A&M-Victoria students cap year of activities with awards banquet
The Jaguar Volleyball Club, a student-led organization that found its footing on a sand volleyball court at Riverside Park, was named the Student Organization of the Year Thursday during the Student Organization and Leadership Banquet at Texas A&M University-Victoria.
The club is a fast-growing organization where beginners and seasoned players alike pack the court to compete, blow off steam and build campus camaraderie on and off the road.
“It means a lot, it means a lot for us to be recognized, especially as a new student organization,” said Jadein Alderete, the club’s president. “It’s really cool to be seen, and I am so grateful that people are supporting us.”
Held on May 7, the 13th annual A&M-Victoria Student Organization and Leadership Banquet invited students, faculty and staff inside Galvan Community Hall to honor student leaders, advisors, and current and newly chartered student organizations.
“We’re excited to celebrate the students and all the hard work that they did throughout the year,” said Freddie Cantu, A&M-Victoria director of Student Involvement. “I’m excited for all the winners and to see the looks on their faces whenever they are recognized for all their accomplishments.”
This year, there were three newly chartered organizations: the Jaguar Fitness Club, Running Start Running Community and the Jaguar Volleyball Club. To start a student organization, students must present the name of the organization and its purpose. Additionally, the club must have at least five student members to form an executive board, a campus advisor, a constitution and leaders within the club with at least a 2.5 GPA.
Student Advocate Tomi Fasina was presented the Student Organization Member of the Year Award for her work in Jags for Jesus. According to the nomination, she was recognized for her welcoming presence and steady, inclusive leadership within the university community. She was also noted for being intentional about inviting students into meetings and events, creating an environment where people from all backgrounds feel valued and encouraged to participate.
“I am so grateful that I was able to make an impact on students,” Fasina said. “I will always be there for them and ready to serve any student that I could.”
Six students were also recognized during the banquet for having earned their ROAR Leader certification. The students who earned their certification were:
- Iyana Moses
- Sheila Benitez
- Franchesca Calero
- Camryn Castillo
- Jocelyn Aguilar
- Taylor Jackson
Fernando Velazquez, A&M-Victoria coordinator of Residential Life, was named Advisor of the Year for his work as the advisor of the Jaguar Volleyball Club. According to the nomination, Velazquez has been a steady source of guidance, support and accountability, helping student leaders navigate challenges while celebrating their wins. He was also noted for his ability to push the organization to grow, encouraged members to think bigger and ensured that they are taking the right steps to reach their goals.
“I appreciate everyone who nominated me and everyone on the team,” Velazquez said. “I am very proud of all of their hard work, and I am just happy to be part of the team.”
Student scholarship awards were also presented to selected students by the Student Government Association.
The recipients of the Spirit of the Jaguar Award were Kadence Hernandez, Dawson Corenfield and TJ Godley-Williams. The award recognized underclassmen who are deeply involved with the university and encompassed what it means to be a Jaguar. Recipients of this award were also given a $300 scholarship.
Similar to the Spirit of the Jaguar Award, the I Am JAXNATION Award recognized upperclassmen. The recipients of the award will also receive a $300 scholarship. This year, the awards were presented to Ryland Luedecke, Jadein Alderete and Shelby McBride.
The final scholarship award of the night was the Campus Humanitarian Award. It is given to a student who goes above and beyond to make the university a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. This year, the award, along with its $500 scholarship was presented to Noah Perez.
Other award winners on Thursday night were:
- Quiet Influencer Award – Ovi Daluwatte
- Student Volunteer of the Year – Danielle Luna
- Student Employee Excellence Award – Jason Arrieta
- Student Government Member of the Year – Brianna Acuna
- Emerging Leader of the Year – Logan Kenne
- Student Leader of the Year – Jadein Alderete
- Leadership Legacy Award – Helenavi Sumilong
Towards the end of the night, Alex Velazquez addressed the crowd as the incoming president of the Student Government Association. Her term will begin on June 1 and will last through the 2026-2027 academic year.
Texas A&M University-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the colleges of Business, Education & Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and Natural & Applied Science. A&M-Victoria provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as online classes that students can take from anywhere. The university supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.