Above and Beyond

Our newest awardee is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient - oh wait, that's Scouts. Well, it works. As a hard-working member of the team, Amber is absolutely great to work with. She brings a sense of humor which is a bright spot of laughter and plenty of smiles. While we haven't known each other long, we instantly bonded over our connection with the Environmental Design program; I was close to the degree's founding years, while she was a student during the final years. We've shared stories of our shared experiences from construction to composition with great laughter. But seriously, she works hard, jumps in where needed, and brings common sense, brightness, happiness and humor everywhere she goes. As a student worker, Amber Turner definitely goes Above and Beyond.

Heather Rodriguez has been a part of Texas A&M MarComm since, as she says, “God was a baby.” Currently, she serves as our Assistant Director and the liaison for many of the legacy liberal arts departments. Heather is known to wear her heart on her sleeve (and her face), and while that sometimes causes her problems, more often than not, she shows how funny, kind, and open-hearted she is. From managing the needs of her departments to pitching events for the college, she is always willing to offer a listening ear or compassionate word. Her sense of humor and kindness make ArtSci a better place.

• G is for GREAT at what he does. 
 • A is for APPRECIATIVE always thanking us whenever he is given something like a churro, Mountain Dew, muffin, or donut. 
 • R is for RESPECTFUL to everyone in every situation. 
 • R is for RELIABLE. We can always count on Garrett to help. 
 • E is for EXCEPTIONALLY talented at Cascade, which is a valuable skill for everyone in ArtSci. 
 • T is for TENACIOUS. Garrett will stick with any challenge till it's done. 
 • T is for his TERRIFIC attitude whenever we ask for his help.
 Garrett Crawford is a hard worker who loves Mountain Dew and Otis Spunkmeyer Muffins. He flies Above and Beyond for anyone in ArtSci to get the job done!

When it comes to team players, Chris Jarvis is the gold standard and the epitome of going above and beyond on top of all out to tell the ArtSci story. As one of his many subjects through the years so accurately and eloquently put it a few years back, “Chris does not write a story. He discovers the story that is within each of us.” His creativity, initiative, adaptability and ingenuity are unmatched, as is his commitment to completing each project on time, on tone and on target. Whenever there’s a need, be it video, photography or writing, Chris rises to the occasion to get the job done without expecting anything in return. He approaches each step with unparalleled skill, first in defining the opportunity or angle and then in delivering a quality, effective solution. He radiates charm, integrity and class at every turn to put his subjects at ease and ensure that the final product is top-notch because they trust in his vision, direction and talent. Although he makes it all look easy, the truth is masked by his meticulous preparation and long hours — nights, weekends and occasional travel, most recently to and from Moore, Oklahoma, on Easter weekend in pursuit of the perfect personal touches he intuitively knows will make the story sing. Fitting for a guy who has an impressive collection of photographs with dozens of Texas and classic country music greats, many of whom have been lucky enough to autograph his guitar. That collection is rivaled only by the hundreds of snaps he has amassed since childhood featuring World Wrestling Entertainment legends, including Ted “The Million Dollar Man” DiBiase, who served as the officiant for his wedding. Then again, Chris has had his fair share of journalistic brushes with celebrity, from interviewing then-Texas Governor George W. Bush as a 7th grader at Navasota Junior High to four-time Grammy Award winner and Texas A&M languages/journalism graduate Lyle Lovett ’79 earlier this spring. True to his credit and character, however, he remains humble to his core and oblivious to his star status. Your secret’s safe with us, Chris, and it’s an honor and privilege to call you a teammate and friend!

Emily, a native Chicagoan turned Texan, is an extremely talented writer and is a vital member of the ArtSci MarCom writing team. As a journalism major and sports management minor, Emily constantly brings new ideas to the table and executes each of her stories seamlessly and with confidence. When she is not writing, Emily can be found watching hockey, trying out new College Station restaurants, or listening to her favorite artist, Taylor Swift. Emily is a bright light and leader in the office and always has a positive attitude. Emily has been with ArtSci for about a year and a half, and as she approaches graduation in May, we are so glad to have been a part of her college journey! 

Reyes is a creative writer who finds a story in everything. He is a published author of two books: The Book of Wanderers and El Rey of Gold Teeth. (reyesramirez.com) How cool is that? He also writes great stories about the College of Arts and Sciences that inspire interest and engagement. Reyes listens more than he speaks because the wheels in his head are always turning, thinking up ideas for his next character, another adventure, or a thought-provoking poem. Thanks, Reyes, for being such a positive role model for our team and for going above and beyond to make every story compelling! 

Grant is humble and kind and makes everyone laugh, and always willing to lock arms to better serve our team and our clients. Grant is a good coworker, but what makes him a good leader and someone who goes above and beyond is his willingness to get his hands dirty and has the ability to do a bit of everything — writing, designing, social, web, operations, project management, handling an intergalactic emergency — because that’s what the team needs. Grant Hawkins we’re lucky to have you!