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Here’s How Scholarships Are Making Waves for Galveston Students

For hundreds of students at Texas A&M Galveston, financial support has been the wind in their sails throughout their educational journey.

By Madeline Graves ’28

Lead photo by Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M Marketing and Communications

October 22, 2026

If you’ve ever had your heart captured by the roll of ocean waves and the feeling of soft sand enveloping your feet, you know how Kyleigh Karl ’27 felt when she stepped onto the Texas A&M University at Galveston campus. “It felt like home,” she said, smiling.  

Raised in the coastal town of Rockport, Texas, Kyleigh was drawn to Texas A&M Galveston not only because of her Aggie heritage but also by her passion for the maritime industry and its surrounding waterway communities. When her acceptance letter came in the mail, she couldn’t get on board fast enough. 
 

Kyleigh Karl '27 has flourished in her leadership role with the Maroon Delegates.

“Coming here to a smaller campus has allowed me to flourish in leadership positions alongside a tight-knit community that encourages me,” Kyleigh said. “The support I’ve found here is preparing me to impact the world.”  

A critical part of her journey? The scholarships that got Kyleigh there in the first place, including the Bubba Smith '25 and Bobby Smith '59 Pre-Health Endowed Scholarship. 

From ship maintenance and cargo transportation to sustainable tourism, the Galveston campus is playing a crucial role in creating a sustainable future for the marine industry and equipping students to protect one of the globe’s most overlooked resources — the ocean. But a quality maritime education is expensive, forcing many eager applicants to abandon their dreams because of financial barriers. Experiences that are essential to equipping top-notch graduates, like required summer sea terms or unpaid internships, come with hefty price tags that students often must shoulder themselves.
 

Anna Hyatt, a development officer with the Texas A&M Foundation, thinks Galveston students deserve better. “At a young age, these students are laser-focused on what they want to accomplish, even though they know it will cost them more than the average college graduate. Supporting them is the best investment donors can make,” she said.
 

Because of scholarship support, Gracie Rambin '28 is chasing her dream of obtaining a third mate's license.

As a first-generation college student, Gracie Rambin ’28 can’t overstate the impact of awards like the Captain Karl P. Fanning Endowed Scholarship as she diligently pursues her dream of graduating with her third mate's license. "Financial contributions have allowed me to focus more on my studies and campus involvement without the added stress or constant worry about upcoming payments,” she said.  

Knowing that donors are behind her has enabled Gracie to fully dive into her Galveston experience, from lighthearted Midnight Yell practices to crossing the North Atlantic Ocean with her classmates. She’s held the position of First Battalion executive officer in the Maritime Academy, along with top roles in her Bravo 1 Company and the Texas A&M Propeller Club. With leadership and hands-on skills under her belt, she’s ready to take on the important duties she’ll face as she sails aboard coastwise tankers and works toward license upgrades.
 

Similarly, Kyleigh looks forward to using her hard-earned degree to make waves in the future. Whether she’s picnicking on the beach with her sisterhood, studying or fishing, Kyleigh dreams of expanding economic opportunity for coastal communities like her own through tourism. She’s also contributed to Texas A&M Galveston’s work by participating in research symposiums that raise awareness about the campus’ unique programs and welcomed hundreds of visitors as the vice president of the Maroon Delegates, Texas A&M Galveston’s prestigious student ambassador program.  
 


With a little sea salt breeze and intentional donor support, students at the Galveston campus can chart the course for a meaningful maritime career. And the best part? There’s potential for even greater scholarship impact. “Galveston offers very few four-year awards for students or graduate scholarships,” Hyatt said. “When donors are willing to invest in a student throughout their entire university journey, they provide more than financial peace; they show students that they believe in their potential to do great things.” 
 

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