November 17, 2022 (Kingsville, TX) – The third-annual Javelina Day of Giving for Texas A&M University-Kingsville was held Sept. 15, 2022, garnering a record-breaking total of more than $575,000 in funds raised for our university. With over 850 participants in the campaign, the steadfast support of our university donors and their impact on the lives of Javelina students is undeniable.
The one-day annual fundraising effort highlights the collaborative relationship between Texas A&M-Kingsville faculty, staff, alumni and students, as well as the greater South Texas community. Students have become more involved with the event each passing year by encouraging donors and sharing how the Day of Giving personally impacts their lives – and they’ve seen tremendous success as a result.
Perhaps the best example of this is the Javelina Men’s Basketball Team; raising $70,000. Head Javelina Men’s Basketball Coach Johnny Estelle shared that these funds will be used toward scholarships, facilities, nutrition and team travel, allowing the team an opportunity to perform at a championship level.
As an alumnus of Texas A&M-Kingsville himself, Estelle understands firsthand the impact of donor support on student success, stating, “One of the most profound issues deterring graduation or academic success continues to be financial support, whether from home or within the university. I am convinced and have witnessed our contributions in the past provide solutions to some of these problems and allow more students to achieve greatness.” He continued, “This, in turn, should and will initiate a ‘cycle of success’ in these students’ future families, which will establish a ‘standard of excellence’ for generations.”
Earning the title of the top-performing program during the 2022 Javelina Day of Giving was the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering with $75,000 raised. Diving into the impact of the generosity of its donors, Professor and Dean of the College of Engineering Heidi A. Taboada, Ph.D., gratefully shared, “Funds raised from the 2022 Javelina Day of Giving allow us to continue offering the top-class engineering education that people have come to expect from TAMUK Engineering.”
She concluded, “In general, we plan to use the funds under the umbrella of student success; student leadership experiences and professional opportunities or any other type of high impact practice. The idea is to use these funds on anything that will either remove hurdles from our students’ lives or give them the tools needed to make them more competitive.”
As a current Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary student as well as the leader of the TAMUK Rodeo Club – which saw great success on Sept. 15th – Jordan Stepan encourages others to give back to student organizations “because [donors’] contributions and support allows clubs and teams to accomplish their goals.” She detailed the club’s plans for the future, concluding, “The TAMUK Rodeo Club plans to use Day of Giving donations to continue enhancing the Rodeo Facility, host rodeo events, and fund clinics and community outreach events.”
Missed the opportunity to participate in this year’s Javelina Day of Giving? Be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s Javelina Day of Giving on Sept. 15, 2023! Wish to make an impact now? Learn how you can change the lives of current or future Javelina students today by visiting www.javelinagiving.org.