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Put a Ring on It: Galveston Campus to Construct Aggie Ring Statue    

September 24, 2021

A digital rendering depicts the upcoming Galveston Campus Aggie Ring statue.
A digital rendering depicts the upcoming Galveston Campus Aggie Ring statue.

By Texas A&M University at Galveston Division of Marketing & Communications

Texas A&M University at Galveston will be erecting a new statue on campus in an ode to the time and effort placed in earning an Aggie degree. The Galveston Campus Aggie Ring replica will be an 8-foot statue placed across from the Bracewell Clock Tower in the center of campus featuring the class years of the first female and male graduates of the institution. 
 
“Our students are proud Aggies in every single way. It only makes sense to honor them, past and present, with a ring statue of their own to signify their significant achievements in the pursuit of their degree,” said Galveston Campus Chief Operating Officer, Col. Mike Fossum. “And we are hopeful our friends and fans believe the same and will ‘pass it back.’ This symbol will complement the other items on campus grounds that reflect our heritage, such as the T/S Clipper anchor.”  
 
Digital projections and the statue cast have been completed and the Galveston Campus is now seeking donations to bring the $115,000 project to completion. The first phase of the statue development was bolstered by the generosity of members of the Sea Aggie Former Student Network and Fossum ‘80. The Galveston Campus has even committed to matching the first $12,000 in gifts.
 
The project was initiated in 2018 by then-Maroon Delegates President Andres Barboza ‘18 and vice president Deidra Dittmar ’19 who approached the Galveston Campus administration and development office with a new mission after a visit to College Station.
 
The iconic bronze Aggie Ring replica statue at Haynes Ring Plaza had caught their attention. Every year, the fixture invites thousands of students and visitors to pose and take pictures around the ring, many anxiously awaiting the day they receive their own piece of Aggie gold.
 
“We need our own,” Barboza said. “It would mean so much to see the ring represented in a central part of campus. It’ll remind students what they’re working toward every day and reinforce what it means to wear the ring as a member of the Aggie family.”
 
The base, statue, delivery and installation will be handled by the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry, the same experts who created The Association of Former Students’ 12-foot 6,000 pound replica in College Station.
 
The Galveston Campus Aggie Ring Statue replica will be on display at Texas A&M University at Galveston’s Tailgate at Simpson Drill Field on November 6, 2021 in College Station as we BTHO Auburn. We encourage all who donate or are interested in donating to stop by the tent for an update on fundraising activities and a photo. More information on the Galveston Campus Tailgate will be available in the coming weeks.
 
Donate now to the Maroon Delegate Aggie Ring Statue Project: https://www.txamfoundation.com/give.aspx?c_id=17&d_id=421.

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Media contact:
Andréa Bolt
Communications Specialist
a_bolt@tamug.edu



Texas A&M University at Galveston is the marine and maritime branch campus of Texas A&M University which educates nearly 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students in science, business, engineering, liberal arts and transportation. It is driving the development of the blue economy in the Gulf Coast Region and is a critical contributor to Texas A&M's rare land-, sea-, space-grant mission with nearly $10 million in research expenditures.

Texas A&M-Galveston is also home to the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, one of six state maritime academies and the only one in the southern United States, which trains over 400 cadets annually for maritime service and employment around the world.

Texas A&M-Galveston is located in Galveston, Texas on the Gulf Coast where it is surrounded by industry, environment and programs essential to fulfilling its special-purpose mission. Aggies are known for their deep commitment to the success of each other and their strong desire to serve.