Website: https://www.tamufest.org/
Email: fest.tamu@gmail.com
Application & Informational Schedule: https://flac.tamu.edu/schedule/
Why apply to FEST?
FEST (Freshmen in Engineering, Science and Technology) is a FLO (Freshman Leadership Organization) that is dedicated to developing freshmen STEM majors into the future leaders on and off campus at Texas A&M University. FEST’s mission is to build a community of STEM majors that have a passion for personal development in areas of leadership, professionalism and in service. FEST fosters an environment for freshmen to grow quickly as leaders, build their network and become well rounded STEM students early on in their college career. FEST is committed to bringing its freshmen members opportunities for hands-on experience in organizing, planning and running events while forming lasting relationships with their peers. Whether it is through leadership in hosting a biotech company for a speaking event, organizing a service trip to Brazos County food bank, or having a blast during spring retreat, FEST offers countless opportunities for all around personal growth and development for its freshmen members.
What does a “week in FEST” look like?
A general week in FEST will include a mandatory meeting (1 hour) every week, one committee meeting (1 hour) a week and one social event per week (30 – 60 min). Most weeks will require at least 3 hours from FEST members participation.
Every two weeks there will be a non-regular event (Ex. Flo bowl, FEST professional event, FEST service event, etc.)
What did the remote experience look like due to COVID-19?
FEST maintained it’s weekly meetings, continuing to provide activities for freshmen members to remain involved with FEST. Activities included online game nights, presentations for ETAM and other changes involving member’s majors, online study groups, etc. Along with informative presentations on major related topics such as ETAM, all of the staff was made available to not only freshmen within their committees, but to the whole FLO for any questions or concerns that member’s had about future academics at Texas A&M University. FEST continued “nice things”, which were end of the year letters to each member in FEST written by fellow members and staff in FEST. The members of FEST were informed that FEST did not end with the semester, but would carry into the next semester as future staff members or through the big/little program.
FLOs are evaluated yearly based on several factors. Three of these factors are Leadership, Service, and Social. Here is what last year’s members experienced in these areas:
| Leadership | · Professional Speaking – 2 hours on communication
· LinkedIn Workshop – 45 min on using LinkedIn · End of the year formal – (was organized and planned but not executed) · Purchase of spring shirts – designed and handled purchasing of shirts · Speaker Dr. Zhogu – 1 hour on communication & EQ · Fuji-Film speakers – 1 hour on their business and college recruitment · Resume workshop – 1 hour · ETAM and major change presentation – 1 hour · Research presentation – 1 hour · Power Plant tour – On Campus tour of power plant · Student Development – Two 1 hour meetings covering mental health and maintaining health while in school · |
| Service | · Brazos County Food Bank – 6 hours (3 trips)
· Shack-a-thon: agreed to take part in event · Big Event: agreed to take part in event · Working with Habitat for Humanity · Working with Strides |
| Social | · FREE/FEST Finals Study eventInitial Hang out
· FESTgiving – FEST Thanksgiving out at Lake Bryan – 4 hour social · FESTivities – 1 hour FEST Christmas party · Boys and Girls night – 2 hour social splitting guys and girls · Boys and Girls night flipped – 2 hour guy directors with girl members and vice versa · FLO Football Game ticket pull – pulled tickets for UTSA game and attended game as FLO · FEST trivia night – 1 hour committee competition · Capture the Flag – 2 hour committee committee competition · Challenge night – 1 hour social full of different challenges · Valentines party – 1 hour · FLO baseball game – went to New Mexico state baseball game · Austin Retreat – Weekend retreat to Austin |
Organization Size:
| Position | Freshmen | Counselors | Executives |
| # Students | 48 | 12 | 3 |
Financial Information:
| Dues & Known Costs | · Fall Semester: $150
· Other: $15 |
| Financial Aid
(if available) |
FEST offers a financial assistance application for members who indicate they need it. The assistance comes from a staff member that volunteers to sponsor the individual; in the event, there is no volunteer then the money comes from fundraising efforts. |
Does FEST have a Big/Little Program? Yes
What does the Big/Little Experience entail?
The Big/Little program provides another source of support for freshmen members as they are transitioning into college. Freshmen will be paired up with their big, who will act as a facilitator in freshmen hanging out with college students who are not directly in the organization anymore. The Big/Little program now also consists of a family system, allowing Freshmen to connect with other member of the organization along with multiple bigs
Want to learn more?
Attend the FLAC Coordinated livestreams, informationals, and reach out to the student leaders using the contact information available on this page.
Find the full recruitment schedule here: https://flac.tamu.edu/schedule/
Want to Apply?
Go to: https://flac.tamu.edu/apply/