By Megan Cahalan

As rain pours, senior Collin Hunt observes the students of Texas A&M cheer on their fellow Aggie football players with hoarse, but prideful, voices. He is fascinated by the unity of his future peers as he comes to the conclusion that this is indeed the right college choice.

Hunt, a National Merit Scholar, is attending A&M on a full-ride scholarship.

Some of the students going to Texas A&M include National Merit finalist Collin Hunt, NHS president Catherine Osborn and baseball player Mark Silverthorn. photo illustration by Megan Cahalan

“I’m majoring in Aerospace Engineering, which allows me to pursue my lifelong dream of helping put a man on Mars,” Hunt said. “When I’m there, I want to get involved in some of the great student research programs A&M has along with organizations like Engineers Without Borders, which will allow me to apply what I’ve learned to benefit the global community.”

While Hunt is attending A&M to fulfill personal goals, senior Mark Silverthorn, who is going on federal grants, hopes to make a change during his stay at the school.

“I [intend] to make a difference on my campus,” Silverthorn said. “I’ll major in Mechanical Engineering, and possibly play baseball.”

However, senior Catherine Osborn isn’t just going to A&M for herself, she’s going in honor of a former friend. Majoring in business, Osborn intends on bringing along the spirit of her late best friend, Matt Hicks, who always dreamed of A&M. Hicks passed away on Dec. 11, 2007 from cancer.

“Matt got me interested in it during freshman and sophomore year,” Osborn said. “Then, once I visited, it reminded me so much of him, with the friendliness and conservative atmosphere. I really wish we could be going together, but I know he’ll always be in my heart.”

Through seeing the campus itself and witnessing the bond between the peers in everyday life or even at football games, the three seniors are positive they’re on the right track.

“The sight of the entire student body showing up despite the pouring rain, yelling until they were hoarse, was awe-inspiring,” Hunt said. “It just emphasized the fact that this wasn’t just a school: it was a family.”