The first black students to enter Texas A&M in 1963 were met with harrowing challenges that most people today would never have to deal with.

On the heels of the civil rights movement and the end of segregation, these first students had to endure the racial remnants of institutions that sought to deny them as well as proving those who hated them by achieving academic excellence to spite them. 

The Black Former Student Network spearheaded an effort to reconnect with the former students affectionately and appropriately called "pioneers" to host a banquet for them Saturday, Nov. 11 in their honor and to celebrate their bravery in the face of adversity.

"So, we did a lot of research.. we used the Association of Former Students to help to make contact with those individuals and we were quite surprised with the number that we were able to track and get back in contact with," said William Price, member of the Black Former Student Network.

According to KBTX, there were an estimated 50 students who attended and graduated from the university during 1963-1970. 

But the banquet served more than one purpose; it will also help students in the future. Proceeds from the event will help recruit African American high school students across Texas and mentor current African American Aggie students to keep the dream alive and pass the torch.