Members of the marchiing band pass by the camera wearing gold uniforms on top and black on the bottom. They are carrying blue and gold drums with the gold Lion head on them.
Members of the Pride Marching Band play in the holiday parade in downtown Commerce. | Photo Credit: Jason Connel, ETAMU Marketing and Communications

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree: 12 ETAMU Achievements Worth Singing About

Set to the tune of a beloved holiday classic, we're counting down 12 celebratory moments that defined a remarkable year at East Texas A&M!

All together now, Lions…

In the first month of this year, we celebrated at ET…a partnership with Nike!

In January, East Texas A&M announced a multi-year partnership with Nike and BSN SPORTS. Nike officially became ETAMU's outfitter in June, supplying Lion Athletics uniforms, apparel and footwear. The partnership provides student-athletes with the latest Nike styles to optimize their performance.

In the second month of this year, we celebrated at ET…R2 Research status through Carnegie!

East Texas A&M earned designation as a Research 2 (R2) institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education on Feb. 13. This recognition highlights the university’s commitment to research and innovation, placing it among an elite group of leading research institutions within The Texas A&M University System and nationwide.

In the third month of this year, we celebrated at ET…the groundbreaking for a new Event Center facility!

East Texas A&M broke ground on its new Event Center on March 27, a game-changer for athletics, entertainment, and community connections in Northeast Texas. The multi-use facility will primarily serve as the home for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams. Beyond athletics, the 65,000-square-foot venue will host a range of major university and community events, including graduations, concerts, conventions and special gatherings.

In the fourth month of this year, we celebrated at ET…a Regents Professor awardee!

Regents Professor of Music Brian Zator, DMA, was officially recognized for his outstanding achievement at the annual spring convocation on April 17. Dr. Tracy B. Henley, a psychology professor, also received the Regents Professor honor in November of this year. The Regents Professor award is the highest honor bestowed on faculty in The Texas A&M University System.

In the fifth month of this year, we celebrated at ET…the largest graduation in school history!

East Texas A&M marked a milestone commencement in May, celebrating its largest graduating class to date. In total, more than 1,600 new Lion alums received their degrees across five ceremonies. The record-breaking ceremony reflected growing enrollment, academic momentum and student success.

In the sixth month of this year, we celebrated at ET…full Division I eligibility!

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved East Texas A&M for full Division I membership on June 23, making the Lions immediately eligible for postseason competition. As Northeast Texas’s only Division I university, ETAMU officially entered a new era of competition and national visibility.

In the seventh month of this year, we celebrated at ET…a national rodeo champion named Rylee!

In July, ETAMU announced in a news post that Rylee George had captured a national title in Breakaway Roping at the 2025 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. Five Lions qualified for the CNFR, and George’s horse, Royce, earned AQHA Breakaway Roping Horse of the Year honors, spotlighting ETAMU’s rodeo excellence.

In the eighth month of this year, we celebrated at ET…a planet discovery!

In August, East Texas A&M shared the news that Dr. Billy Quarles is contributing to research identifying the possible discovery of a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A—the closest star system to Earth. Conducted in collaboration with NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute, the discovery could mark a significant milestone in the search for Earth-like planets. National outlets, including The New York Times, Scientific American, BBC, and leading science communications announced the discovery.

In the ninth month of this year, we celebrated at ET…programs ranked nationally!

East Texas A&M earned national recognition in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, with high placements in nursing, undergraduate engineering, and social mobility. The rankings, released in September, reflect the university’s emphasis on academic excellence, student success, and increasing access to higher education.

In the 10th month of this year, we celebrated at ET…a refreshed Alumni Center for the Lion community!

East Texas A&M proudly announced the renaming of its Alumni Center to the McCord Family Alumni Center in a news story on Oct. 20. The name honors the late Sam and Barb McCord, whose 100+ years of combined service and dedication to East Texas A&M have left an enduring legacy. The revitalized space supports alumni engagement, student networking and university events. It is designed to foster a sense of community among students and alumni.

In the 11th month of this year, we celebrated at ET…a Buffalo Wild Wings eatery!

Buffalo Wild Wings officially opened on campus on November 10, expanding dining options for students, faculty and visitors. The space features a bar, patio area and more than 60 television screens, ensuring sports fans don’t miss any of the action during their favorite games.

In the 12th month of this year, we celebrated at ET…hard-earned university degrees!

The Lion community gathered to celebrate Fall Commencement on Dec. 12 and 13, welcoming 1,344 new graduates into the Lion alumni family. In total, 486 students received academic distinction, meaning they graduated with an overall grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

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Together, these 12 celebratory moments capture a year of pride and progress at East Texas A&M. The hard work and dedication of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and the entire Lion community truly give us something to sing about!

Happy Holidays, Lions!