Office of the President

Speeches & Reports

Points of Light Remarks

October 16, 2009

Howdy! It is my distinct honor to welcome you all — Daily Points of Light award recipients and Points of Light supporters; students; community leaders, civic and service organizations, and distinguished guests — it is my honor to welcome you to Texas A&M University… the state's first public institution of higher learning and [with close to 49,000 students] one of our nation's largest universities.

We salute former President George H.W. Bush for his unwavering commitment to volunteerism and his dedication to the 'thousand points of light' program. And, we are honored that President Barack Obama accepted his invitation to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this milestone in the service movement at Texas A&M University.

As the home of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M is extremely proud that the 41st president is a member of the Aggie family.

Throughout his life he has embodied this university's six core values: leadership… integrity… excellence… loyalty… respect… and selfless service.

For his part, President Bush has said that Texas A&M encourages volunteerism… encourages being one of a thousand points of light to help others...and it comes naturally to Aggies. He's right. Selfless service is woven into the very fabric of what it means to be an Aggie.

In fact, since Texas A&M opened its doors in 1876, the Corps of Cadets has been educating citizen soldiers who have served their state, nation and the world with distinction. The Corps of Cadets is Aggieland's best known student organization. Today, with more than 1,800 members, it is the nation's largest uniformed student organization outside the military academies. Aggies have always served.

Today we have more than 800 student-run organizations, many of which are service oriented.

You know, Texas A&M University's stated purpose is to develop leaders of character dedicated to serving the greater good. It struck me that although we have a wonderful diversity of backgrounds, cultures and opinions, we're united by our Aggie spirit… a spirit of service that transcends our differences. And whether that service has been for the community, the state, the nation, or the world… Aggies serve.

We see it during The Big Event, which is the largest, one-day, student-run service project in the nation. For the past 27 years Aggie students have participated in this annual event to show their appreciation to the residents of Bryan/College Station by completing service projects such as yard work, window washing, and painting for community members.

Tomorrow, we'll see it on Aggie Replant Day, the largest student-run environmental service project in the nation. With shovels in hand, Aggies not only plant trees to beautify the surrounding community, but also educate and train citizens about the environment.

We saw it at the football game last Saturday, when the excited members of another service organization… Aggies CAN, announced that they had exceeded all expectations by collecting 3,200 pounds of canned food and $11,000—from fellow Aggies--to donate to the Brazos Valley Food Bank.

And we see it with the three hundred Aggie volunteers at CARPOOL, helping to keep students and the community safe. As the first safe ride program run by students in the nation, CARPOOL has become the paradigm that other universities follow. CARPOOL and their founder, Jeff Schiefelbein, received a Point of Light Award for helping to solve a serious problem in their community. I think Jeff is here today.

Aggies serve… individually and in hundreds of organizations… every day… to improve the lives of others.

So welcome to Texas A&M University. And welcome to Texas… a big state, a big-hearted state with thousands engaged in community service from one end to the other… including our Points of Light winners with us today.

We are here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of former President Bush's call to action on behalf of national service in his Points of Light Inaugural Address. We are here to commemorate President Barack Obama's signing into law the "Serve America" bill, the most sweeping expansion of national service programs in many years.

And there could be no more fitting place for this Presidential Forum on Service than this campus, steeped in the rich tradition of service. There could be no better place to continue the dialog about the importance of national service… so much a part of the former president's legacy, and the current president's hopes for now and future generations… than here at Texas A&M.

Thank you all for coming.