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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2004)
ATTji Aggielife The Battalion Page 3 • Thursday, July 15, 2004 WHERE ARE THEY HOW? SC Counc luateSi) Jrlher ( irsity*; admiss: irtmeti: progf; C jiardiri morel; ationisl Former students graduate from running the MSC to running the corporate world By Amber Gray THE BATTALION Thomas Champe Fitzhugh never imagined he would need any the skills he learned during his term as MSC Council president S 1 >n during 1970-71. ty for i “If someone had told me then that I was going to use daily all I Texa limed during my experience at the MSC, it wouldn’t have made tS $1' Ijjy sense to me,” Fitzhugh, Class of ’71, said. “I definitely didn’t tb nk I'd ever need any of it.” t for;;! The Memorial Student Center Council president is a stu- ^gi' dent leader at the helm of an organization with a $6.4 million M 6 < annual budget. I “(The position) functions like the CEO of a small corporation,” said Jim Reynolds, director of the Memorial Student Center. ■ The MSC Council president typically spends 35-40 hours per Week of volunteer time to produce nearly 800 programs for the RM student body and organize 1,400 activities every year. He or -“ le is responsible for strategic planning, budgeting, organization 9*' Bsessment, and production of these organizations and activities H Id works closely with other leaders such as the student body lesident, the Corps commander, the Residence Hall Association p csident and the vice president of Student Affairs, Reynolds said. Despite their busy schedule, most MSC Council presidents have PR between 3.5 and 3.9. “These are bright, talented, creative and highly motivated stu nts,” Reynolds said. Since graduation, Fitzhugh has learned the leadership oppor- ity was tremendously beneficial. With the practice he gained iking in front of large groups and dealing with all kinds of peo- e, Fitzhugh said he was much better prepared for the workplace, lloweiil “It’s an experience I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else,” y’sro Ftzhugh said. “Interacting with the organizations hasn't been too open incredibly different than dealing with clients as a lawyer.” eprefcl Fitzhugh has been practicing law for more than 28 years, andc and has had the privilege of owning his own law firm, •b. [Mtzhugh, Elliott and Ammerman, P.C. for the past 18 years. KarJ; Following graduation, Fitzhugh spent two years on active duty in the mili tary, which led to his work for the National Security Agency. He then went on to help found and run another MSC, the Maritime Security Council. Partnered with such gov ernmental agen cies as the U.S. Department of State and INTERPOL, the MSC works to prevent illegal drug trafficking, theft, piracy and terror ism. “I’ve been work ing with the council for 16 years,” he said, “We were working on anti-ter rorism efforts long before it was fash ionable.” He has stayed involved with A&M through establishing the Champe Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar in 1992. This two-week, pre freshman seminar gives chosen National Merit Semi-Finalists or National Achievement Semi-Finalists the opportunity to get to know each other through an international travel experience in Santa Chiara, Italy. “The program has been very successful,” Fitzhugh said. “It opens the doors and students’ minds to study abroad oppor- File Photos Courtesy of • THE ACGIELAND Clockwise, from left: Tom Fitzhugh '71 is an attorney in Houston and established the Champe Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar; Camm "Trey" Lary '95 began his own Houston law firm; John Oeffinger '75 is self- employed and lives in Austin; Brooks Herring '80 works for Shell Oil Company and lives in The Woodlands. tunities, and it’s definitely the accomplishment I’m most proud of.” Fitzhugh has also been teaching maritime law at Texas A&M at Galveston for the past eight years. “I love working with students,” he said. “And 1 love the benefits of teaching.” From his experience as an MSC Council president from 1976- 77, John Oeffinger can only encourage students to get actively See MSC on page 4 yone iDg (to inpui JFTFTK T'E>CASM^iLLOFt^AJVIELIWET 0 979-822-222% itherri le :r de'; "enter. :esani er’s 1 war 3men nans but tltf A for’ lusias tower Hall off Appearing LIVE in concert,.. ♦ All tickets $8 at the door ♦ $1 u-call-its, $1 longnecks and 75# bar drinks til 10 pm ♦ $2.50 pitchers and $1.50 chuggers all night! 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