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Gratitude and Service

Celebrating its 15th year of operation, the Texas A&M Foundation Maroon Coats serves as the liaison between the Foundation, donors and students.

By Ryan Williamson '24

July 6, 2022


Founded in 2007, a unique organization known as Maroon Coats unites exceptional students to serve the Texas A&M Foundation and build a culture of philanthropy at Texas A&M.

Currently celebrating its 15th year as an organization, Maroon Coats has left a recognizable impact upon the university, its students and donors. Like all great ideas, it took an ambitious thought and the dedication of many key individuals to bring one of Aggieland’s most selfless student organizations to life.

A Movement for Gratitude

Just before leaving his position as Texas A&M’s interim president in 2008, former Texas A&M Foundation president Dr. Ed Davis ’67 noticed a great need: conveying the student experience to the university’s donors. After becoming highly involved with students, he realized that directly showing philanthropy’s impact on the student body could motivate others to invest in Texas A&M.

“All the money given to the university in some way trickles down to help students,” Davis said. “It was important to show our donors who they were investing in.”

Davis reached out to one of the students he had developed a relationship with—Conner Prochaska ’07, who served as student body president from 2007-2008. He pitched his idea of forming this group and asked for help in identifying student leaders. Prochaska gathered just over 15 students from the Corp of Cadets, Student Government Association, sororities and fraternities, men’s organizations, Memorial Student Center, Pre-Law Society and other organizations. At the group’s first gathering, Davis provided a steak dinner and presented his idea of creating a new organization that served as the liaison between the Foundation and students.
 

Instead of just passively thanking our donors, we actively built relationships and showed them how their donation could cement their legacy on campus.
John Kovach ’10, Former Maroon Coats President

“All the money given to the university in some way trickles down to help students,” Davis said. “It was important to show our donors who they were investing in.”

Davis reached out to one of the students he had developed a relationship with—Conner Prochaska ’07, who served as student body president from 2007-2008. He pitched his idea of forming this group and asked for help in identifying student leaders. Prochaska gathered just over 15 students from the Corp of Cadets, Student Government Association, sororities and fraternities, men’s organizations, Memorial Student Center, Pre-Law Society and other organizations. At the group’s first gathering, Davis provided a steak dinner and presented his idea of creating a new organization that served as the liaison between the Foundation and students.

With the student voice now on board, Davis solicited the help of Michael Schramm ’08, who was highly involved in the Student Government Association. “Michael was an entrepreneurial young man,” Davis said. “He was just the right person to work out the logistics of our organization.”

Schramm, who volunteered his time to the Foundation created the organization’s mission, bylaws, application process and branding. Davis said one of Schramm’s greatest contributions to Maroon Coats, however, is the maroon blazer, which has become the defining symbol and namesake of the organization.
 

A Look Back: A Maroon Coat for 41

Former Maroon Coats President John Kovach '10 coats President Bush as the organization's first honory member.

Former President George H.W. Bush made history in November 2009 as the first honorary Texas A&M Foundation Maroon Coat. During a surprise ceremony honoring President Bush, the 2009 Maroon Coats president, John Kovach ’10, informed him that the organization’s leadership had voted him in as an honorary member for his dedication and generosity to Texas A&M. Bush beamed with excitement as he was coated and spent two hours visiting with the students afterward, proudly wearing his new maroon blazer.

The president continued serving Texas A&M and his country until his passing in 2018. The organization has continued recognizing some of Aggieland’s most devoted supporters by granting 10 individuals honorary Maroon Coat status.

“With such an elite group of student leaders, I wanted them to wear something that would represent the important work they were doing,” Davis said. “Michael said, ‘Why don’t we have them wear a maroon blazer with the Foundation’s emblem?’ To me, that was the perfect idea.”

With all the parts in place for this organization of selfless servants, Maroon Coats began creating its remarkable impact on campus. The organization offered campus tours to donors and prospective students, expressed gratitude through thank-you notes, and built relationships with donors and stakeholders throughout the year.

John Kovach ’10, who was in the inaugural Maroon Coats class and served as the organization’s second president, noted that the role grew to one of developing meaningful connections with donors. Kovach recalled that one of his first duties as a Maroon Coat was asking a donor to support the organization by donating the gold buttons for the maroon blazers.

“I think it was special for the Foundation’s team to see that not only were we serving as student liaisons for the Foundation, but we were also rolling up our sleeves and getting the job done,” he said. “Instead of just passively thanking our donors, we actively built relationships and showed them how their donation could cement their legacy on campus.”

Cultivating a Legacy

For the past 15 years, Maroon Coats has continued to leave a legacy of selfless service, gratitude and excellence. From its inception, the organization has evolved to become intrinsically tied to the Foundation and university.

“From my outside view, Maroon Coats has grown in its sophistication and reach across campus,” Davis shared. In contrast to the first class of Maroon Coats, which consisted of 15 handpicked student leaders, the organization now welcomes an applicant pool of nearly 400 students each year, selecting a small number of students through a rigorous selection process. Maroon Coats has broadened its perspective of student leaders and consists of members from every corner of campus.

Caitlin Garcia ’22, a member of Maroon Coats Class XIII and the 2021-2022 president, has watched the organization evolve since her sophomore year. Garcia helped lead Maroon Coats through the pandemic while fostering new growth.

“Despite the challenges it brought, the pandemic did not limit us from expressing our gratitude through written letters,” said Garcia, who also shared numerous other ways Maroon Coats connected with donors during the pandemic. “We were able to grow, build traditions and find leaders who have a genuine heart for service.”
 

Maroon Coats inspires leaders to continue their pursuit of meaningful impact and service after graduation. Having that network grow and continue to give back is so important.
Caitlin Garcia '22, 2021-2022 Maroon Coats President

As for the future of the organization, Garcia looks forward to the student group becoming more interconnected with its former members. She hopes to see similar organizations emerge at Texas A&M’s sister and satellite campuses, citing the success of its sister organization, the Maroon Delegates of Texas A&M University at Galveston. “Maroon Coats inspires leaders to continue their pursuit of meaningful impact and service after graduation,” Garcia said. “Having that network grow and continue to give back is so important.”

From Class I to XV, Maroon Coats has left an important legacy upon the Foundation and university. For Garcia, this organization embodies what it means to selflessly serve others.

“It takes a special person to show donors what makes Texas A&M so unique,” Garcia shared. “As the vessel through which our donors get to see campus, we thank them for their past service and future contributions. Though the individual Maroon Coat may not directly benefit from their impact, we convey our gratitude on behalf of the university’s future.”


Interested in learning more about Maroon Coats and how you can help this organization of selfless student leaders? Contact Holly Moore ’95, Maroon Coats coordinator, below for more information.

 

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Thoughtful ‘Thank-yous’

Each year, hundreds of scholarship recipients write thank-you notes to their donors to express gratitude and develop meaningful relationships.

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Contact

  • Holly Moore '95

  • HR & Maroon Coats Coordinator
  • Call: 979.314.9482

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