Chris Tomlin Receives Texas A&M’s Highest Alumni Honor

Chris Tomlin has received plenty of trophies during his extraordinary career, but his latest honor took the worship leader all the way back to where his songs first began taking shape.

The Grammy-winning artist returned to Texas A&M University over the weekend to receive its Distinguished Alumni Award-an honor that prompted him to reflect on his humble beginnings playing youth camps, weekend retreats and a once-small campus Bible study.

"Yep, I'm an Aggie," Tomlin proudly declared while sharing the news on social media.

The singer thanked both Texas A&M and The Association of Former Students, describing the award as an opportunity to remember the uncertain years before songs such as "How Great Is Our God," "Our God" and "Holy Forever" carried his voice into churches around the world.

"I would have never dreamed where my life and music would have gone after leaving Texas A&M," Tomlin admitted. "My years there were a big part of my formation."

Tomlin's selection was officially announced in February as part of Texas A&M's 2026 class of Distinguished Alumni. The award is widely considered the university's highest honor for a former student. 

Long before he was filling arenas or hearing congregations sing his songs across denominational lines, Tomlin was willing to play almost anywhere that invited him. He recalled leading worship at "every youth camp and weekend retreat that would have me" while his earliest compositions were still coming together.

One of the most consequential opportunities arrived through Breakaway, a rapidly growing Bible study at Texas A&M. Tomlin served as one of its early worship leaders when the gathering was still relatively modest. Today, Breakaway attracts thousands of students to Reed Arena on Tuesday nights-making it difficult to believe that one of contemporary worship's biggest careers grew alongside what Tomlin remembered as a "somewhat small" campus ministry.

Tomlin studied psychology at Texas A&M after attending Tyler Junior College. It was during those formative college years that his original plans for a health-related career gradually gave way to a calling in worship ministry. The university's foundation previously highlighted how his Aggie experience helped shape a career that ultimately surpassed even his own expectations. Texas A&M Foundation

After leaving the university, Tomlin continued leading worship at Christian camps and retreats before joining Louie Giglio in the Passion movement. What followed was a remarkable rise from college Bible studies to some of the world's largest worship gatherings.

The irony is almost too perfect: the young musician who eagerly accepted every weekend-retreat invitation is now returning as one of Texas A&M's most distinguished graduates. Yet Tomlin's response was not a victory lap. It was an expression of gratitude for the people, places and small beginnings that helped form him.

His story offers an encouraging reminder that God frequently begins significant work far from the spotlight. The youth camp, campus Bible study or barely finished song that appears small today may be preparing someone for a calling much larger than they can presently imagine.

For Tomlin, the weekend represented a joyful homecoming-and one final message to his fellow Aggies: "Grateful for those days...Gig 'em."