Aggie Parents Pledge Gift to CARPOOL Endowment
December 12, 2008
Some college students receive big checks or a new car for graduation. Others, such as mechanical engineering graduate John-Michael Oswalt ’07, use their graduation money to make a powerful impact on their communities and schools.
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| John-Michael at the CARPOOL house, spring 2008 |
During his time at Texas A&M, Oswalt dedicated his time to CARPOOL (Caring Aggies Are Protecting Over Our Lives). Founded in 1999, this student-run organization improves safety in Bryan/College Station by keeping alcohol-impaired drivers off the road. CARPOOL offers nonjudgmental rides from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday during the semester to anyone who calls. As a student, Oswalt devoted countless hours to CARPOOL. “As vice chair of operations, I created a computer program to make CARPOOL’s operations more efficient,” he said. “It was a project that actually helped me get a job after graduation.”
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| John-Michael '07, Trent, Mike '80 and Barbara Oswalt |
Instead of graduation money for himself, Oswalt asked his family and friends to donate to CARPOOL online through the Texas A&M Foundation’s Web site. Touched by their son’s generosity, Barbara and Mike Oswalt ’80 surprised him with a $10,000 pledge to CARPOOL, to be paid over five years. In addition, Mike Oswalt’s employer, the Fluor Corp., will match the donation, bringing the total gift for CARPOOL to $20,000. “We wanted to honor his passion,” Barbara Oswalt says. “This gift was something special for him that will go on after his graduation day.”
Oswalt remains active in CARPOOL by serving on its development council. Members of the council, some of whom are former members of CARPOOL, encourage support and awareness and raise funds for the organization. The Oswalts’ donation will contribute to CARPOOL’s endowment through the Texas A&M Foundation, bringing CARPOOL one step closer to its $2 million endowment goal for 2013.
By Mikaela Davis ’08
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