Randy Sams’ Fundraisers in Full Swing

If you frequently browse Eagle Eye, you may have seen an article that I recently posted about the Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter (RSOS) in Texarkana. If you have not heard of them, they are a non-profit organization that specializes in providing aid to the homeless in our area. They provide shelter, housing, clothing, case management, health appointments, job training/search assistance, life skills classes, life-sustaining medication coverage, and transportation. They have been serving our community selflessly for over two decades, and they need our support. In fact, they need even more support than usual, as they were not awarded a very large grant (175k) that they needed to support their operation. Historically, they have been awarded this grant annually, so this is a significant loss. If you have never given to RSOS, please consider doing so this holiday season. In addition to accepting regular monetary/material donations, RSOS has two exciting fundraisers happening now…

  • RSOS’ Be The Blessing Job Training is a bakery program that employs homeless or formerly homeless people and teaches them commercial kitchen/baking skills. They are currently taking orders for Christmas cookies. Ranging from $15-$20 per dozen, they offer chocolate chip, peanut butter, pecan praline, sugar cookies, or a mixed box. If a box isn’t enough, they also offer a tray of four-dozen cookies for $40. These tasty treats are sure to be a hit at your family gathering or Christmas party! Are you looking for a fun and yummy activity for the family? For $25, you can order Be The Blessing’s Santa Cookie Kit! Each kit comes with two icing bags, two sprinkle cups, and a dozen Santa-shaped sugar cookies that you can decorate yourself. Orders can be placed online now! You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram. By participating in this fundraiser, you are directly supporting local people who are acquiring the skills they need to get a job in the food-service industry. Giving back to the community, and having a delicious snack? It’s a win-win! (I actually ordered some immediately after I submitted this article!)
Wright (L), Brisco (R), and Arnold’s (B) original artwork for Hope for the Homeless TXK.
  • Looking for unique Christmas gift ideas? Look no further! RSOS’ kicked off a new annual art event this year called Hope for the Homeless TXK. The organization asked local artists Taylor Arnold, Nicole Brisco, and Joel Wright to interpret homelessness. Each artist created beautiful and touching original pieces which are being framed and raffled off on December 15th. If you are interested in entering for a chance to win one of these gorgeous creations, you can buy ten entries for $10, thirty entries for $25, or 75 entries $50, although you have the option to purchase as many entries as you wish. In addition to this raffle, prints of the paintings and t-shirts featuring Arnold and Wright’s designs are also for sale. All proceeds from this event go toward the Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter. This fundraiser is an excellent chance to support both RSOS and our fabulous local artists.

If you would simply like to make a monetary donation, those are also welcome. Donors have the option to make a one time donation, or sign up to give monthly or annually. Besides physical or monetary donations, you can also donate you time. There are many ways to volunteer, such as hosting donation drives for shelter needs, or providing evening meals at the shelter. To volunteer your time or services, you can sign up online.

For more information on the Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter and its programs, please visit them online or call 903-792-7024. You can also follow them on Facebook, and Twitter.

A&M-Texarkana in Christmas Parade

The annual Christmas parade of Texarkana, Texas will take place tonight, December 9th 2019 at 7:00 p.m. It is the 35th year that this parade has taken place in Texarkana.

Tonight the community is in for a treat. Over than 100 entries are supposed to walk the parade with a plethora of excitement to give within the Texarkana community. A&M Texarkana is one of the entries. Texas A&M University-Texarkana plans to walk through the parade with its student ambassadors and other local organizations on the campus as well. In addition to the colorful floats and beautiful Christmas lights. There will be a variety of vendors selling Christmas themed merchandise like balloons, glow sticks, bracelets, and necklaces.

35th Annual “A Twice as Nice Christmas”

The theme this year for the 35th Annual Parade this year is “A Twice as Nice Christmas. This will be a fun event for all ages and you should make your way over to downtown!

Ready! Set! Graduate!

The time has finally come for students here at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, the moment every first year student has on their minds as soon as they get to college, and that is graduation! 

Graduation this year will be held Friday, December 13, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lois and Cary Patterson Student Center on the campus at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. This will be the third graduation held in the brand new student center on campus. 

In order for the students to graduate, all students applying to graduate must complete the online graduation application through their Web for Students account. Following the application, the graduate is going to be confirmed for their graduation in the upcoming semester. 

The purpose of this commencement is to acknowledge all of our University students who have completed all of their graduation requirements in the time allocated.

Graduation ceremony will be held this Friday December 13, 2019 @6:30 p.m.

Live streaming video of commencement will be available December 13, 2019.

Santa Claus is Coming to Campus

This past weekend, Texas A&M University-Texarkana hosted their annual Eagle Wonderland in the University Center. The University welcomed many families from the Texarkana community to get ready for Christmas while also participating in various activities to get in the holiday spirit! Activities for the families included stuff a critter, making reindeer food for Santa’s reindeer, writing letters to Santa, and various color activities to get the kids excited for Christmas. In addition to all the activities, families were also given free hot chocolate, free cookies, and free photos with Santa.

The event was held in Eagle Hall in the University Center from 12 noon to 3 p.m. The event was hosted by the Campus Activities Board (CAB) with the help of other organizations, students, and faculty to help volunteer alongside CAB. It was the volunteers that made the event a huge success and it could not have happened without all of the support from Texas A&M University-Texarkana.

Santa at Texas A&M University-Texarkana preparing to get pictures with the kids


Dealing with Depression during the Holidays

Just recently, Corey Robinson, counselor at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, gave a presentation to campus faculty and staff on “Dealing with Depression During the Holidays.” This presentation went over the stress that the Holidays can cause and how to cope with these problems. 

As we all know, the holidays can cause a plethora of problems to one’s life due to many causes. Problems such as stress, fatigue, isolation, and seasonal affective disorder to name just a few. It was also stated that with the purchasing of gifts and time management amongst the holidays are also factors that causes stress over the holidays.

Counselor Corey Robinson demonstrating skills to cope with Depression during the Holidays

In addition to all of the stress factors, Mr. Robinson demonstrated a few coping strategies to relieve stress over the holidays. Strategies such as taking time to yourself and having an effect time management plan can really be effective to one’s health over the holidays. Due to the last minute Christmas shopping and the pressure of having to buy a plethora of gifts for many individuals, just that itself causes a toll on one’s health.

To help fix this problem, Mr. Robsinon suggested, “Have an effective time schedule. Plan out your events and schedule it”. Mr. Robinson stated this to ensure that our faculty and staff will be efficient and effective during the holidays and that their families are spending time with the best version of themselves.

Bet Big or Go Home!

It is that time of the year where the first-year students are almost finished completing their first semester in college. For college, it could be a tough time for many and by them getting accommodated to the new college scene and college life, the University had to reward them with amazing prizes if they met the standards.

First Year Experience hosted an event that allowed the freshman to bet on an item of their choosing in an auction style and the student who outbid the other contenders, ended up with a prize. These were no small prizes either on the table for freshman to grab. Some of the prizes included were an: Apple Watch, Apple Air pods, Beats Headphones, a Nintendo Switch, an Echo Speaker, a hammock, gift cards, and more.

A&M University-Texarkana provides engaging activities for first-year students in college, building a strong foundation to enhance educational experiences and foster success within the A&M-Texarkana community.  It is important to recognize the significance of each student’s first-year experiences and to support them in reaching their academic and personal goals.

Love Tamut? Put a Ring on it!

This Thursday, December 12th A&M University-Texarkana will host its annual ring ceremony. The event will take place at 6 p.m. in the University Center on the 3rd floor in the Tri-State Iron & Metal Atrium. 

The purpose of the ring ceremony is to acknowledge any current or former student who has completed 90 or more semester credit hours. Once they achieve the hour limit, the student would then be eligible to purchase their ring to wear.

The Texas A&M University-Texarkana ring has been a tradition for years. It serves as a reminder of a student’s achievement, memories, and accolades achieved while a student at the University. During the ring ceremony, the ring participants will be formally presented with their custom ring. Whenever the students are presented the ring and when the ring is ready to wear, the students wear the ring with the school name facing them. Then whenever the students receive their degrees at commencement, the new graduates turn the ring around, to symbolize that they are now ready to face the world.

Texas A&M University-Texarkana Ring Ceremony

Smash Stress, Cars

At Texas A&M University-Texarkana, the time has come where finals has finally approached. For the past week and a half, students have been studying non-stop to prepare for their final exams. Students have been stressed and filled with anxiety, in hopes to ace their final exam. To omit this problem, Phi Lambda Chi, a fraternity at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, proposed a solution that would allow students to forget about their finals and be stress free.

Phi Lambda Chi, hosted a car smash right in front of the University campus. The brothers of the fraternity were able to get a hold of an old car that way students can unleash their inner stress on the car. The fraternity charged its users $1 for 4 hits, and $3 for 1 full minute on the car. Prices were really good for students as students kept coming in for more and kept supporting the fraternity to kill off all that unwanted stress. In the end, the event turned out to be a huge success as students were smashing the car all day with axes and sledgehammers.

Flyer for Phi Lambda Chi car smash

Early Christmas for TAMUT Ambassadors

Last night, on December 8, 2019, the Texas A&M University-Texarkana Student Ambassadors had their annual Christmas party along with advisor Mark Missildine and Dr. Leanne Wright. At the Christmas party, the Ambassadors had partaken in the white elephant Christmas game, ate lots of food, and just appreciated one another for all of the hard work and dedication they accomplished this year as a team. The student ambassadors also surprised their advisor, Mark Missildine, with a gift basket to show him how appreciative the group is with having him as their advisor. “It’s because of you guys that makes me love what I do,” Mark told the ambassadors as he was given his gift. 

Texas A&M University -Texarkana Student Ambassadors

The purpose of the student ambassadors is that it is a leadership program designed to refine leadership skills, foster intellectual growth, as well as enhance the relationship with A&M-Texarkana. Our student ambassadors will have the opportunity to represent the university and promote A&M-Texarkana through various activities. Applications for the student ambassadors open up in the summer of 2020 for the school year 2020-2021. If you are interested and feel like this is a fit, then you should definitely apply!

Shop for Opp!

On Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Greater Texarkana Young Professionals and Opportunities Inc. came together to share their Holiday cheer for Shop for Opp.

According to the Opportunities Inc. Facebook page their mission “is to provide developmental and support services which assist individuals in attaining a full life in the community.” A recent A&M Texarkana grad student, Rebekah Drennon is the Director of Development for Opportunities Inc. She has provided and organized for GTYP to adopt two families who can not afford Christmas gifts this year.

GTYP members met the families at Pecan Point at 5:30 p.m. From there the members and family will do their shopping. The cost was covered by each member bringing a suggested amount of $10-$20. Rebekah provided a list on the Facebook event page for the members to properly prepare for efficient shopping. Once the shopping was complete everyone met at Pecan Point for dinner and networking.

This event was a great example of Texarkana locals coming together to spread the Holiday cheer for the community. For more information visit the GTYP or Opportunities Inc. Facebook pages.