Welcome to the J. Wayne Stark Northeast Tour

Former MSC Director J. Wayne Stark ’39 loved Texas A&M and wanted to challenge students to expand their horizons by sending them beyond their comfort zones to experience the world. He prized culture, different ways of thinking, art and encouraged students to explore past Texas borders. In 1970, Stark created the Northeast Tour, providing students the opportunity to visit top schools in the nation, tour premier American cities and expand their personal Aggie network. After 50+ years, the Stark Northeast Tour has impacted the lives of more than 1,000 student delegates.

EXPLORE AND EXPAND HORIZONS

Hosted through MSC Programs, this tour provides delegates with the opportunity to visit premier institutions of higher education and experience city-centric excursions while also networking with former students at various receptions and events. Delegates will also be able to grow their connections with each other as they explore these iconic cities through both small and large group activities.

Travel Itinerary

Linked is the 2025 itinerary and will provide participants with a general overview of the trip. The 2026 trip will include similar visits and excursions, but will not be an exact replica of what is presented.

Cities: Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Boston
Institutions*: The Bush School DC, University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Harvard University
Excursions*: The Smithsonian/National Mall (DC), The Historic District (Philadelphia), a Broadway show (NYC), the Met, The Boston Ballet (Boston), and on-your-own or small group exploration in each city
Networking: Former student networking receptions in all four cities, in partnership with local former students and A&M clubs

* May be subject to change

Download our sample itinerary

Participant Fees & Expenses

$2,500 per student + “on-your-own” expenses*

Included in your participant fee:

Roundtrip airfare
Shuttle services
Eight nights in prime location hotels
Broadway ticket
Boston Ballet ticket
Met tickets
Food and drink at four city receptions with former students
Train tickets from DC-Philly-NYC-Boston
Pre-paid subway/metro tickets in select cities

*“On-your-own” expenses primarily include costs incurred during free time exploration: meals, excursions, public transportation, souvenirs

Program Benefits

Students selected for the Stark Northeast Tour will experience the following through participation:

A greater understanding of the culture, impact, and opportunities for living, working, or furthering their education in each city;
A showcase of each cities’ unique influence in various sectors, including Public Service in Washington, D.C., History in Philadelphia, The Arts in New York, and Culture and Society in Boston;
Strengthening interpersonal communication skills when interacting with former students, professionals, and other individuals in a variety of settings;
Reflection of how each city may be able to support professional and personal goals in the future, including greater articulation of short-term career and education plans as part of those goals.

GENEROUS SUPPORT

Generous gifts from former students and donors supplement the total cost of the MSC Stark Northeast Tour. Each student pays approximately 50 percent of the total cost of their attendance, with the remaining 50 percent covered through these gifts.

Support This Program