Galveston Wharves Establishes Endowment for Maritime Scholarships at Texas A&M University at Galveston

Galveston Wharves Establishes Endowment for Maritime Scholarships at Texas A&M University at Galveston

November 19, 2025

The Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees has established a scholarship endowment of more than $300,000 for Texas A&M Galveston maritime students. Pictured at the signing ceremony: seated from left, Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees and Board Chairman Vic Pierson; standing center, Anna Hyatt, Texas A&M Foundation; and standing from left, Board Attorney Tony Brown, and board members Jeff Patterson, Sheila Lidstone, Erik Stramblad, Mayor Craig Brown, Richard Moore and Willy Gonzalez.

GALVESTON, TX (Nov. 19, 2025) – The Galveston Wharves is investing in the future of the maritime industry by establishing an endowment for scholarships at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Created with funding from Port of Galveston bicentennial sponsors, the endowment will support students pursuing degrees in maritime and marine-related fields.

Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, said, “As one of the Gulf Coast’s leading deepwater ports, the Port of Galveston depends on a strong pipeline of skilled professionals to sustain and grow our maritime economy. This endowment of more than $300,000 reflects our commitment to helping the next generation of mariners, administrators, engineers, and logistics experts gain the education and training they need to lead this critical industry.”

Scholarships totaling $3,000 each will be awarded annually to four undergraduates pursuing degrees in Maritime Business Administration, Marine Transportation or Marine Engineering Technology beginning in fall 2026. Preference will be given to students from Galveston County.

Texas A&M University at Galveston, a maritime-focused campus of the Texas A&M University System, educates future leaders in fields including marine transportation, maritime business, ocean engineering, and environmental science. The new endowment will provide financial support for students who demonstrate academic achievement and a commitment to maritime careers.

“Partnerships like this are vital to the success of our students and the maritime industry as a whole,” said Col. Michael E. Fossum ’80 (Ret.) USAFR, vice president of Texas A&M University, chief operating officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston. “We are grateful to the Galveston Wharves for investing in our students and strengthening the connection between education and industry.”

Vic Pierson, chairman of the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees, added, “We’re extremely grateful to the dozens of port partners who contributed to the port’s bicentennial fund to sponsor our 200th anniversary celebration, with proceeds going to establish this lasting endowment. It’s a legacy that they can be truly proud of.”

Rees said, “The Port of Galveston has been part of this community for 200 years. Supporting maritime education ensures that our industry continues to thrive for the next 200.”

About the Port of Galveston

Located at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, the Port of Galveston has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825. Just 45 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre

port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses.

The port is the fourth-ranked cruise home port in the U.S. with four cruise terminals. In 2026 the port projects 445 sailings and 3.9 million passenger movements, a new record for the port.

Galveston also leases and maintains a wide range of cargo facilities on the deep-water Galveston Harbor, which is ranked among the top 40 busiest U.S. cargo waterways. The Galveston Wharves is a self-sustaining city entity whose mission is to generate and reinvest port revenues to benefit the Galveston community with economic growth, jobs and sales tax revenues. www.portofgalveston.com

About the Texas A&M Foundation

The Texas A&M Foundation builds a brighter future for Texas A&M University, one relationship at a time.

As a nonprofit and the primary academic fundraising institution for Texas A&M, including the Galveston campus, our team partners with former students, corporations and other supporters to match their charitable passions with opportunities for purposeful philanthropy at Texas A&M. www.txamfoundation.com