Aggie Ring Day comes to McAllen for Valley’s A&M students

McALLEN — While the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen is about six hours away from College Station, that doesn’t stop traditions from coming down to South Texas.

The satellite campus hosted Aggie Ring Day on Wednesday. It’s a ceremony that Aggies hold close to their maroon hearts, in McAllen for all Rio Grande Valley students.

Students and their families filled the auditorium at the center to receive the symbolic Aggie ring. Fourteen students received theirs alongside family with many being first generation Mexican Americans and college students.

The tradition of the Aggie ring dates back to 1889 and is a symbol of the Texas A&M network.

Acquired after a student completes specific academic requirements, the ring is worn facing the students while their time at Texas A&M is not complete. The students will then turn their rings during commencement ceremonies.

Luis Salinas, a program coordinator and Aggie, said the ring ceremony is something students are more excited for than actually graduating.

Salinas said since the center is a satellite campus directly connected to the main school in College Station, the students in McAllen have an opportunity to receive an Aggie ring.

“They’re Aggies without having to step foot in College Station, So it’s an opportunity for them to be able to save money and be home but still get their Aggie ring that looks no different than the Aggie ring in College Station,” he said.

Luis Salinas, a program coordinator at the Texas A&M satellite campus in McAllen, speaks to students during Aggie Ring Day on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Courtesy photo)

Honored and privileged to organize and speak at the ceremony, Salinas said it was a full circle moment from having his mom travel to College Station to see him get his ring to being able to provide that for Valley students.

“Now that my mom has passed, it is something that I remember forever when I got my Aggie ring,” he said. “So, I want to make sure now that I’m in this position to make sure that it is so much more special for our students here in the Valley because I know our culture down here, family is important.”

Samantha Magana, a public health senior from Brownsville, is set to graduate in May and after four years of commuting, dedication and struggling, she proudly received her Aggie ring with her family coming from Matamoros for the ceremony.

“It was pretty gratifying … I was surprised they were here,” Magana said. “I don’t want to cry because of my makeup and all but it was pretty emotional for me seeing them and also seeing my father give me the ring. Because at the end of day, they were the ones putting me through, like the all-nighters I had, the stress I had …

“The ring symbolizes my struggles, my all nighters, the times I cried, and overall it just represents I fought through all of that.”

She also said it was a big day for her family considering she is a first generation college student. Magana hopes to attend medical school in the near future.

Jennifer Hernandez shows her Aggie ring Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at the Texas A&M satellite campus in McAllen. (Courtesy photo)

Jennifer Hernandez, also a public health senior set to graduate in May, shared what it meant being a first-generation college student and Mexican American on Aggie Ring Day.

“It’s really challenging compared to different generations,” Hernandez said. “Here at McAllen … the majority of our student body are first gen … and I’m really privileged and happy to have the opportunity and not have financial struggles.”

The soon-to-be-Aggie graduate aspires to be a policy analyst one day and is already a step closer by being offered an internship in Washington D.C in the fall.

Hernandez said her advice to other first generation students is to endure.

“I know that sounds cheesy but never give up is my model in my life,” she said. “I feel like every step is a challenge. Even just getting up in the morning and just coming to your 8 in the morning classes that I had, it was challenging for me. It was definitely challenging being first gen because my parents didn’t relate … overall, it was really hard for me to communicate with my parents, because they don’t see the same struggle that I see academically.”

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