Texas A&M University former student Steve Robertson ’89 and his wife Kristina Robertson have established a scholarship to support Texas A&M engineering technology students in the Corps of Cadets. |
Image: Courtesy of Kristina and Steve Robertson
Kristina and Steve Robertson ’89 have recently established the Kristina S. and Steve K. Robertson '89 Endowed Scholarship. Distributions from this endowment will be used to provide one or more scholarships to Corps of Cadets students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in engineering technology in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution at Texas A&M University.
Steve Robertson’s life has been markedly influenced by Aggies, the Corps of Cadets and the traditions of Texas A&M. From his great uncle Edwin “Beck” Beckcom Jr. ’38 to his oldest son, Steven P. Robertson ’11, many of Steve’s family members have earned their Aggie rings. Following a high school visit with his second cousin, Lt. Col. Ed Beckcom ’65 at Carswell Air Force Base, Steve knew College Station was the place for him to experience the military traditions that are embodied by the Aggie spirit.
From the moment he stepped onto campus, Aggies began to shape Steve’s future. During his New Student Conference, Steve saw a friend (Maj. Bryn A. Russell ’89, U.S. Air Force ret.) he met the summer before at Texas Boys State and the two began talking about their intentions to join the Corps of Cadets. This coincidental meeting led him to join the E-1 “Jocks” outfit in the Corps, which would establish lifelong relationships between him and his buddies. “This was a decision that would shape my adult life,” Robertson said. “There are 13 of us who made it through all four years together and we are still close to this day.”
Steve earned his degree in mechanical engineering technology, which provided him a solid foundation of the skills that he would need to start his professional career. Though his classroom experience was critical, it was the dedication and work ethic of his mentors and advisors that proved to be pivotal to his success.
“Dr. Tim Coppinger ’65 was my academic advisor, professor and mentor,” Robertson recalled. “He made a strong impact on me by encouraging the ‘art of creative ingenuity’ and persistence in working through a problem.”
Aggies continued to rally alongside Steve and guide his steps — from John Heartsill ’40 and Noel Bryant offering him a spring break job in 1987 to pay for his senior ring, to David Sahm ’82 generously helping him and Kristina obtain married student housing during their senior year. John Sodolak ’70, Mitch Beasley ’84 and Sam Weise mentored him in his student maintenance technician job at married student housing. After Steve’s graduation, Dick Piner ’50 hired him for his first full-time engineering job at Total Engineering Services Team, Incorporated (TEST, Inc.) in New Orleans.
“The opportunity that Mr. Piner gave me, with progressive experience in the domestic and international upstream oil and gas industry, was invaluable,” Robertson said.
The exposure he gained at this job and the help of an ‘old Ag’ contact led him to his next career opportunity at Halliburton Completion Products in Carrollton, Texas, with what Steve recalls as the “biggest Aggie family outside of an A&M Club.” Don Perkins ’77, Rick Welch ’78, Cindy Tuckness ’80 and numerous others were invaluable in his professional development.
His journey alongside fellow Aggies brought him to Chevron in 2007. He is now nearing 15 years of working at the company and currently holds the title of senior subsea controls engineer. Steve credits the comradery he has found among Texas A&M alumni for allowing him to contribute to his industry the way he does today. “I am eternally grateful for the opportunities that my Texas A&M education helped provide and the successes we have achieved together,” he said.
Texas A&M’s culture and traditions are what inspired Steve and Kristina to give back to the school that has given so much to them. “I may have walked across the stage alone in August 1989 to collect my diploma, but in no way was it a solitary effort,” he said. “There are so many people who helped make that possible.”
Steve hopes to help others the same way he and Kristina were helped. “We have a very strong desire to pay it back by paying it forward,” he said. “This endowment is one of those mechanisms for us to achieve our desire to help someone fulfill their goal of graduating from Texas A&M.”
The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is a member of the Corps of Cadets. The strong military backgrounds in both Steve’s and Kristina’s families led them to Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets so the desire to continue those traditions was a given. “We hope to reduce some of the financial strain on the recipient so that they can focus on their academics while still actively participating in the Corps of Cadets and the university,” Robertson said.
By financially walking alongside Aggie students, the Robertsons are able to fulfill a goal of generosity that they have had since his graduation. “It has always been our desire to give back to A&M with more than just our annual Century Club membership, in a manner that directly benefits a student,” he said. “This endowment has provided that opportunity on a bigger scale.”
Steve Robertson’s life has been markedly influenced by Aggies, the Corps of Cadets and the traditions of Texas A&M. From his great uncle Edwin “Beck” Beckcom Jr. ’38 to his oldest son, Steven P. Robertson ’11, many of Steve’s family members have earned their Aggie rings. Following a high school visit with his second cousin, Lt. Col. Ed Beckcom ’65 at Carswell Air Force Base, Steve knew College Station was the place for him to experience the military traditions that are embodied by the Aggie spirit.
From the moment he stepped onto campus, Aggies began to shape Steve’s future. During his New Student Conference, Steve saw a friend (Maj. Bryn A. Russell ’89, U.S. Air Force ret.) he met the summer before at Texas Boys State and the two began talking about their intentions to join the Corps of Cadets. This coincidental meeting led him to join the E-1 “Jocks” outfit in the Corps, which would establish lifelong relationships between him and his buddies. “This was a decision that would shape my adult life,” Robertson said. “There are 13 of us who made it through all four years together and we are still close to this day.”
Steve earned his degree in mechanical engineering technology, which provided him a solid foundation of the skills that he would need to start his professional career. Though his classroom experience was critical, it was the dedication and work ethic of his mentors and advisors that proved to be pivotal to his success.
“Dr. Tim Coppinger ’65 was my academic advisor, professor and mentor,” Robertson recalled. “He made a strong impact on me by encouraging the ‘art of creative ingenuity’ and persistence in working through a problem.”
Aggies continued to rally alongside Steve and guide his steps — from John Heartsill ’40 and Noel Bryant offering him a spring break job in 1987 to pay for his senior ring, to David Sahm ’82 generously helping him and Kristina obtain married student housing during their senior year. John Sodolak ’70, Mitch Beasley ’84 and Sam Weise mentored him in his student maintenance technician job at married student housing. After Steve’s graduation, Dick Piner ’50 hired him for his first full-time engineering job at Total Engineering Services Team, Incorporated (TEST, Inc.) in New Orleans.
“The opportunity that Mr. Piner gave me, with progressive experience in the domestic and international upstream oil and gas industry, was invaluable,” Robertson said.
The exposure he gained at this job and the help of an ‘old Ag’ contact led him to his next career opportunity at Halliburton Completion Products in Carrollton, Texas, with what Steve recalls as the “biggest Aggie family outside of an A&M Club.” Don Perkins ’77, Rick Welch ’78, Cindy Tuckness ’80 and numerous others were invaluable in his professional development.
His journey alongside fellow Aggies brought him to Chevron in 2007. He is now nearing 15 years of working at the company and currently holds the title of senior subsea controls engineer. Steve credits the comradery he has found among Texas A&M alumni for allowing him to contribute to his industry the way he does today. “I am eternally grateful for the opportunities that my Texas A&M education helped provide and the successes we have achieved together,” he said.
Texas A&M’s culture and traditions are what inspired Steve and Kristina to give back to the school that has given so much to them. “I may have walked across the stage alone in August 1989 to collect my diploma, but in no way was it a solitary effort,” he said. “There are so many people who helped make that possible.”
Steve hopes to help others the same way he and Kristina were helped. “We have a very strong desire to pay it back by paying it forward,” he said. “This endowment is one of those mechanisms for us to achieve our desire to help someone fulfill their goal of graduating from Texas A&M.”
The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is a member of the Corps of Cadets. The strong military backgrounds in both Steve’s and Kristina’s families led them to Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets so the desire to continue those traditions was a given. “We hope to reduce some of the financial strain on the recipient so that they can focus on their academics while still actively participating in the Corps of Cadets and the university,” Robertson said.
By financially walking alongside Aggie students, the Robertsons are able to fulfill a goal of generosity that they have had since his graduation. “It has always been our desire to give back to A&M with more than just our annual Century Club membership, in a manner that directly benefits a student,” he said. “This endowment has provided that opportunity on a bigger scale.”
How to Give
Endowments supporting students in the Texas A&M University College of Engineering have an immeasurable impact on their education. If you are interested in supporting the College of Engineering and its departments or would like more information on how you can give, please contact Hannah Simonds, assistant director of development.