"...But there's a spirit can ne'er be told, It's the Spirit of Aggieland..."Last week, I received a call from my mom telling me that I needed to come home, as my dad only had 2 weeks left to live after a 21 month battle with pancreatic cancer.My dad is a member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of '80 and was a member of Company N-1 with the Corps of Cadets. A few months ago, he mentioned to me that the one wish he had was to live long enough to witness his only daughter, my sister Jenny, graduate from Texas A&M University in May. With the recent news from our doctor, it seemed as though this might not be possible.That is until I sent a brief email to Dr. Daniel Pugh, the VP of Student Affairs, asking for help. The University was on spring break so I figured a response would be delayed. However, within 24 hours I was speaking with Dr. John Hurtado, Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Professor of Aerospace Engineering, even though he was on vacation in Italy. He vowed to "make something happen" and happen it did. In less than a week, Dr. Hurtado was standing in my family's driveway orchestrating an official graduation ceremony for my sister, with over 100 friends, family and fellow Aggies in attendance. To everyone who was a part of this unforgettable day, thank you. To Dr. Hurtado and Texas A&M University, you made our dad's final wish come true in what can only be described as an absolutely perfect ceremony. Even though my degree is from the University of Arkansas, I am so proud and honored to be a part of this Aggie Family. The Spirit of Aggieland certainly cannot be told, but it was definitely felt here today."...True to each other as Aggies can be..."

Posted by Nick Brewer on Tuesday, March 22, 2016