Texas A&M University at Galveston welcomes next generation of Aggie innovators at Engineering Preview Day
Over 100 newly admitted engineering students experience campus tours and panels with campus leadership
Former and current engineering students speak about studying at Texas A&M University at Galveston
GALVESTON, TEXAS — Texas A&M University at Galveston officially welcomed the next wave of engineering leaders to the island on March 27 for its annual Engineering Preview Day. The event brought together more than 100 newly admitted engineering students and their families to explore the unique opportunities available within the university’s highly competitive engineering programs.
The all-day event served as a formal introduction to the “Aggies by the Sea” community, emphasizing the campus’s “Start Here. Stay Here. Go Anywhere.” philosophy. The initiative highlights the ability for students to start and finish their rigorous engineering coursework in Galveston, enjoy the smaller classes, and benefit from the global prestige of the Texas A&M College of Engineering.
The event launched with welcomes and overviews from Col. Michael E. Fossum ’80, vice president of Texas A&M University, chief operating officer of the Galveston campus, and superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and Paul Koola, associate dean of engineering, Galveston and professor of the practice in ocean engineering.
“Being accepted into the highly competitive College of Engineering is a tremendous achievement,” said Koola to the visitors. “With your outstanding academic excellence, creativity, and drive, you are joining a world of innovators and global leaders in the maritime industry.”
These future Sea Aggie engineers will be among the first to attend classes at the new state-of-the-art Engineering Classroom and Research Building (ECRB) in the Fall. During the visit, they and their families toured the $52 million, 54,000-square-foot powerhouse. Guides showed them the facility’s cutting-edge features, including the advanced maker space, dedicated robotics labs, and modern classrooms designed for collaborative learning.
Students and parents also separated into breakout panels. For prospective Sea Aggie engineers, a panel of current and former engineering students offered a welcoming student perspective while answering audience questions about what life is like on the Galveston campus, subjects to minor in, and student community activities.
Students’ families attended a Q&A panel with A&M Galveston executive leadership. These panels, along with resource tables throughout the Aggie Special Event Center, provided attendees a chance to ask questions and meet leadership face-to-face.
Several campus leaders turned out to greet prospective students and their families, including Casey Ricketts, director of recruiting of the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University;
Donna Lang, associate vice president of academic operations at Texas A&M University at Galveston and associate dean of the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies; and Yoroba Russell, assistant director of student enrollment services at Texas A&M University at Galveston.
Located in the heart of the Texas Gulf Coast maritime region, the A&M Galveston campus offers students a distinct advantage by providing direct access to the industry. By the end of the day, prospective students in attendance saw firsthand how knowledgeable faculty and the campus’s maritime industry focus will prepare them to make a global impact.
The event concluded with a clear message to future Sea Aggie engineers: Their engineering education starts at Texas A&M Galveston, and by staying at Texas A&M Galveston, they’ll be prepared to succeed anywhere. Start here. Stay here. Go anywhere.
