When Texas A&M University classes begin this fall, roughly 500 members of the Corps of Cadets will enhance their academic education with a curriculum that focuses on leadership development. Since 2002, the Corps of Cadets Leadership Excellence Program has targeted cadets who are not seeking military careers but want to be leaders in the public sector.

This fall’s Corps leadership program will receive the first benefits from a 50th-anniversary gift of $580,000 to the Texas A&M Foundation.
 
Dr. Richard “Dick” Cummins ’73, director of the leadership program, said the Class of ’58 Endowed Professorship for the Corps of Cadets Leadership Studies is the largest endowment received by the program so far. Once fully funded, the gift will be the largest known 50th-anniversary class gift in Texas A&M history. The class allocated $500,000 to the Corps leadership program, $75,000 to the 12th Man Foundation and $5,000 for an unrestricted class fund.

John C. Mayfield Jr. ’58, one of three class agents, said that several years before their 50th reunion, class members set three top priority areas for a class gift. The Corps of Cadets took the top spot, followed by academics and athletics. The $500,000 gift supports the first two priorities.

“When we had identified the major items of interest, we came up with this battle cry to our classmates: ‘Remember the Alamo and remember 580 for ’58 in ’08,’ ” Mayfield said.

“Our goal was to raise $580,000.” With donations from 217 class members, the group has almost achieved its goal. “We hope our gift to the Corps will instill in future students our same love and respect for the Corps,” Mayfield said. “We hope their education at A&M will prepare them for their future like life in the Corps did for the Class of ’58.”

Cummins said the training cadets receive in the leadership program and the resulting Certificate in Leadership Study and Development give them an edge in today’s competitive job market.
 
“Potential employers tell me they’re looking for verification of leadership development,” he said. “Many employers who have hired these students ask me to send them more. This endowment will be extremely helpful in supporting our work.”

Class members’ third priority, athletics, will be fulfilled when their $75,000 pledge is fully funded. That donation will support the John David Crow Legacy Society, which is the 12th Man Foundation’s premier organization recognizing those who make gifts in support of athletics through their estate plans. Crow ’58 is Texas A&M’s sole Heisman Trophy winner.

The Texas A&M Foundation is a private nonprofit organization that solicits and manages investments in academics and leadership programs to enhance Texas A&M’s capability to be among the best universities. The Foundation leads Operation Spirit and Mind,^SM a multiyear $300 million scholarship initiative for Texas A&M. 

To learn more about other academic- and student program-focused giving to benefit Texas A&M’s Operation Spirit and Mind fundraising initiative, contact Jody Ford ’99 at the Texas A&M Foundation: (800) 392-3310.