If you’re a student or recent graduate with an Aggie Ring on your finger, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the voice of Scot Walker, Class of 1990.
In addition to his role as assistant vice president of communications for The Association of Former Students, Walker serves as the announcer at Aggie Ring Day. In 2007, he started working at The Association as an editor of Texas Aggie magazine. One year, Walker was asked to fill in for former Aggie ring day announcer Scott Jarvis, and he later moved into the position on a more permanent basis when Jarvis left. Friday will be his 21st time emceeing Aggie Ring Day.
Kelli Hutka, Class of 1997, and director of campus programs for The Association, said Scot is exactly what they needed in an announcer.
“Scot’s voice just simply resonates,” Hutka said. “His composure and his ability to connect with the crowd and his willingness to be right within the happenings of everything — he’s not one that just sits back and is remote, but [with] all of those characteristics, we felt like he was going to be the ideal person for it, and he stepped up really well to it.”
Kathryn Greenwade, vice president for communications and human resources, said Walker has been a great announcer ever since he took on the role.
“We are looking for someone who has a clear, commanding and welcoming voice, and Scot does that,” Greenwade said. “That person is not just reading a script. They need to have good situational awareness and be able to react on the fly to certain situations and give instructions in a very calm way and in a warm way.”
Greenwade said that while Walker is known as the voice of Ring Day, his contributions to The Association of Former Students goes far beyond this.
“He is one of the most respected and trusted members of our team,” Greenwade said. “He’s a mentor to many of our younger staff members and he is just a very wise and seasoned professional who just does great work for The Association and for Texas A&M. I value his contributions very much and I value him as a team member.”
Walker said his favorite part of Ring Day is watching the reactions of proud parents.
“Ring Day to me is like Christmas, birthday and family reunion all wrapped up into one big day,” Walker said. “People are happy and there is accomplishment and achievement and there is also fellowship and networking and Aggie spirit.”