Century Men: An Inside Look at One of TAMU's Finest Men's Orgs

Here at Texas A&M University, the number of organizations available for students to join is staggering. From impactful men’s and women’s service organizations to student publications and DJs with shared passions for music, the options are endless. One organization in particular stands out significantly. Hint: they bash watermelons.

Established in 2014, Century Men’s Society’s primary mission is to raise funds for children whose relatives have been affected by cancer to attend Camp Kesem. The mission of Century Men’s Society members (commonly referred to as “Centuries”) is to “provide a platform of character formation for male students at Texas A&M University by emphasizing the importance of humility, loyalty, and service while perpetuating the value of Texas A&M’s traditions in our everyday lives”. Through the journey of working year-round to raise funds for Camp Kesem, members are molded into men with hearts for community and service.

Sitting down with Co-Philanthropy Officer Cameron Sauer and established member Driton Salihu, we received an inside look into what it’s like to be involved in a well-known men’s organization on campus. Evidently, Camp Kesem holds a special place in their hearts:

Emma: “How did you find out about Centuries and what stood out to you about the org?”

Driton: “I actually found out about Centuries through SongFest after I transferred here. Honestly, I felt personally connected to the reasoning behind Camp Kesem and immediately knew I had to get involved.”

Dasom: “Can you tell me more about Camp Kesem?”

Cameron: “Kids go completely free when they have parents going through cancer, but it’s important for the parents too. It took me a long time to realize that they need their personal time too. The idea is that you can really have an impact on someone’s life.”

To provide a bit of background, Camp Kesem is a “nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders, that supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer.” Thanks to the large contributions Centuries offers, the Texas A&M Chapter of Kesem can operate free summer camps for children who have lost a parent to cancer, have a parent undergoing cancer treatment, or whose parent has survived cancer. There is an estimated population of over 5 million children in the United States who have been impacted by a parent’s cancer.

One of the ways Centuries raises funds for kids to attend Camp Kesem is through their widely popular signature event: Watermelon Bash. The appropriately named event takes place every October at Wolf Pen Creek and involves approximately 1500 watermelons. Needless to say, rounding up college students at $15 a ticket to eat, play games, participate in a watermelon-eating contest and perhaps everyone’s favorite, bash watermelons, is surprisingly rewarding.

Emma: “What has your personal experience of Watermelon Bash been like?”

Driton: “It’s really just pure fun. This year, I was walking around Watermelon Bash and realized that it wasn’t about watermelons at all. It was about people (and even dogs) getting together to have a great time for a good reason. It felt like a big family event.”

Emma: “Watermelon Bash is clearly a super fun event, but what is the story behind Century Men gathering the community to bash watermelons?”

Driton: “Even though we raise Camp Kesem funds all year, we wanted to host an exciting philanthropy event that would raise more money for Kesem. After two years of planning and coordinating, Watermelon Bash was officially created! It became a great way for the community to get together, have fun, and contribute to an amazing cause.”

Dasom: “When was a time you saw the impact of Watermelon Bash firsthand?”

Cameron: “Three weeks before Watermelon Bash, a local family in College Station came and spoke at one of our meetings. This little girl told us what it meant to her while her father was undergoing treatment. It created a tangible relationship from the camp to the philanthropy event for our entire organization. Our mission behind Watermelon Bash wasn’t pulling at my heartstrings as hard until after they came. It was a phenomenal meeting and one of my favorite memories.”

While Watermelon Bash is one of the highlights of Century Men’s Society, weekly service is also a major part of the organization’s efforts. In partnership with three remarkable programs, Centuries’ members prove their commitment to bettering the world around them through meaningful service. These programs include Achievers by Choice, meant to equip individuals with the social and academic skills necessary to graduate from high school or obtain a GED; the ACE (Achieving the Climb to Excellence) program, whose goal is to tutor high schoolers and assist students in their journey beyond high school; and Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach (Mama Club), a weekly event where teen moms bring their children to connect with the community and participate in talks about parenting.

Moreover, Century Men’s Society cultivates an environment where brotherhood can thrive in its truest form. Co-Philanthropy Officer Cameron Sauer was looped into applying for this organization through the recommendations of friends, but he remained for the authentic connections. He could only recall fond memories revolving around his immersion into their organizational culture of positive reinforcement and openness. It’s ingrained in their operational structure. Aside from general meetings, leaders will encourage members to speak at and attend biweekly “Fireside Chats”: new members divulging their personal life stories, lessons, and development of their intrinsic values—all around a cozy campfire. The organization even utilizes an Internal Relationships Officer who doubles as their Admissions Chair, ensuring that the Centuries’ values of humility, loyalty, and service are exemplified in their applicants. Cameron had much to share on this topic:

Dasom: “How do you think Century Men’s Society fosters vulnerability?”

Cameron: “We host “Fireside Chats” for our new members. The idea is that you get onto a soap box and say whatever you want. Members will discuss aspects of their character and hard-set morals that they live by. Sometimes guys will provide an overarching character trait of theirs and give some tangible examples. We try to make it interactive by asking each other questions like ‘How have you been impacted by this experience?’ This really helps others understand why they are the way they are.”

Dasom: “How have you seen the tangible impact of your Internal Relationship Officer?”

Cameron: “Our Internal Relationships Officer organizes our informationals, events, pancake and hot chocolate socials, our “Fireside Chats,” etc. The officer makes sure our wide variety of service efforts are emphasized and that the applicants exhibit our values in their lives already.”

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
-Winston Churchill

It is organizations like theirs that drives the culture of involvement at Texas A&M, uniting students who possess a desire to give back and invest in their personal growth. Through selfless service, a shared vigor for upholding their values, and an unceasing will to do good for those around them, Century Men’s Society serves as a testament to the positive influence students can have on their community.

Driton and Cameron often reflect on how much they’ve changed for the better since entering Century Men’s Society:

Emma: “What opportunities have been presented to you through this organization and what are some valuable life lessons you have learned from being a part of Centuries?”

Driton: “The biggest opportunity for me personally is the [opportunity] to form amazing relationships with the guys in this org. We hold each other accountable and there’s a strong sense of brotherhood. I’ve learned about being intentional with the community and giving as much as I can.”

Dasom: “What are some valuable life lessons you’ve learned from being in Century Men’s Society?”

Cameron: “Something I gained was a better understanding of the meaning of humility. That’s where brotherhood and loyalty comes in. I used to think it just meant doing the right thing, but then I saw people in this organization exemplify humility by being proud but not over-embellishing. There's a quote we like to throw around a lot in Centuries: "Humility isn't about thinking less of yourself, it's about thinking about yourself less."

To get a glimpse of the Century Men’s Society Watermelon Bash, enjoy this video taken and edited by A-Line Staff Writer JP Gaffney: