Mr. Ford D. Albritton Jr. ’43 received his B.S. in Economics from Texas A&M. He served as commander of Battery G, Field Artillery. He was commissioned into the United States Army and flew in 108 combat missions in the Pacific theater during WWII. For his efforts throughout his time with the Army, Albritton received a Purple Heart and an Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. After the war, he founded the Albritton Engineering Corporation. After selling his company, Albritton served as chairman of the board of Tipperary and CEO of the Ashbrook Corporation. In addition to volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce and the United Way, he served extensively with Texas A&M. Albritton is the only individual to have simultaneously served as a member of the Board of Regents and President of both the Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Research Foundation. In 1977, Albritton was chosen as a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M. He will long be remembered for gifting the Albritton Tower and Carillon Bells to Texas A&M.
amy.thompson
Corps of Cadets Policies
by amy.thompson
Three documents cover every facet of life in the Cadet Corps: The Cadence, The Standard Orders, and The Cadet Resident Handbook. Every cadet is responsible for reviewing these documents and holding him/herself and other cadets accountable.
The Cadence is a pocket-size summary of information specifically intended for freshman cadets.
The Standard Orders describe the Corps of Cadets, its members, and what they endeavor to become. The Standard is at the very heart of the Corps’ disciplined way of life. The document begins with the Corps’ mission, vision, and values. It is about both ideals and the practical aspects of daily life in the Corps. Its carefully crafted policies and standards are designed to support a cadet’s academic success, physical and mental well-being, and development as a leader. It includes information relevant to every cadet, regardless of rank or class, concerning Corps membership, administration, operations, scholastics, discipline, physical fitness, and career readiness.
The Cadet Resident Handbook includes specific housing and safety-related information relevant to every cadet living in the dorms.
Campbell Hartigan ‘22
by amy.thompson
Hometown: Richardson, Texas
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Outfit: C-Company
Campbell Hartigan ‘22 currently serves as the Infantry Band Commander, and on the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band’s Bugle Rank. As a freshman, Campbell was a member of the Fish Drill Team, and served as an advisor his sophomore year. Campbell is currently pursuing a Marine option contract and completed Officer Candidate School with the United States Marine Corps last summer.
Off the Quad, Campbell enjoys working with the Vehicle Systems and Controls Lab where he is involved with hardware integration, flight test operations, and the online near real-time system identification project. He also participates in the Air-Ground Coordinated Teaming project, sponsored by Army Futures Command. Campbell is also an active member of the A&M United Methodist Church.
Upon his graduation from Texas A&M in December of 2022, Campbell plans to commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and attend The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. While he hasn’t identified a specific career path, his interest include artillery, unmanned aircraft systems, and intelligence in the Marine Corps.
Amanda Lovitt Makes History
by amy.thompson
The Fightin Texas Aggie Band has a multitude of iconic traits; the Bugle Rank, the intricate formations, and the Block T are just a few of the things that come to mind when you think of the Noble Men of Kyle.
This year in particular, one aspect of the Fightin Texas Aggie Band is rising to center of attention:
For many, the thought of Aggie bass drummers has become almost entirely synonymous with stout young men marching into Kyle Field on Saturdays. While this association may have been relatively accurate in years prior, a new chapter is being written:
A determined female face has entered the mix.
Her name is Amanda Lovitt, and she is the loudest, proudest member of the Fightin Texas Aggie Class of 2023. She is a junior in the Fightin Texas Aggie Band, and a proud member of A-Battery. While recounting her time in A-Battery, Lovitt was quick to speak of the support she has received from her buddy class along the way.
“My buddies definitely motivated me, all the way. They have carried me through it all, the laughs and the cries. They have definitely helped me say ‘I will not quit’ on the bad days,” Amanda said.
With this type of support system, it was easy for Amanda to shoot for the stars with her goals; and so she did.
Amanda set her sights on becoming a bass drummer very early on in her Corps career.
“What they look for in a bass drummer is both moral character and physical ability. We are supposed to represent the ‘Noble Men of Kyle’, which means you have to be someone of high moral character that embodies all of the core values of the Corps of Cadets. They don’t tell us explicitly, but they start watching us during our fish year for a spot with the bass drummers. At the start of sophomore year, they really start looking at how involved you are. Do you stay late after practice? Do you go to extra practices in your free time? All of these aspects are what they consider, among other things. Of course there are physical drumming tryouts where you learn the basics of playing the instrument, but they really look at what kind of person you are,” Amanda explained.
After two years, Amanda’s hard work and determination had finally paid off. She was selected to be one of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band’s newest bass drummers; an honor only given to juniors in the band.
“When I found out that I had been selected, I was on cloud nine. In the months following, I would randomly think about it and just immediately have the biggest smile on my face. Being a bass drummer is something only juniors are allowed to do. Juniors have the experience, we know the ropes, and we are comfortable with playing such a large instrument. Seniors often want to use their final year to relax and play something more specific to what they like. It’s a demanding job,” Amanda said.
Then, unbeknownst to Amanda at the time of her audition, she discovered another important piece of information about her newly earned title:
She had just become the first female in Fightin Texas Aggie Band history to be named a bass drummer.
“Going into bass drum tryouts, I had no idea that being the first female bass drummer would even be a possibility. It was just something I was going out for because it was something that I wanted. It wasn’t until after I made it that a former cadet called me to congratulate me on being the first female. It wasn’t something that I had even considered when trying out, but it was definitely something that made me surprised and excited when I did.”
With such a prestigious title bestowed upon her, Amanda is already thinking about the future.
“With this platform, I would like to be able to motivate others. I want to see other young women and tell them that nothing can stop them from achieving their goals. You are the only thing that stands in your way of success, and I want to be able to show young girls that in this position.”
In fact, she’s already beginning to see how the ripples of her success are being cast out to other young women.
“At Midnight Yell, I actually had a gentleman come up to me and ask if I was the first female bass drum player. When I told him that I was, he began telling me about how I’m his young daughter’s biggest inspiration. For me, that broke my heart in the very best way. That is what being in this position is all about. It is all about inspiring others,” Amanda recounted.
Going forward with her role, Amanda has a bit of advice for all women looking to break into predominantly male opportunities.
“Don’t let anyone get you down, including yourself. A lot of times, we are our own worst enemy. This can sometimes be multiplied by ten when you’re around men, even if they don’t mean it. Sometimes you can be seen differently just for being a woman, which can be hard to take. Don’t let that get to you, and don’t be afraid to stand up and say ‘this is me and I’m here to stay’,” Amanda advised.
Along the way, there have been a number of people that have inspired Amanda. Among them are family members, friends, and her fellow Aggie bandsmen. However, one individual stands out the most to Amanda when she considers her role models.
“Nick Rossi, the Band Commander when I was a freshman, actually sat down with me and had a few conversations with me at different times. He seemed like one of those people that I would never speak to as a fish since he was a senior, but he was so inspiring and he really changed the way I think. He motivated me to be a better cadet and to be a better band member. He had that leader mindset that brought me up to his level,” Amanda said.
Though the year has just begun, Amanda is already stepping into her title with poise. She is ready to perform, ready to inspire, and ready to leave her mark on Aggie history as the first (but certainly not the last) female bass drum player.
“When I march, everything else disappears. I go into my own little world. The band is my escape. Nothing in the outside world matters to me when I am performing. I may be the first female, but I know I won’t be the last. I hope there are many, many more to come after me. I’m very excited about that,” Amanda said.
In such an exciting new chapter of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band’s history, it is easy to become inspired by Amanda’s story of determination and resilience. She has already become such a great example for women of all ages. The future is shining bright for all women in the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, and the opportunities to succeed are limitless.
By Robin Nelson ’22
Megan Ging ’22
by amy.thompson
Hometown: Bay City, Texas
Major: Master's of Human Resource Management
Outfit: Company G-1
Megan Ging ’22 currently serves as a Platoon Leader in Company G-1, and is also a member of the Ross Volunteer Company and the O.R. Simpson Honor Society. In May of 2021, Megan graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing.
Megan is a fifth-generation Aggie, following in the footsteps of her great-great-grandfather Nelson Bass, Class of 1923, and several other Aggies in her family tree.
Off the Quad, Megan is involved in Traditions Council and Aggie Network Student Ambassadors. She also works as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Management at Mays Business School.
Following the completion of her Master’s degree in December of 2022, Megan plans to begin her career as a Human Resources generalist before moving into a role with a focus on Training & Organizational Development.
“Being a member of the Corps of Cadets has given me the opportunity to become fully immersed in the traditions of Texas A&M and develop as a leader while challenging myself to grow in ways I never imagined,” she said of her time in the Corps.