Jaguar royalty crowned during A&M-Victoria Homecoming
When Tah’Tieanna McLean heard her name announced as one of the Royal Jaguars, the moment felt like a powerful confirmation of everything she loves about her campus.
Surrounded by friends and classmates proudly displaying their Jaguar spirit, she saw the title as a celebration of shared pride and community rather than just a personal win.
“I looked over into the stands, and I saw everybody out just representing their Jaguar pride was amazing,” McLean said. “It warmed my heart up so much.”
McLean was one of three Jaguars who were crowned as Royal Jaguars during Saturday’s Homecoming festivities as the Texas A&M University-Victoria baseball team took on Louisiana State University-Shreveport in a double-header at Riverside Park.
The other two Royal Jaguars crowned that day were Lila Hamilton of Victoria and Janet Santana of Houston.
“We are really excited for our Jaguar Royals winners this year,” said Freddie Cantu, A&M-Victoria director of Student Involvement. “It’s our very first year celebrating Homecoming as Texas A&M University-Victoria. We are starting a new tradition, a new legacy, and all of our court members did an amazing job, and I am so proud of them.”
A marketing senior hailing from Richmond, McLean also serves as the director of the Student Government Association, a role that engages her with organizations, helps her with coordinating efforts and contributes to building a more connected student community.
Service is at the heart of why she enjoys being at A&M-Victoria, she said. In her spare time, McLean said she frequently volunteers with local and regional initiatives, including Keep Victoria Beautiful and the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent.
Positivity is the cornerstone of her outlook, McLean said. In whatever capacity she is in, she aims to create atmospheres where smiles are common and collaboration feels natural.
For Hamilton, the kinesiology senior has fully embraced what it means to be a Jaguar, both on and off the field. As she felt the weight of crown placed on her head by A&M-Victoria President Christian Hardigree, Hamilton said she felt a mix of humility, pride and also a strong desire to represent her university well.
“I’m incredibly honored that people chose me to represent them on the Royal Jaguar Court,” Hamilton said. “To me, being a Jaguar means being welcoming and embracing everyone with open arms.”
Her decision to run for the Royal Jaguars was driven by a simple goal: to be more involved and create lasting memories before her graduation this coming December. As her time at A&M-Victoria begins to come to a close, Hamilton said she wants to leave with a sense that she fully participated in campus life and contributed to the spirit of the community.
Looking ahead to her future, Hamilton said she aspires for a future centered on helping others physically. After graduation, she hopes to attend chiropractic school in either Dallas or Houston and to work with professional sports athletes where she can blend her knowledge of kinesiology with her passion for sports and movement.
A fourth-year education major, the title of Royal Jaguar carries with it more than just a title for Santana. It represents the hopes and sacrifices of her family, her identity as a first-generation student and the pride she holds in her Hispanic roots.
From a young age, Santana’s path was shaped by a clear sense of purpose, setting her on a course to become an educator. She aspires to be an elementary English as a Second Language teacher, working closely with students who are navigating multiple languages and cultures, just as she once did.
“My kindergarten teacher is my role model,” Santana said. “I still talk to her to this day. She’s my mentor, and if it wasn’t for her, I don’t know what I would be doing right now.”
As a first-generation student, Santana understands that every step she takes in higher education is not only for herself, but for her family as well. Her journey has not been without challenges. After experiencing her parents’ deportation, she learned resilience at a young age and found strength in their sacrifices.
Growing up, she also watched her father work in construction, often giving up important family moments to provide financially. Those long days and missed events were never lost on her, they became her motivation to keep pushing forward.
At first, she was hesitant to run as a Royal Jaguar. But through the encouragement of her friends, colleagues and parents, she found the confidence to step into the spotlight.
“There are no words for how much I appreciate my parents,” Santana said. “I wouldn’t be in college without them. I am so grateful for them.”
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.