soccer and Cross Country on-time. This also includes kicking off the 2020 Aggie football season on Saturday, September 5th, in the largest football venue in Texas, Kyle Field. To help everyone stay on time and on schedule, do your part: social distance, wear your facemask, follow protocols set by your local health district.
To our incredible fans and donors, you've been a shining light for this department. Thank you for the many times I've been able to join you on Zoom meetings or spoken with you in other ways. Your encouragement and your dedication to Aggie Athletics is remarkable. We ask that you continue to stand with us as we face current challenges while seeing an incredibly bright future. We will always be stronger together.
One final word. In this month's AD Yell, you will once again be affirmed as to the type of student-athlete we are privileged to serve at Texas A&M. Many of them were recognized with special awards and honors. Why will we bring about change in our conversations? Why do we go the extra mile in making sure our student-athletes are safe? Beyond the field and court, these athletes are our leaders of tomorrow. They're watching and observing to see how we react in challenging situations. One day, they will be leaders in our communities. What will be their story? What will they remember about how we handled the year 2020?
See you soon on campus.
Gig 'Em!
Ross
Pledge to be Part of the Solution
Texas A&M Athletics launched a petition through change.org, allowing anyone to join in support of having a conversation, pledging to work together in addressing social injustice and other forms of prejudice.
If you would like to commit to bringing about effective and lasting change, please click this link to sign the petition.
Nine Programs Match or Eclipse 990 APR Rating
I couldn't be more proud of all of our student-athletes as the NCAA released the APR scores that extend from 2015-16 to 2018-19 school years and nine of our programs had a rating of 990 or higher.
We were able to surpass last year's mark of eight programs with a 990 or higher with Women's Golf and Women's Cross Country posting a perfect multi-year score of 1,000. Additionally, six programs earned 1,000 APR single-year ratings in 2018-19, while 14 teams turned in at least one year scoring a 1,000 during the 2015-19 time frame.
Each program surpassed the NCAA-mandated threshold of 930 by at least 23 points.
Many of our programs had the best semester team GPA in history and that is a testament to the hard work our student-athletes and academic services group put in while being apart.
Brad Davis SEC Community Service Leader of the Year
Equestrian senior Ann Elizabeth Tebow was recently named the Brad Davis SEC Community Service Leader of the Year and was awarded a $10,000 scholarship by the conference.
Ann Elizabeth previously was awarded a $10,000 postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA and will be able to pay for her first year of medical school at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City with both scholarships!
As the president of the Texas A&M Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Tebow was in charge of coordinating and orchestrating community projects throughout the Brazos Valley including REVved Up to Reed, Aggies Move, Aggies BUILD and the largest student-athlete run food drive in the nation, Aggies CAN, which funded over 50,000 meals this year. She also serves on AQHlead, a leadership group for 19-34 year olds, and the American Quarter Horse Youth Activities Committee, which advocates for youth and youth programming. Tebow is a group coordinator and volunteer for Ronald McDonald House Charities. She is a part of the team that serves the College Station Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White Hospital. As volunteers, the group takes a cart of snacks, drinks, toys, and toiletries around to all patient rooms that have an affiliation with minors, such as the NICU and pediatric units.
Additionally, Tebow leads a group at the Brazos Valley Food Bank that assists with organizational needs, including assisting with assembly line work for their "backpack" program that works to combat weekend hunger in school-aged children, and sorting of items that are received from grocers that cannot keep them on their shelves, and deciding if they can be accepted or not.
Congrats, Ann Elizabeth!
Arthur Ashe, Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year
Women's Swimming and Diving's Raena Eldridge was named the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year among hundreds of student-athletes nominated for her hard work in the pool, classroom and in her community.
Raena recently graduated from A&M in May with degrees in animal science and genetics, while also earning a business minor. She boasted a 3.979 cumulative GPA through her five years in Aggieland and will begin Vet School at NC State in the fall. Eldridge was A&M's female nominee for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship, and for the second year in a row, was named the Bill Erwin Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year at A&M's annual Building Champions Awards.
A two-time team captain, Raena was a part of four consecutive SEC Team Championships throughout her career and was a two-time College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America All-American and earned All-SEC Second Team honors as a sophomore.
Raena has served as a Student Technician at the Genetics Research Lab and as a member of the Pre-Vet Society. She was a project leader for the Aggie Research Scholars Program and started SPLASH, a non-profit organization that teaches swimming and swim safety. Eldridge has also contributed her time at Save Our Streets Ministries in Bryan since 2016, mentoring elementary school girls.
SEC Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Track and Field's Jon Bishop was voted as the 2020 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the league's head coaches, marking the second time Jon has earned the award.
Bishop held a 3.936 GPA and recently graduated from Texas A&M with his bachelor's degree in applied mathematical sciences with a computational emphasis.
Following graduation, he plans to return to Texas A&M to pursue a master's of computer science in the fall and compete during the 2021 outdoor track and field season.
MLB Draft
What a 24 hours for Rob Childress' baseball program, as three Aggies were taken in the first 50 picks of the Major League Baseball Draft. We're the only school in the country that can say that.
On Wednesday night, Asa Lacy was drafted fourth overall by the Kansas City Royals, becoming the highest draftee in program history.
Christian Roa and Zach DeLoach also heard their names called mere minutes apart in Thursday's second round. Zach was drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 43rd overall pick, while Christian was taken by the Cincinnati Reds with the 48th overall selection.
Congrats on this wonderful achievement and we can't wait to see what the future holds for you!
12th Man Productions
Our fantastic video department, 12th Man Productions, collected some new hardware as the group won a Gold Telly in the online division for general documentary for Jacob Green: A Hall of Fame Life and a Bronze Telly in the television division for their work on The Pulse: Texas A&M Football.
12th Man Productions was also honored as finalists for three awards for the 2020 SVG College Sports Media Awards which is slated for June 25. They were named finalists in the category Outstanding Program Series - Collegiate Athletics for The Pulse: Texas A&M Football as well as Outstanding Live Game Production - Collegiate Student, for their work in the volleyball match of Texas A&M vs. Rice, and Outstanding Program Series - Collegiate Student, for Texas A&M Men's Basketball - Run It Back.
Congratulations to Andy Richardson and his staff for their excellent work!
More Good Bull
- Men's Swimming and Diving's Jake Gibbons earned a $5,000 scholarship from the SEC after being named a Brad Davis Community Service Award Winner.
- Former Women's Basketball standout Danielle Gant was named to the 2020 Putnam City Athletics Hall of Fame.
- Eleven Track and Field student-athletes earned 20 USTFCCCA Indoor All-America honors.
- Baseball's Zach DeLoach and Asa Lacy garnered First Team All-America laurels and Mason Ornelas earned a spot on the Freshman All-America Team from Collegiate Baseball.
- Athlon listed 10 Aggies on their 2020 All-SEC Preseason Team.
Gig 'Em!
Ross
