Keeping the spirit: 70-year family tradition

On a crisp fall morning in 1957, young Terrance Reininger ’71 prepared to visit his future college campus. After witnessing the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band perform, he knew he wanted to continue his family tradition by attending Texas A&M University and becoming a member of the Corps of Cadets. More than 50 years later, Terrance still feels the positive effect Texas A&M has left on his family, which motivated him and his wife to establish a scholarship for future generations of Aggie students.

Terrance followed in his uncle’s footsteps and chose to study engineering. He introduced his future bride, Bonnie Reininger ’72, to Texas A&M, where she studied education. After Terrance graduated with a degree in industrial technology, he was commissioned in the Army and served the United States for 25 years. 

Ten years into his service, Terrance returned to Texas A&M to earn his master’s in aerospace engineering and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Both Bonnie’s and Terrance’s educations at Texas A&M provided solid foundations for their careers. Throughout Bonnie’s career as a math teacher, she passionately transformed the minds of her students and prepared them for higher education. 

When it came time for their children to select a college, their oldest daughter and son, Stephanie Feuerbacher ’93 and Paul Reininger ’95, followed in their father’s footsteps and were members of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. Terrance and Bonnie’s grandchildren have also continued the family tradition of attending Texas A&M, and some have taken after their grandfather and joined the Corps of Cadets.

“Our years on campus, along with those of our children and grandchildren, have enabled us to stay connected and grow with Texas A&M since the time I witnessed it as an all-male campus to today’s international organization,” Terrance said.

Terrance and Bonnie have been encouraged by Texas A&M’s progress, and they want to continue their family tradition of an Aggie education for engineers outside their family. They have established the Reininger/Kirst Engineering Scholarship, which will be awarded to juniors or seniors who are members of the Corps of Cadets and majoring in aerospace, civil or electrical engineering. The Reiningers hope to support Aggie engineers to pursue their education and uphold Texas A&M’s core values.

“Bonnie and I believe that training young men and women in engineering, science and math is critical,” Terrance said. “Without well-trained engineers and educators, future success will not be possible.”