Nearly 200 Alumni Celebrate Islander Spirit at ‘The Island Tour’
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Four cities. Six days. One hot summer. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the National Islander Alumni Association, and University President Dr. Kelly M. Quintanilla went on an adventure crisscrossing the state of Texas to bring blue and green to alumni living around the Lone Star State.
“The Island Tour,” an inaugural event, brought together nearly 200 Islander alumni to share the past, present, and future of the Island University.
“Work responsibilities, family commitments, and other obligations often mean our Islander alumni who move away from Corpus Christi can’t make it back to their alma mater as often as they would like, but we’re excited to bring the Island University to them with this tour,” said President Quintanilla. “The path for each of our graduates is exciting and unique, but the common thread is that they are all Islanders Forever.”
The 2019 tour visited the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Each location was chosen for its robust Islander alumni population and/or active association chapters.
“At every stop along the tour, our Islander alumni felt an overwhelming sense of pride in their institution,” said Russell Wagner '08, Executive Director of Alumni Relations. “They were proud to be students back then, but they’re even more proud to be alumni now. It’s amazing to hear stories from our alumni. The Island University has impacted so many lives.”
During each leg of the tour, alumni were able to mingle with one another and reminisce about their time on campus.
“It’s amazing to see how much the University is growing and gaining national recognition,” said Hannah Fick '17, who attended the Austin event.
Patrick Richardson '03 attended the Houston event
“Being an Islander Forever means community,” said Richardson. “It is connections and friendships that you’ll have for the rest of your life.”
Attendees learned about recent campus expansion, including the dedication of Tidal Hall, the University’s cutting-edge research, and recent campus achievements like the R2 designation by Carnegie Commission of Higher Education.
“The growth of the University is absolutely incredible. I see the love for our campus and alumni all the way through to the University President’s office,” said Gil Geddes '81, member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. “I enjoyed seeing all of the alumni in the Dallas market. I look forward to helping future students and alumni get together and emphasize what’s happening in Corpus Christi at the University.”
Alumni also received updates on the current state of the Alumni Association and plans for alumni programming and expansion, including potential upcoming chapters and the Islander Forever Endowed Scholarship.
“Having an opportunity to meet the alums that make up the Island University’s history was thrilling,” said President Quintanilla, “and having the opportunity to see my former students thriving as successful professionals is truly the definition of Islander pride for me.”
To get a behind-the-scenes look at highlights from The Island Tour, check out Instagram or visit the Islander Alumni website.
