Texas A&M Yell Leader Weston Wilcox leads students during the 2008 Maroon and White game.

The 2008-2009 Yell Leaders lead the crowd at the 2008 Maroon and White Game. Junior Yell Leader Casey Schaefer, far right, says being carried off the field by freshmen after winning a football game was one of the coolest experiences of being a Yell Leader.

Corps picks cadets for Yell Leader elections

By: Meredith Zdenek

Posted: 2/25/09

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets has chosen the cadets to represent them in the spring elections for Yell Leader.

Cadets Ben Debayle, Lans Martin, Fletcher Massie, Casey Schaefer and Weston Wilcox have been the yell leaders for 2008-2009. Juniors Schaefer and Wilcox will run for re-election, along with three other cadets chosen by their peers.

Schaefer, from Squadron 17, said there isn't really a tryout process for Yell Leader.

"Weston and I got put up because the Corps has its own unique process," said the finance major. "Our peers got together and voted for who they wanted to represent them [as students], the Corps and Texas A&M as well, and who they thought would be the best to do that."

Members of the Corps chose eight cadets for the interview process. The eight cadets interviewed with the top 35 seniors in the Corps.

The three who were chosen to campaign for the spring elections were sophomores Squadron 17 finance major Cody Howdeshell, and B2 Patriots international studies major Travis Kennedy, and junior Squadron 17 finance and real estate major John Kovach.

Wilcox, from L1 (Lonestar Company), said the process of campaigning is a structuralized process.

"You have a group of people that are considered a campaigning staff and you have a number of campaigners that just do you favors that you can never repay them for. It is the most intense week and a half I have ever experienced, but definitely the most rewarding at the same time," Wilcox said.

Kovach, Kennedy, and Howdeshell said they are excited about their campaigning.

"Once you work hard for something and you get to see it become successful, that is what's exciting. I'm looking forward to the wonderful opportunity to better serve Aggieland as a Yell Leader," Kennedy said.

Kovach said this is the ultimate opportunity to give back to the school that has given him so much.

"We've been planning and stuff for weeks and going to meetings to prepare. Every event that an organization is holding, if they invite us we're going to go. That will hopefully prepare us to one day be Yell Leader," Kovach said.

He said that to run for Yell Leader, a person has to get chosen by their peers in the Corps. Kovach, Kennedy, and Howdeshell did not find out they were running for yell leader until Feb. 13.

Howdeshell said he is not worried about the upcoming election.

"Everyone has those anxieties about elections and how its going to turn out," he said, "but at the end of the day, it's not up to us whether we are going to be elected or not, it's up to the student body."

In a typical day of a Yell Leader, there are many events and socials in addition to the games they attend.

"As Yell Leaders, we are members of the Corps first, so we would like to honor our involvement there first."

He said they have to be up on Wednesdays and Fridays for physical training at 5:30 a.m. and by 6:30 a.m. on other days.

"We have classes along with little events during the day, sometimes three or four in one day," Wilcox said."It can be really busy, but as far as it goes, I wouldn't trade it for anything,"

Schaefer said one of the coolest things he experienced as a Yell Leader was getting carried off the football field by the freshmen after winning a football game.

"I also remember one time we did a Girl Scout event and we were at Sully hanging out with around 100 girls, anywhere from 7 to 15 years old," Schaefer said.

He said the girls would come up and want a hug or want them to sign their hand or name-tag or take a picture.

"Not that its anything that we do, but just the fact that a Yell Leader at A&M would come up to them, because it's not us," he said. "It's either the overalls or the white suit, but just making their day in so small of a way and getting the girls excited about A&M… Just being there and taking the awkward hugs, it was great. Those are rewarding because there are smaller events like that that the people are so appreciative about you just being there."

Wilcox agreed with Schaefer, saying moments like the ones shared with the Girl Scouts make all of the other events worth it.

"Telling people about how great this place is and telling people that they are making the best decision of their life coming here, spending the next four years here. It's a blast telling people about Aggieland and sharing about what all it's done for you and how much you love this place," Schaefer said. "It's fun to just tell people."