Spring/Summer 2026 Issue

RVA Social: Aggie Baseball from the Balcony

The RV Association gathered on a sunny, breezy afternoon in February at the TAMU Rec Center to socialize and blow bubbles while the Fightin' Texas Aggie baseball team cruised to a win over Oakland.  We enjoyed hotdogs, adult beverages, and snacks from the Rec Center balcony just beyond the third base foul pole. If we missed you at this event, we hope to catch you at another social event in the coming year. Click HERE to view more photos.

Busy Busy Busy days for the RV Company

The RV Company had a typical jam-packed spring calendar. There was the traditional participation in the King Rex Parade for Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  The RVs also found time to visit the World War II Museum in the Big Easy, as well as Hard Rock Cafe (and maybe Pat O'Brien's too?). Click HERE to view more photos from New Orleans. 

Join or Renew for 2026

Download PDF Membership Form

Ross Volunteer Association Payment Options

Point of Clarification: The RVA (EIN 81-3153341) is an independent organization, totally separate and apart from the Corps of Cadets Assocation (CCA).   While we often work in conjuction with the CCA and highly value their cooperation, all financial support should be sent directly to the RVA to avoid confusion.

Send payment by Check or IRA Distribution payable to:   

The Ross Volunteer Association
PO Box 12066
College Station, TX 77842-2066

RVA Donations Can Offer Tax Benefits

If you are required to take an RMD from an IRA or similar retirement account, you might want to consult your financial advisor/tax accountant about the tax benefit of making a direct qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to the RVA for your annual membership donation to satisfy a portion of your RMD (refer to the graphic below). Also, the One Big Beautiful Bill included a few changes to the way charitable giving tax deductions are calculated. Those changes took effect on January 1, 2026. RVA membership donations are tax deductible and eligible for matching gifts.

For assistance or questions, feel free to contact any member of the Finance Committee directly:
Bill Walker ‘73 (bwalker@billingsleyco.com)
Robert Pagenkopf ’06 (rcpagenkopf@gmail.com)
Houston Richards ’10 (Houston.richards51@gmail.com)
Justin Bryan ’07 (justinnbryan@gmail.com)
Dan Mallory ’96 (dcmallory@aol.com)
 

RV Saber Arch Honors Secretary Gates 

One of the keynote speakers at the annual Student Conference on National Affairs (SCONA) was former TAMU President and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.  He was welcomed back to Aggieland with an RV Saber Arch.

Besides the welcome for Secretary Gates, the RVs provided saber arches and welcome support for more than FIFTEEN separate events between January and mid-May.  Most but not all are on campus.  Your RVA contributions directly support transportation and ancillary costs of participation.

The RVA Legacy Committee

The RV Association has a plan to grow its endowment to a point that it could provide 100% of the Company's annual needs.  This goal can be achieved within the next 3 to 5 years with the help of everyone.  To that end, a Legacy Committee exists, composed of Greg Lengyel '85, Scott Eberhart '74, and Tommy Morris '76.  All RVA members giving at or above the First Sergeant level have recently been sent an electronic letter asking that they consider comitting to impact this effort.  The Legacy Committee and the RVA Board are very grateful to all who contribute, whatever the level.  This is a team goal and it takes a team effort to attain it.

For example, Life Membership can be attained with a donation of $5,000 made over a 5 year period. If you would like to become a Life Member in 2026, you will be given credit for your past 4 years of giving toward the $5,000 amount to determine the remaining balance due by December 31, 2026. Or, you may indicate your intent to pledge life membership in 2026 and give installment donations over at most the next five consecutive years, totaling $5,000. Inquiries regarding Life Membership can be directed to RVA Membership Chair Herschel Acosta '97 at rva@corpsofcadets.org.

Family Weekend 2026

Next RVA Social Event - TBD

The RVA Board has not scheduled a Fall 2026 social event yet.  Stay tuned for more details to be announced via email in late summer or early fall 2026.  It is expected that we will have an event on-campus in October, coinciding with our fall business meeting.

Spring RV Ball 

The RVA Spring Ball took place in April.  Over 125 RVs and guests attended.  The RVA and CCA are the primary sponsors of this annual event. 

RVs Travel to San Antonio for Fiesta Parade

VIVA FIESTA! The Ross Volunteer Company, along with the Aggie Band, FDT, and PMC repped A&M in stellar fashion in the Battle of Flowers Parade on Friday, April 24. The cost of bus transportation to San Antonio is one of the operating expenses paid for from the RVA's annual $20,000 contribution to the Company. Your annual membership donations make this funding possible, so "Thanks & Gig 'em" to you! The RVA also thanks the San Antonio A&M Club and the San Antonio Aggie Moms' Club for providing lunch and desserts to the cadets after the parade. To view the album of parade photos, click HERE.

Sign up for "Monday with the Company"

For four years the RVA, working in conjunction with the RV Commander, has provided an opportunity for former RVs to address the RV Company during the first 10 to 15 minutes of each Monday drill. The goal of this "Monday with the Company" program is to share how lessons learned and experiences gained during your time as an RV shaped you personally and have guided you in your life and career.

Monday drill begins at 4:45pm in the center of the Quad. If you are interested in participating in "Monday with the Company," contact Mark Johnson '78 at johnson78@tamu.edu to inquire about available dates in the upcoming school year.

2026-27 RV Company Leadership

Craig Petrin '26 shares the news with us that the 2026-27 RV Commander is John Swiderski '27, an Ocean Engineering major from Wellington, Florida.  The new company XO is Ayden Gorham '27, an Industrial Distribution major from Greece, New York.  The First Sergeant is Industrial Engineering major Cade Fisher '27, who hails from Carlsbad, California.   

Craig Petrin '26 did a super job of coordinating with the RVA this year and we appreciate all that he did for us as well as leading the Company.  Best of luck in the Air Force, Craig!

New Contact Info? Update Your RVA Profile 

In just 3 easy steps you can update your contact information online and help us improve our communications. Your RVA online profile is tied to the same email address this newsletter was sent to, and that email address is also your RVA website username. Log in at rvassociation.org and get up to date! (Click on the image below to enlarge.)

Can you have too much RVA gear? 

Say Farewell to the 2025-2026 School Year