When Luke Widener ’26 arrived at Texas A&M University, he never imagined he’d one day stand before tens of thousands of Aggies, leading yells and embodying one of the university’s most cherished traditions. But through a mix of faith, encouragement and opportunity, Widener’s path led him to serve as a Junior Yell Leader during the 2024–25 academic year and now as a Senior Yell Leader for 2025–26.
“It’s been one of the greatest honors of my life,” he said. “I’ve had the privilege of representing Texas A&M at nearly 400 events each year — from Midnight Yell practices and Aggie athletic games to Fish Camps, New Student Conferences and so much more.”
The journey began when a former Yell Leader encouraged him to run for the role.
“After prayer, reflection and a lot of conversations with friends and family, I realized this was a unique opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” he said. “That decision ultimately led me not only to being elected as a Yell Leader but also to discovering and deepening my faith — the most transformative part of my college experience.”
For me, it’s about trusting that God has a unique story for each of us. My time at Texas A&M has been proof of that.
Throughout his time as a Yell Leader, Widener has had the chance to meet everyone from university leaders and student athletes to well-known names like Eli Manning and Dude Perfect.
“While those moments are exciting, the most meaningful part has always been engaging with my fellow Aggies,” he said. “Getting to hear others’ stories, their challenges and successes, has given me a new perspective on leadership and life.”
Balancing his Yell Leader responsibilities with academics hasn’t always been easy, but Widener says his Economics degree has been the perfect fit.
“I really value how customizable the program is,” he said. “When I transferred into the major, I was worried about staying on track to graduate, especially with Yell limiting how many hours I can take each semester. But the flexibility of the degree — and the incredible support from advisers like Shelby Wallace — made it possible to pursue both my academic and leadership goals.”
After graduating in May 2026, Luke plans to continue his education at Texas A&M by pursuing a master’s in finance from Mays Business School. From there, he hopes to begin his career in management consulting with Bain & Company in Houston.
“My economics courses have given me a strong foundation for understanding the bigger picture behind financial principles,” he said. “I’m excited to see how well the two degrees complement each other. As college students, it’s easy to feel like we have to have everything figured out — perfect grades, the perfect résumé, the perfect plan. But that’s not what life is about. For me, it’s about trusting that God has a unique story for each of us. My time at Texas A&M has been proof of that.”