We here at Sweet Oak Collaborative recently received some incredibly exciting news from our friends at Texas A&M University. The student chapter of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) recently competed in the Intercollegiate Bowl (ICBA) at the centennial Texas City Management Association (TCMA) annual conference in Arlington. What’s more, they won second place for their project supporting Sweet Oak Collaborative!
Not only did the TAMU chapter win the trivia competition for the second consecutive year, but they also maintained their overall silver-medal streak for the third time. The TAMU chapter presented the outstanding results of the hygiene items drive they organized on our behalf.
The TAMU ICMA chapter, housed within the Bush School of Government & Public Service, is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of public servants. They work hard to connect Aggies with the local government management profession, bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world community impact. We are especially grateful for this group because they recently chose to sponsor Sweet Oak Collaborative for a hygiene items drive, gathering essential supplies to make a tangible difference for the people we serve right here in the Brazos Valley.
We want to extend a massive thank you and congratulations to the recently graduated, outgoing Student Chapter President, Pey Zeigler, whose leadership was instrumental in our joint hygiene drive. As Pey steps into her post-grad career, we are thrilled to welcome and collaborate with Emily Derrick as the new, incoming student leader.
When asked about their efforts fundraising for Sweet Oak Collaborative and their recent win, Pey told us this, “As a small student organization focused on local government, our ICMA Student Chapter knows that some of the biggest impacts can happen at the smallest level. If you give a group of students who want to dedicate their careers to public service an opportunity to help, there’s really no limit to the time, energy, and enthusiasm they’re willing to bring. I hope the current and future students involved with ICMA take advantage of the chance to learn more about grassroots volunteerism through their partnership with your organization, serving wherever they’re needed most. And beyond that, I hope they’ll bring their own ideas and creativity to the table, finding new ways to contribute and maximize their impact. That’s often where the best service projects begin.”
Meanwhile, we spoke to Emily Derrick (the new student leader of ICMA) and asked her for a statement as well. Emily had this to say, “One of the things that makes the Texas A&M ICMA chapter so meaningful is the opportunity to use our skills and network to make a tangible difference in the communities around us. Supporting Sweet Oak Collaborative is an incredible opportunity for our members to invest in an organization that is creating lasting impact in the Brazos Valley. We’re proud to partner with Sweet Oak and help advance their mission through our fundraising efforts.”
A huge congratulations goes out to the entire competing team for their hard work and dedication: Pey Zeigler, Emily Derrick, Jacob King, Nathan Seal, Robert Valenzuela, and Chanse Holub. We also want to give a special shoutout to Professor Darrek Ferrell for his expert guidance and support of the team.
Future civic leaders like these are exactly what makes our community so strong. Congratulations again to TAMU ICMA on your silver medal!
Keep up with the chapter’s amazing work: Follow TAMU ICMA on Instagram here
