College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies

Meet Texas A&M-Galveston Cadet Isaiah Castillo

Castillo, center, with two yell leaders

Isaiah Castillo ’26 comes from a long legacy of mariners but had no plan to become a mariner himself. Originally from Uvalde, Texas, the marine transportation major grew up 200 miles from the nearest body of salt water, but as his great uncle, Armando Luna ’71 told him, he has salt water in his blood. 

Luna is a retired Houston harbor pilot and has been influential in Castillo’s life and choices for higher education.

“He told me about his career and experiences out on the water, and sea stories dating back to when my great granddaddy sailed,” Castillo said. “I fell in love right away.” 

Castillo shares his love for the sea and stars with anyone willing to listen. “It feels natural to be out at sea,” he said, beaming with pride about his chosen profession. “Learning how to shoot stars and navigate without modern technology has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. Although we see the stars almost every night, to me, it still feels like this unbelievable natural phenomenon.”

“At the end of the day, I don’t have to do this – I get to do this,” Castillo said. “I’m honored that I get to carry on a long line of mariners.” He continued, “But even if somebody doesn’t come from a legacy of mariners like I do, it’s still an absolutely amazing career path. It teaches you a lot about yourself and who you are and the kind of person that you really want to be.”

Castillo is involved on campus through several student organizations and in the community with his church. He is devoted to his religious education, as well as his academics. During the summer of 2024, Castillo taught himself Greek to read the Bible in one of the languages of its original publication. He expressed his excitement for the fall 2025 semester and looks forward to graduation at the end of the academic year. Though he’s not yet sure what he wants to do after, he could not be more appreciative of his time at Texas A&M-Galveston. 

“I love the island, I love the campus, I love the people there,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine getting my degree anywhere else. I’m now part of one of the greatest families on the planet: the Aggie Family.”