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A&M looks forward to Bush visit

Gus Cruz has seen George H.W. Bush working out in Texas A&M University's Student Recreation Center -- a sign of the former president's frequent presence on campus.

But Cruz, who graduates this week, has never seen his son President George W. Bush. That is set to change Friday, when the president will address fall graduates at 10:30 a.m. in Reed Arena.

"I'm not a big fan personally," said Cruz, an industrial engineering major. "But I'm going, 'How often do you get to see a sitting president at your graduation?'"

About 3,600 Texas A&M students will receive their diplomas Friday and Saturday. Bush will address the entire graduating class. A separate ceremony will be held in Galveston on Sunday for the branch campus' students.

Reed Arena will have a capacity of about 11,400 for the event, and it will be packed, said university spokesman Jason Cook.

"This is a great opportunity for Texas A&M to begin welcoming President Bush back home to Texas as he starts another legacy of service to our state," Cook said.

Each graduate was offered a ticket and the opportunity to bring two guests. The university distributed the remaining tickets to students, faculty and staff on a first-come, first-served basis.

Texas A&M is more conservative than the typical university, several students interviewed said. That, along with the elder Bush's ties here -- his presidential library is on campus -- probably factored into the president's decision to visit, the students said.

"Just like anywhere else, there's plenty of diversity," said Nathan Blake, a finance major who will attend the convocation. "But I feel we're more good old country people here. Normal, everyday people. Hometown values and stuff like that."

Matt Miranda, an agricultural communications major who graduates this week, said President Bush is like that, too. When Miranda was in high school, he met Bush, who was then governor of Texas.

"He was a cool guy," he said. "But I never thought he'd be president. He's like my dad. ...That might not be a great thing for a president."

Laura Weiss graduates with a bachelor's in finance Friday.

"It's an excellent way to end your college career," she said. "Whether you support him or not, for him to take a day to come and speak to us is an honor."

Friday marks the president's first commencement address at the university since he was governor. President Bush attends two to three graduation ceremonies a year, White House spokesman Blair Jones said.

"The purpose of the president's visit is to congratulate and wish the graduates well as they finish one chapter of their lives and begin the next," Jones said.