The sisters of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. celebrated a semester of putting service and community into action. Staying true to their values, the sisters demonstrated how a small but determined community can make a lasting and meaningful impact. From restoring their Beta chapter status to expanding their philanthropic efforts, Kappa Delta Chi proved the semester was about more than awards and accomplishments. 

One of the chapter’s most significant milestones was the restoration of its Beta chapter designation. Founded at Texas A&M in 1987 as the second chapter of Kappa Delta Chi, the chapter’s return to Beta status represented the culmination of sustained effort across multiple member classes. For chapter president Ana Hinojosa, the moment reflected the importance of preserving the organization’s legacy, saying every class keeps the legacy going, keeps the hard work going, and carries our values throughout the semesters. 

Restoring status was especially meaningful as the chapter hosted its regional conference at Texas A&M. The event welcomed members from across the region and allowed sisters to celebrate their progress, build connections and represent the Aggie community with hospitality and pride. The chapter also received a community service scholarship, further recognizing its commitment to making a difference. 

That commitment was especially visible through the chapter’s first full-scale philanthropy week. With approximately 30 members, organizing a large-scale event, which included a 5K benefiting the American Cancer Society, seemed daunting and overwhelming. The sisters pulled together through persistence and collaboration with other student organizations, they brought their vision to life while raising funds and increasing awareness of cancer’s impact on families. 

The cause was deeply personal for many members. Sisters shared experiences of supporting relatives through cancer and reflected on how Kappa Delta Chi had provided comfort during difficult times. Those experiences reinforced the purpose behind their fundraising efforts and strengthened their resolve to support others. The chapter’s success also earned recognition with the Multicultural Greek Council’s Sorority of the Year award. 

Kappa Delta Chi service efforts extend beyond philanthropy. One of the chapter’s most meaningful traditions is preparing breakfast tacos for campus employees who begin their workday early. Sisters wake up at 5 a.m. to prepare breakfast and distribute it to employees working outdoors on campus, offering appreciation to those who help keep the university running. 

This tradition reflects the chapter’s approach to selfless service: giving back not for recognition, but because people deserve to feel valued and supported. Whether serving campus employees, volunteering with Aggieland Humane or fundraising for the American Cancer Society, the sisters seek opportunities to make their community stronger. 

The chapter’s success also reflects a culture of accountability and mutual support. Members share resources, encourage one another’s academic and professional goals and celebrate each other’s accomplishments. This spring, the chapter welcomed 14 new members, and Hinojosa described watching their confidence grow as one of the most rewarding parts of her leadership experience. Members who initially arrived feeling shy began stepping into leadership opportunities and becoming more involved in the Multicultural Greek Council. 

For Hinojosa, Kappa Delta Chi provided a sense of belonging that helped her rediscover her confidence and motivation to lead after a challenging transition into college. The support she found among her sisters continues to shape the person and professional she hopes to become. 

Looking toward the future, Hinojosa hopes the chapter will remain known for its resilience, integrity, and dedication to serving others. She envisions a sisterhood that stays united, builds meaningful relationships within and beyond the organization and welcomes future generations of women committed to professional success and community impact. 

Kappa Delta Chi’s spring semester demonstrates being a force for good is not defined by the size of an organization, but by the intention behind its actions. Through service, collaboration and a commitment to helping others succeed, the chapter is building a legacy extending beyond individual accomplishments. They are laying a foundation for a stronger community for generations of Aggies to come. 

Broderick Lowe ’26’s guiding principle is simple: leave things better than you found them. For him, leadership is about more than a title or receiving recognition; it’s about growth, development, and building a strong foundation for future Aggies. As a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., former president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) at Texas A&M University and former student employee in Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL), Lowe put that philosophy into action while developing skills that continue to shape his professional journey. 

During his time at Texas A&M, Lowe approached his role as NPHC president with a desire to challenge the status quo and build on the work of those who came before him. He focused on strengthening the council’s foundation by reinvigorating service and social programming, connecting members with campus resources and creating opportunities for NPHC to grow. 

His commitment translated into meaningful recognition. Under his leadership, NPHC earned Council of the Year honors and multiple regional awards at the Southeastern Greek Leadership Association (SGLA) conference. Lowe was also named NPHC Member of the Year, an honor that affirmed the time, energy, and care he invested in his community. 

For Lowe, the recognition meant more than an award. Transforming a community takes persistence, and the work is not always immediately visible. He recalled late nights spent thinking about how to improve the council and grow as a leader, along with moments when the responsibilities felt overwhelming. Receiving the Member of the Year award reinforced that his efforts were making a difference—not only within NPHC, but across Texas A&M. 

His accomplishments also reflected a willingness to embrace Texas A&M’s core values, particularly leadership, selfless service and excellence. Lowe learned to ask questions, seek guidance and build relationships with faculty and staff rather than allowing uncertainty to become a barrier. By connecting with Fraternity and Sorority Life and Division of Student Affairs professionals, he helped identify resources and support that could move NPHC forward. He credits that network of mentors and colleagues as an essential part of his growth, recognizing that meaningful leadership is rarely accomplished alone. 

His experience as a student employee in Fraternity and Sorority Life provided another layer of development. Balancing the responsibilities of a student leadership position with those of a professional workplace challenged Lowe to manage stress, navigate relationships and recognize when different situations called for different approaches. Just as importantly, he learned that asking questions is a strength, not a weakness. 

That lesson has followed him into his professional career. As he transitions into the workplace, Lowe continues to ask questions, build relationships and seek opportunities. He has also carried forward an understanding of professional reputation: the quality of his work and the way he interacts with others can open doors to future opportunities. The same principle that helped him earn trust as a student leader now informs how he approaches client projects and builds his professional network. 

Looking back, Lowe sees fraternity and sorority life as preparation for more than a career. It taught him to manage stress, navigate challenge and remain confident in his decisions, even when others did not immediately agree. It also reinforced the importance of remembering why he became involved in the first place: to help people and build community. 

As he considers the future of Aggie Greek life, Lowe hopes to see organizations continue breaking down stereotypes by making service, philanthropy and meaningful connection more visible. He also hopes NPHC will continue strengthening its unity and recognizing that a smaller community can still make a significant impact. As he emphasized, the size of a council does not determine the value of its presence on campus. 

Although he is now a former student, Lowe plans to remain connected to the Aggie Greek community by supporting future students, sharing his experiences and exploring opportunities to give back. For him, that commitment does not have to begin with a financial contribution. Sometimes, it starts with being available to offer guidance to the next generation of student leaders. 

His advice to those students is simple: go all in, remember your “why,” and have fun. Leadership may bring difficult decisions and stressful moments, but the relationships built and memories made along the way are worth holding onto. 

Lowe’s story is a reminder that being a force for good does not end when a leadership term or college experience comes to a close. Through selfless service, a commitment to growth, and a desire to leave things better than he found them, he has helped strengthen the Aggie Greek community—and carries that impact with him into whatever comes next. 

For years, Debbie Robertson ’76 stood at Pink Alliance’s luncheon every October as a table sponsor, helping organize the Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) women who seated guests and modeled jewelry. As ZTA chapter general adviser, she spent decades helping Think Pink philanthropy which funds research. She was, in her own words, a supporter.

So when a routine mammogram in January came with an anomaly, her first reaction was disbelief.

“I can’t have breast cancer … I’m a supporter.”

50 years a Zeta

Robertson’s ZTA story starts in 1974, when she transferred to Texas A&M with some of the first women students at the university. In 1975, she became a founding member of the Texas A&M ZTA chapter. She graduated, got married and returned to College Station in 1983. Years later, when a province president called and asked her to serve as an adviser for the chapter, she eventually said yes and would go on to hold that role for nearly 15 years.

When you ask her about that job, she doesn’t talk about paperwork. She talks about her girls.

Each year, the chapter’s top officers, around 15 young women, become “like your second kids,” as she puts it. She has mentored at least 14 chapter presidents and has watched what the job does for them. “You’re not just running a club. You’re running a corporation. You’re like a CEO,” she tells them, pointing to the multimillion-dollar house operation and a live-in community of 40 women.

After an ultrasound in January 2025, the doctor delivered the sentence she still repeats: “Mrs. Robertson, I think you’re looking at breast cancer.”

The worst possible weekend and the most meaningful one

Here’s the part of Robertson’s story that sounds like fiction. A key treatment procedure unfolded during the exact days the chapter was celebrating Zeta Days, spring regional gatherings for collegiate and alumnae members, and the local chapter’s 50th anniversary. Her house filled with visiting founders that Thursday.

On Friday morning, she quietly met with her radiologist for treatment, then drove back to greet sorority sisters arriving from across the country. Saturday night, she stood in a room of 300 to 400 Texas A&M Zetas celebrating five decades of sisterhood, carrying bruises and news almost none of them knew. “It was a fog. I wish I had that weekend back,” she said. Ten days later came surgery. The margins came back clean. Then came weeks of daily radiation at the College Station cancer clinic and, finally, the bell. She didn’t ring it alone. The chapter had planned a surprise, showing up with handmade signs to cheer her across the finish line.

“The expressions on their faces dropped as soon as she said it,” Cheek said. “You know it can happen to anybody. You just never think it’s going to happen to someone around you.”

“Debbie has always been a big proponent of understanding the ‘why’ behind philanthropy. It’s not an obligation. It’s not a requirement. It’s our ‘why,'” Cheek said. “This is why we do this. Someone so close to us is being impacted, and our work could help someone.”

“Fighter,” Cheek said when asked to describe Robertson to someone who has never met her. “And I say ‘fighter’ aside from the battle she fought. She always fought for our chapter from day one. She was always going to fight for our success. She’s just one heck of a woman, honestly.”

How the sisterhood showed up

Telling the chapter was one of the hardest parts. Since almost every Zeta has their own connection to breast cancer, Robertson stood in front of the room knowing how the words would land.

The sisterhood showed up, the way she had always promised recruits it would. Friends drove in from Austin with flowers and pink pajamas. Cards flooded in. She and her husband live out in the country, so the girls showed up at her front gate, flowers in hand. Her chapter officers checked on her constantly.

And inside the ZTA house, she had a guide. Donna White, now in her fifth year as the chapter’s house director, was fighting her own battle with breast cancer when Robertson was diagnosed. The two had already bonded over Zeta’s philanthropy. Now they bonded over something harder. “It’s not a death sentence,” White told her, “When you’re first diagnosed, you completely think, ‘Oh, I’m going to die of breast cancer,’ and you can’t have that attitude.” White knew the spiral firsthand, the constant obsession, the late-night internet searches and the worst-case scenarios. Her advice was simple: stay off Google and do what your doctor says. “That’s all I did, really. Support her, listen to her, and support her in the good parts, too,” White said.

Full circle at the luncheon

Every October, Pink Alliance‘s Surviving & Thriving Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon fills the Hilton College Station & Conference Center. Now presented by Texas A&M Health, the event raises more than $100,000 a year for local women fighting breast cancer. The money moves fast. In 2025 alone, Pink Alliance paid more than $131,000 in direct assistance to 80 breast cancer patients across the seven-county Brazos Valley, and this year it expects to celebrate $1 million in patient support over the past decade. At the first luncheon after her diagnosis, her table looked different: her mother-in-law (also a survivor), her daughter, her daughter-in-law, her nieces, her sister-in-law had all come to support her. Everyone was there, she says, “for a different reason this year.”

Doris Light ’85, Pink Alliance’s president and a 20-year survivor herself, has known Robertson from both sides of that room.

One more full-circle moment: On the day of her initial procedure, the medical providers in the room told Robertson they were about to request assistance from Pink Alliance for two uninsured women, ages 27 and 32, who had recently been diagnosed.

That is exactly the gap Pink Alliance exists to fill. Its assistance, up to $3,500 per patient each year and paid directly to providers, covers the mammogram, diagnostics and biopsy that get treatment started so providers can then connect patients with programs that fund the rest.

The philanthropy is not abstract

The numbers:

• ZTA nationally directed more than $2 million this year to the ZTA Foundation and other efforts, including research aimed at education and awareness.
• The Texas A&M chapter’s fundraising has surged from roughly $240,000 in 2024 to $346,000 in 2026 ranking it No. 4 among ZTA chapters nationally.
• Locally, Pink Alliance launched Think Pink Mammogram Days in November 2025 with the Brazos Valley Women’s Center. The program offers free screening mammograms on the second Friday of every month, no prescription required. The program has provided 65 free mammograms so far, alongside a twice-monthly support group open to all.

And the need is not abstract either. In the chapter’s 50 years, you would be hard-pressed to find a member who has not been affected by a cancer diagnosis in some way.

What she wants women to know

Robertson’s message hasn’t changed. It’s just gotten personal.

“Get your mammogram, even when you feel great. Especially when you feel great. And don’t assume youth is protection.” Robertson said she has watched cancer diagnoses climb among women in their 20s and 30s.

She’s still on medication she’ll take for four more years, still gets twice-yearly infusions to protect her bones and still deals with side effects she describes matter-of-factly.

In January 2026, after roughly 15 years, she stepped back from her adviser role, a decision she says took a long time to make.

“It’s hard to step away. I’ve loved every minute of it.”

She’s not completely done, though; she’s got big plans to continue supporting the chapter’s philanthropic efforts. She’s a Zeta of more than 50 years with a phone full of chapter presidents’ numbers.

More than 50 years in, the Aggie spirit is alive and well. When Aggies stand together and selflessly serve one another, everything — literally everything — is possible.

“Aggies forever, Zetas forever. It truly is in our book, Zeta is forever.”

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M Fish Camp is excited to announce the launch of Fish Camp: Session Aggieland, a new option for Fish Camp 2027 for incoming freshmen designed to provide the same transformational Fish Camp experience in a more convenient and accessible format right here in College Station. 

Fish Camp: Session Aggieland will be hosted on Texas A&M’s campus on July 8-10, 2027 and will mirror the traditional Fish Camp model, offering participants a three-day, two-night experience while maintaining the same student-led structure and core traditions that have helped welcome generations of Aggies to Texas A&M University since 1954. In addition to Session Aggieland, Fish Camp will continue to offer seven sessions at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center in Palestine, Texas.  

As with traditional Fish Camp sessions, attendees will be placed into small discussion groups led by trained student leaders who will serve as mentors, guides and resources throughout the program. Students will participate in activities focused on building community, learning about campus resources, developing Aggie connections and embracing the values and traditions that make Texas A&M unique. 

“Fish Camp has long been a cornerstone of the transition into the Aggie family,” said Dalton Jones ’18, program manager for Fish Camp. “With the addition of Fish Camp: Session Aggieland, we’re creating another pathway for new freshmen to experience the relationships, support, and traditions that define being a member of the Aggie family, while offering an option that may better fit the needs of some incoming freshmen and their families.” 

Students who participate in Fish Camp: Session Aggieland will enjoy the advantage of becoming familiar with their future home before the start of the academic year. The on-campus setting provides a convenient alternative while preserving the immersive, relationship-focused environment that has made Fish Camp one of Texas A&M’s most cherished traditions. 

The introduction of Session Aggieland reflects Fish Camp’s ongoing commitment to serving incoming freshmen and ensuring new Aggies have the opportunity to build meaningful connections, gain confidence and begin their college journey with a strong sense of belonging. 

Registration information and additional details for Fish Camp 2027, along with information about Session Aggieland, will be available on the Fish Camp website in early 2027. 

Dates for Fish Camp 2027: 
Fish Camp: Session Aggieland  July 8-10, 2027 
Location: Texas A&M University Campus, College Station, Texas 

Fish Camp, Session A  July 21-23, 2027 
Location: Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, Palestine, Texas 

Fish Camp, Session B  July 24-26, 2027 
Location: Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, Palestine, Texas 

Fish Camp, Session C  July 28-30, 2027 
Location: Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, Palestine, Texas 

Fish Camp, Session D  July 31-Aug. 2, 2027 
Location: Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, Palestine, Texas 

Fish Camp, Session E  Aug. 4-6, 2027 
Location: Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, Palestine, Texas 

Fish Camp, Session F  Aug.7-9, 2027 
Location: Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, Palestine, Texas 

Fish Camp, Session G  Aug. 11-13, 2027 
Location: Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, Palestine, Texas 

About Fish Camp 
Fish Camp is Texas A&M University’s Extended Orientation program for incoming freshmen, welcoming them to Texas A&M by helping them form connections, learn Aggie traditions and core values and explore campus life. Held before the fall semester, each three-day, two-night session includes educational programs, group activities and social events led by peer counselors and staff to ease the transition to college. Students can continue meeting with their camp groups throughout fall.  

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Sept. 11, 2026 — Maroon Out, a student-led Texas A&M University tradition promoting unity among the Aggie family, will donate $100,250 to renovate and expand the Memorial Student Center’s Hall of Honor, which recognizes Aggies who have received the Medal of Honor.

The gift, funded by proceeds from the official Red, White and Blue Game T-shirt, will add Matt Williams ’25 as the ninth Aggie honored in the hall and create space for future Aggie recipients of the nation’s highest military decoration. Williams, a retired U.S. Army Green Beret, received the Medal of Honor in 2019 for his courageous actions during a 2008 mission in Afghanistan.

The donation coincides with the Red, White and Blue Game on Saturday, Sept. 12, when Texas A&M hosts Arizona State at 11 a.m. at Kyle Field. The game, which will air on ABC, commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the nation’s 250th anniversary. On Sept. 12, Aggies will stand together at Kyle Field to commemorate this historic year. The moment continues a 150-year tradition of answering the call and serving something greater than ourselves.

The tradition dates to 2001, when five Texas A&M students organized the original Red, White and Blue Out in the weeks after Sept. 11, uniting Kyle Field through a student-led shirt campaign that raised funds for relief efforts. Twenty-five years later, Maroon Out is carrying the tradition forward by turning a shirt purchase into a permanent tribute to service.

“The first Red, White and Blue game was an amazing testament to what the 12th Man can do. We are very honored to carry on this tradition and bring Aggies together for a good cause. Every contribution has helped honor the selfless service of Aggies before us and ensure that their legacy will be permanently displayed in the MSC for generations.” said Maclaren Meesters ’29, head director of Maroon Out.

Maroon Out, founded in 1998, is best known for organizing the annual sale of Maroon Out T-shirts to bring the 12th Man together for the Maroon Out football game. The initiative channels proceeds into projects supporting Texas A&M traditions designed to enhance the student experience. This year, Maroon Out partnered with retailers to sell the official Red, White and Blue Game shirt.

Established during the 2009-2012 renovation of the Memorial Student Center, the Hall of Honor features the likenesses, Medal of Honor citation, and replica medals of the eight Aggies who have received the Medal of Honor: seven for service in World War II and Clarence Sasser ’73, a Vietnam War combat medic whose display was added in 2013. Williams will be the first recipient added to the hall since then.

“The Hall of Honor commemorates the nine Aggies who selflessly stood for others, demonstrating extraordinary courage and sacrifice in service to our nation. Renovating this space allows us to preserve their legacy and ensure future Aggies who earn our nation’s highest military honor can be recognized alongside them. We are especially grateful to the Maroon Out student organization, whose contribution from the Red, White and Blue game t-shirt sales is a remarkable example of what happens when Aggies stand together in service,” said Dr. Kelly Jo Eblen ’11, communications manager for University Center and Special Events.

For information about Maroon Out and the official Red, White and Blue Game shirt, visit maroonout.tamu.edu.

About Maroon Out

Maroon Out is a student-led organization at Texas A&M University dedicated to fostering unity and school spirit through the sale of iconic Maroon Out T-shirts. Proceeds from the initiative are reinvested into student-led programs that enrich the Aggie community and uphold Texas A&M traditions.

Learn more at maroonout.tamu.edu or follow @tamumaroonout on Instagram and @MaroonOut on X.

About the Hall of Honor

Within the Memorial Student Center, the Hall of Honor is a dedicated space recognizing Aggies who have received the United States Congressional Medal of Honor. The existing displays in the Hall of Honor were installed in 2012 as part of the MSC’s rededication and renovation, commemorating the eight Medal of Honor recipients at the time. Each display features a hand-sketched portrait of the recipient, a written account of the act of valor for which the Medal of Honor was awarded, and a replica of the medal itself. If you’re interested in supporting the Hall of Honor, you can donate directly through the Texas A&M Foundation.