Sailing To Success – Student Clubs Anchored in Island Life

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — At Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, island life isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a way of life. Surrounded by the salty breeze and the endless blue of the Gulf, students here dive into more than just academics. From sailing through coastal winds and exploring vibrant marine ecosystems to rescuing sea turtles and protecting delicate shorelines, campus clubs at TAMU-CC bring the Island’s natural beauty and adventurous spirit to life. These hands-on, water-infused experiences reflect a student community deeply connected to the environment and each other.

RIDING THE WIND WITH THE ISLANDER SAILING CLUB

The waves of Corpus Christi Bay are vastly different from the stillness of the North Texas lakes that Maddy Lee ’27 often cruised.

“My family had a motorboat, but there’s something about sailboats that I always found fascinating,” Lee said. “I always wanted to learn to sail.”

Finding a university near the water was at the top of Lee’s college wish list. Her final decision came down to two coastal contenders: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and a school in Florida. Ultimately, the Islander Sailing Club — and its competitive counterpart, the Islander Sailing Team — tipped the scales.

“The other team’s dues were out of my price range as well, while here, team participation is affordable,” Lee said.

Not long after arriving in Corpus Christi, Lee found herself on a sailboat. Though she had no sailing experience, she quickly took to the sport — surprising even herself. Her background in competitive high school volleyball, it turned out, gave her the balance, coordination, and team mindset needed to navigate the wind and waves with ease. “I caught on immediately,” said Lee, a sophomore biology major. “A big part of volleyball is timing. I was a setter and had to develop timing with my hitters. On the sailing team, we use two-person boats, so you need footwork, timing, teamwork, and the ability to communicate.” Lee is now president of the Islanders Sailing Club. She has taken a part-time job at the Corpus Christi Yacht Club, the sailing club’s home base, to spend as much time on the water as possible. Competitively, Lee skippers one of the sailing team’s boats in Southeast Interscholastic Sailing Association regattas, with hopes of making waves at the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association national championships.

“It gives me great joy to see the Islander Sailing Club grow and have more students excited to sail,” said Dr. Lon Seiger, kinesiology professor and the club’s faculty advisor. “Under the direction of Coach Joe Hanko, our sailing team continues to place well in regattas, demonstrating a strong commitment to representing the university in a positive light.”

UNDERWATER ADVENTURES WITH THE SCUBA AND SNORKEL CLUB

While the Islander Sailing Club spends its time on top of the waves, the Scuba and Snorkel Club is devoted to exploring the vast and mysterious world that is just below the water’s surface.

“There are a lot of underwater stone quarries in Texas, which are great for adventuring,” said Dominic Burch ’11, staff advisor. “About an hour up the coast, there’s one with a sunken B-52, a fire engine, even NASA satellites.”

Burch’s involvement with the Scuba and Snorkel Club began in 2009 when he was an environmental science major. At the time, it was simply known as the Scuba Club.

“I saw a flyer hanging somewhere on campus — back then, that’s how word was spread,” Burch said. “I started diving about a year earlier and already had my certification. I knew immediately that it would be the club for me.”

What Burch didn’t know at the time was just how long his connection to the club would last. By the time he graduated, he had served as the club’s president. After earning his degree, Burch remained at the Island University and joined the staff at the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science and then the Harte Research Institute, which allowed him to dive into his new staff advisor role.

“Our club is a great outlet for Islanders who are passionate about marine conservation,” Burch said. “Members regularly volunteer their time cleaning lakes and local beaches, and we often host guest speakers who share their dive experiences from around the world. Of course, we also organize as many dive trips as possible each semester for hands-on underwater exploration.”

While members are responsible for their own scuba certifications, the club recently introduced snorkeling opportunities for non-certified students, making it accessible and affordable for more Islanders to join the underwater fun.

“I’m really happy to see more students get involved,” Burch said. “We’ve been seeing 30-50 people at each meeting. I love watching this community grow.”

PROTECTING THE PLANET WITH THE SEA TURTLE CLUB

Another long-standing, outdoor-oriented club at TAMU-CC is the Sea Turtle Club — a student-led group dedicated to raising awareness about sea turtle endangerment. Like many student organizations, membership naturally ebbs and flows as students graduate, but the club has seen a strong resurgence in recent years. Thanks to a dedicated group of officers, including biology major and club president Jessica Thompson ’27, its membership has grown from fewer than five to nearly 20 active members.

“We’ve put in a lot of effort to help the club grow and thrive again,” Thompson said. “I’m excited to keep spreading awareness and welcoming more students who share our passion for sea turtles.”

Looking ahead, the club is excited to revive some of its signature activities such as beach cleanups, crafting events, and participation in local turtle release programs. Thompson finds fulfillment in volunteering with the Texas Sealife Center, a local nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured or stranded coastal and aquatic wildlife.

“It’s amazing to be part of something bigger than yourself,” she said. “Seeing a turtle return to the water after everything it’s been through — that moment stays with you.”