BRIDGING THE COMMUNITY
Maroon and White Night
By JACKSON KING
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOWNTOWN BRYAN ASSOCIATION
T
he week after spring break, locals and
college students, including Texas A&M
University and Blinn College, are invited
to downtown Bryan for a free night of
music and entertainment that celebrates
the Bryan College Station community.
In partnership with the Aggie
Vanguards, the Downtown Bryan
Association, and the city of Bryan,
Maroon and White Night invites
businesses and organizations into
downtown Bryan with the hope of
enticing students to head downtown.
Happening on March 20, the event copies
several elements from the DBA’s First
Friday event model to create a distinct
community event focusing on college
students’ desires.
For Aggie Vanguards, a student
organization with the goal of fostering
connections to the community, the event
is a great way to grow the bond between
students and the community, says Ryan
King, president of Aggie Vanguards.
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“If you’ve been down there, you know that
downtown’s very pretty with a lot to do,
but a lot of students don’t even know about
it,” says King. “Ultimately the goal is to
keep education here and further develop
this area, bringing in startups who have
positions open for students to let them
know that there are jobs here.”
King, a senior supply chain
management major, says part of the
inspiration for the event came from a
discussion with venture capitalist Mike
Troy, where King realized how directing
college students’ attention towards
local businesses can help develop local
economic growth.
“One of the big things [Troy] mentioned
is that the talented students with
education want to like where they live,”
says King. “Having students down here,
seeing that this is a good place to live and
that it has a lot to offer and a lot to do
out here, that’ll get the ‘talent’ excited to
live in this area. Because of that, those
businesses will see that, too, bring more
jobs, invest in more businesses, and build
the community.”
Entertainment for Maroon and White
Night starts at 7 p.m. with the Texas A&M
Yell Leaders leading a yell practice. Then
on the main stage, fan-favorite local band
The Texas Unlimited Band performs
alongside local artist Russell Boyd.
Student organizations and local musicians
will provide music and entertainment
throughout downtown Bryan, performing
at venues like the Palace Theater and the
Grand Stafford Theater.
While the event focuses on college
students, Maroon and White night
has something for all members of the
community. In addition to providing
entertainment options, Texas A&M and
Blinn student organizations will be
downtown to showcase what makes their
organization unique to members of the
community. This opportunity for the B/CS
community and student organizations to