Issue date: 6/4/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Jon Eilts Student body president Beckham has much planned for the upcoming academic year. [Click to enlarge]

Student body president Eric Beckham is always on the go. Although it's summertime, he's swimming in preparations for the fall.

Beckham will be in two places this summer: he is taking two classes in College Station and has a job in Houston.

"I spend two days [a week] in Houston working for an oil company," Beckham said. "It is my third year to work there. I go Mondays after class, spend the night at my house in Houston where I grew up, and go to work on Tuesdays."

The aspiring petroleum engineer enjoys working on drilling projects and his job.

After he receives his bachelor's degree he plans to jump straight into a job at an oil company.

"I'm not sure who I will work for or where I will end up exactly," Beckham said, "but I would like to work for a U.S. independent company doing exploration and production."

Beckham also finds time to get involved as a member of the Aggie Men's Club, a service club that participates in a minimum of two volunteer projects a semester. The service project he focuses on is helping out at the Still Creek Boys Ranch in Bryan, a home for boys who have been victims of abuse or abandonment.

"When we hear the statement, 'There is a spirit that can ne'er be told,' I think of Eric," said Ben Welch, adviser for the Aggie Men's Club . "His love for A&M runs deep with his commitment to Aggie Spirit and the traditions that we hold dear, but he is also a man of deep conviction to change those things that will best serve our University."

Though humble, Beckham is someone that others revere, Welch said.

"[He is] a man that I would love either of my two sons to emulate."

As a freshman Beckham received the Buck Weirus Spirit Award, an award given out to 55 students a year for their demonstration of Aggie spirit and involvement on campus.

However, Beckham said his biggest accomplishment is becoming a student at A&M.

When he isn't working hard to keep up his grades or getting ahead in his career, Beckham said he loves taking it easy and playing golf.

Although Beckham has a lot on his plate this season, he remains positive and enjoys the slower paced atmosphere of the campus in the summer.

Although Beckham is working hard in the summer he said he knows that the fall will bring an even more hectic schedule.

"Last year, being Mark's vice president, I had a pretty good exposure of what is to come and what to expect," Beckham said, "I think I have good time management, so I think it's going to be different, but it will be manageable."

As a true Aggie, Beckham has traditions of his own such as spending time in the company of his family at their lake house.

However, boating and fishing are not Beckham's only summer pastimes. He said that he loves all water sports, but wakeboarding is his favorite.

Beckham epitomizes selfless service, said Beckham's roommate and senior psychology major Tyler Roberts.

"Beckham was raising money for all these different organizations and putting on drives while never talking about the thing he was doing and the time he was putting in; he was too humble to do that," Roberts said.

In preparing for his new role, Beckham said it is important to take advantage of the spare time given by the summer, but also it is important to formulate goals and plans for the year.

"My main goal is to help the student body have their faith and their trust re-established in their student leaders."

Beckham will be a great student body president in the upcoming year, said student body vice president Jacob Robinson.

"He is a hard worker, dedicated, and I have never met someone that loves A&M quite as much," Robinson said. "He truly embodies the Aggie spirit, that combined with passion, desire and drive makes him the best person for the job."

Beckham, amazingly, manages to pay his tuition by working while also going to summer school, Robinson said.

As vice president, Robinson will take on Beckham's duties when he is unavailable.

The most important thing for students to know about next year's student government is that it will have an open-door policy, Robinson said.

"First and foremost Eric is a student here at A&M, so our door is always open," Robinson said. "We are not here to lock ourselves in Koldus and follow our own personal agenda. We are here to listen to the students."

Beckham said being student body president is not all politics but is about helping students and making the A&M experience a memorable one.

Every Aggie should be able to make the most of their years at the University, Beckham said.

"You're at one of the best schools in the nation and you don't want to miss a day," Beckham said.

Student leader profile series
Once a week during the summer, The Battalion will be profiling a student leader to gain insight into their lives and what it takes to do their job.

Meet the president
Find out what Eric loves most about being an Aggie.

Young at heart
As a child, Eric's dream was to go pro in sports.

Hear from him
Read Eric's guest column to students.

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