Got a Little Story for You Ags

It was during this formative time that the Whitakers’ passions bloomed, not only for each other but also for the Texas A&M community and the invaluable lessons they learned as part of it. Aside from campus involvement, one of the most influential experiences came from their student employment positions—Kathryn at The Association of Former Students and Scott at the Texas A&M Foundation.

“I fell in love with fundraising because of the Texas A&M Foundation, and my time there is what led me to my current career path,” Scott said reflecting on his current role as secretariat director for stewardship and development for the Catholic Diocese of Austin. “What I learned at the Foundation is what makes me who I am today, and that position changed the trajectory of our life.”

Encouraged by Aggie mentors like former Texas A&M Foundation President, Dr. Ed Davis ’67, the Whitakers answered their first call for philanthropy and higher education in 1996. Seven weeks after their graduation from Texas A&M, Kathryn and Scott got married and packed their lives into a 15-foot U-Haul truck headed for Iowa State University. There, Scott pursued the start of his career in fundraising—and Kathryn in communications—while they both completed graduate degrees.

Despite the distance, the two stayed unsurprisingly connected with the Aggie community throughout their seven-year journey in the Midwest. When they both worked for the National FFA Organization in Indiana, Scott naturally led the Central Indiana A&M Club as president, and in her spare time, Kathryn began remotely assisting the Association of Former Yell Leaders with graphic design and creative needs. By the time they made their permanent move back to Texas in 2003, the couple had a wealth of experience, expertise and a 2-year-old son to bring home to their new chapter in Austin.
 

“The experience shifted our focus as a family to be much more intentional,” Kathryn shared. “I think Luke’s premature birth reminded us that life is very short and nothing is ever guaranteed, so it's important to have your priorities in the right place.”

This mindset ultimately prompted the Whitakers’ early decision to organize their estate plan at 40 years old, making a generous planned gift to the Texas A&M Foundation in the process.

“We don’t know how long God will give us, so it became abundantly important to make sure we took care of our family but also gave to the charities that generously formed Scott and me,” she added.

At Texas A&M, the Whitakers agreed there was no better fit for their support than the Association of Former Yell Leaders, an organization created to support current Yell Leaders and preserve the tradition’s history. Committing a percentage of their estate to the organization’s existing endowment—which helps offset additional costs of the Yell Leaders’ role—the couple is hopeful their legacy will help keep the spirit of their beloved tradition thriving for generations to come.

“The impact Texas A&M had on our lives is difficult to quantify but so very easy to feel deeply,” Kathryn said. “Being a Yell Leader was transformational for Scott, and we hope to magnify the Aggie Spirit with our gift.”

“The Yell Leader tradition is one of the things that defines Texas A&M among other universities,” Scott added. “It’s very unique to Texas A&M and to college athletics, and it’s important that we preserve it the best we can.”