The Memorial Student Center Turned 75. We’re Celebrating With a Look Back at Its Student Programs.

East of Old Main Drive stands a building that every good Ag knows: The Memorial Student Center, or MSC for short. For over seven decades now, the “living room of campus” has been a beloved gathering place for student programs at Texas A&M University. Read on to learn how these organizations have shaped Aggies’ sense of leadership, learning and community through the years.
 

1951: Dedication and Early Days

Campus gathers to dedicate the Memorial Student Center on Muster as a living memorial to Aggies who gave their lives in the world wars. Construction, funded in part by war bonds from The Association of Former Students, began in 1947 and was headed by J. Wayne Stark ’39, the MSC’s acclaimed first director. The student-led MSC Council also becomes the unifying force behind its student programs.

“Back in the day, this was where you got involved on campus,” said MSC Programs’ Director Jennifer Boyle ’97. “MSC Programs has a strong loyalty from former students. Without them laying the groundwork, we wouldn’t be who we are today.”

1951: MSC Town Hall

Originally formed in 1939, this popular source of campus entertainment joins MSC Programs. From sold-out musical performances to comedy shows, Town Hall has brought the community the likes of John Denver, The Beach Boys, Destiny’s Child and Kevin Hart. Its Coffeehouse concert series provides a venue for local talent, helping jumpstart the careers of artists like Lyle Lovett ’79 and Robert Earl Keen ’78, who performed in its shows as students as part of the Basement Committee organization at the time.

1955: Student Conference on National Affairs (SCONA)

SCONA’s first conference attracts delegates from across 15 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. In the decades since, it has contributed to the growth of future leaders and policymakers by providing students opportunities to hear from distinguished speakers and engage in roundtable discussions on current issues. This year marked its 71st conference.

“You can go anywhere in the world and get a college degree,” said current MSC Council President Julia Bumguardner ’26, “but when you come to Texas A&M University, you get that and something more. MSC Programs has helped me develop as a leader both personally and professionally.”

1970: Stark Northeast Tour

Following J. Wayne Stark’s vision to expand students’ worldviews, the Stark Northeast Tour begins sending students beyond state borders to tour premier U.S. cities and universities. Today, over 1,000 student delegates have benefited from the experience. Harvard, The Bush School DC and the University of Pennsylvania are all stops along the way as students grow their Aggie network and explore possibilities for graduate school and beyond.

1972: Opera and Performing Arts Society (OPAS)

OPAS forms to bring outstanding professional theater and music productions to the Brazos Valley. In the years since, Rudder Auditorium has come alive with iconic performances such as “Cats” and “Les Misérables,” while artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Willie Nelson have also graced Aggieland’s stage. Today, the organization is supported by a student committee housed under MSC Programs.

1982: Wiley Lecture Series

The Endowed Lecture Series begins to host a showcase panel discussion on U.S. foreign policy topics. The first event entitled “The Future of the Western Alliance” featured former President Gerald Ford, former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and former British Prime Minister Edward Heath, with moderator journalist Marvin Kalb. In the following year, it was funded by brothers A.P. Wiley Jr. and James Wiley Sr., both from the Class of 1946, and the committee became the Wiley Lecture Series.

This student-led event gives students the opportunity to manage the planning and implementation of the entire program and to host celebrated dignitaries and experts.

1986: MSC Leland T. and Jessie W. Jordan Institute for International Awareness

A generous endowment by Jessie Wright Jordan opens the doors of the Jordan Institute, inviting life changing study abroad experiences. Named in honor of her husband, L.T. Jordan, Class of 1929, the institute provides international education programs to help students gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of world cultures. It also keeps Stark’s legacy alive, contributing to MSC Programs’ aim to develop global leaders who can contribute to their communities, nation and the world.

“There’s an invincible spark within each student who is engaged in MSC Programs,” said Deryle Richmond, associate director for MSC Programs, who has advised students within the department for 41 years. “They're developing the leadership skills that will allow them to be effective in the next phase of their lives but also leaving a great legacy among their peers.”

1992: Conway-Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar

Founded by former MSC Council President Thomas Fitzhugh III ’71, the Conway-Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar selects its first cohort of freshmen to take part in a two week education abroad experience in Italy. The program was further supported in 2019 with a gift from Dr. Patrick Conway ’96, who attended its first trip. Participants undergo a competitive application process and are selected based on scholastic achievement and leadership.

2025: Club Crawl

MSC Open House debuts under the new name of Club Crawl: The Official Involvement Festival at Texas A&M. Preserving the face-to-face element valued by students, the festival expands the one-day event showcasing student organizations to include more venues, live entertainment and food trucks.

“It’s a celebration of student involvement,” Boyle said, noting that Club Crawl builds on the MSC’s legacy as a central student gathering place. “As we celebrate 75 years, let’s not just look back,” she proclaimed at a 75th anniversary event. “Let’s look forward to a future where MSC Programs continues to be a place of connection, leadership, learning, growth and community for every Aggie.”