José L. Fernández-Solís, assistant professor of construction science at Texas A&M University, was selected as an Outstanding Corps Academic Mentor of the Year by the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets.
Fernández-Solís served as academic mentor for company A-2, a new company, formed in the fall 2007 semester, which consists of students enrolled in College of Architecture degree programs.
“It’s been one of my most exciting experiences and a good way for me to meet the Aggie Spirit and Aggie family,” said Ferrnández-Solís, who joined the Texas A&M faculty in 2006.
The corps is one of Texas A&M’s most hallowed traditions, dating back to the university’s origin in 1876. “Cadets in the corps are at the heart of the Aggie Spirit,” says the corps website. “Because Texas A&M was a military college for most of its first 100 years, many of its most cherished traditions grew out of the corps experience. Bonfire, yell practice, Aggie Muster and Silver Taps traditions all originated with the corps. Thus cadets consider themselves 'Keepers of the Spirit' and 'Guardians of Tradition.'”
Fernández-Solís found himself at the heart of this tradition through his mentorship of company A-2.
“I met with every one of the fish, the officers and the upperclassmen in the company,” he said. “Every month I went to dinner with the company to make sure they were on track. If there were any issues they would come to me and talk about them before they got worse.”
He said he was happy to interact with the students and establish himself as a trusted guide, a mentor company members could go to when things weren’t going well who could help them either change the situation, change habits or acquire new ones to succeed.
Fernández-Solís said that Tom Regan, dean of the College of Architecture, and John Van Alstyne, corps commander, had discussed the need for a corps company enlisting students from the college because of their unique study requirements, such as the Semester Away program.
“If you’re in the corps, you really don’t want to go abroad, because you’ll be missing out on corps activities and when you come back, you have to reintegrate,” said Fernández-Solís. “This special unit was created to be able to handle that and other issues,” he said.
Being in the corps was a learning experience for everyone in the new unit.
“I was new, the officers were new, the fish were new. Everybody was new with this outfit,” said Fernández-Solís.
To help company A-2 out, officers from other companies were brought in to show the college’s cadets the ropes, and they learned quickly.
“We had a very good group of freshmen,” he said. “The seniors and upperclassmen put them through their paces very vigorously, to make sure other companies wouldn’t say ‘you don’t do all the things we do,’ or ‘you have it easier.’”
With Fernández-Solís’ help, it was literally a banner year for the company. Due to their hard work during the past academic year, members of company A-2 secured a new banner to take to their drills. “It’s the second-most prestigious banner in the corps,” he said.
Unit members also earned the right to wear a maroon and white tassel on their shoulders. “The maroon and white tassel is the most coveted tassel in the whole corps,” said Fernández-Solis.
Company A-2 also won best academic company in the corps.
“I found it very, very rewarding and interesting to work with a new outfit,” he said.
Next year, with a year’s of experience, Fernández-Solis said he’ll be in an even better position to help out company A-2 corps members.
“I am elated to have been asked to be in this position and I hope in 20 years I’ll be as excited about it as I am now,” he said.
