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THE BATTALION
Friday, April 12, 2002
the Parents
arents’ Weekend gives students a chance to show appreciation
Amanda Trimble
THE BATTALION
One driving force on this campus that often goes unnoticed, is
into the NRMP |ie parents who support, provide and influence their children who
mi then provide- jttend this university.
atch for the stink I When Jesse-Larou Walsh, a junior math major, was on the
ind Kathryn \l Winter Spirit of Aggieland Committee, her mom came down to
-002 Collect lelp decorate the campus with her three years ago on November
graduates,appk |9 t the weekend after Bonfire collapsed.
through the “After wrapping the poles on Main Drive, we had a bunch of
itegory. received
: and were placi
. Matt Miller pi,
bined internal k
ediatrics andKat
vediatrics.
s a blessing k
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chool and resia
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liaroon ribbon left over” Walsh said.“So we went over to the
j&onfire site to put bows up on the orange safety fence. We were
list going to put up a few, but we kept going.”
1 Walsh said her mother sat in the polo fields making bows for
ler committee and for visitors for five hours that day.
I “It was more my mom that kept us going,” Walsh said. “We
would say, “OK, that’s good enough,’ but she said, “No, no, I’ve
lot more, let’s keep going.’”
I Parents’ Weekend starts today, and Aggie parents are traveling
lomeet their kids’ friends and learn more about Texas A&M and
Its traditions, and some of these parents bleed maroon like their
- here at TexasAs Ihildren do. This weekend is one of many during the year when
ok forward tofia hey make the trip to Aggieland, whether it is to attend a football
es at Vanderbilt.' • - -
ired to other unit
I has done well ii
program, Fallon
chools do not nt;
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jame or just be there for their kids.
“I think the coolest part is that they come up for the most ran-
om events,” said Elizabeth Mudd, a senior sociology major. “They
ove the whole aura of A&M and just love to come be a part of it. I
now they're going to miss coming up here when I graduate.”
After Bonfire fell, Mudd’s parents showed their support in
than 96 percent Bier hometown. Instead of the normal Christmas decorations that
for the year 2# year, her mother made a memorial maroon and white ribbon out
ched successfully of garland and lit it up with a spotlight for everyone to see.
“Every year they usually put a Christmas saying on the fence.
year it was just the memorial,” Mudd said. “When
Bonfire fell, it affected both my parents very deeply.
Devoted Aggie parents are always making the extra effort to
be involved with students and support A&M. Scott Jarvis, a
agriculture education graduate student, said his parents drove
nine hours to make it to every home game.
“They would come in to town and have cookouts for every
body on the Quad,” Jarvis said. “They loved hanging out with
lies for 2002 wilh [the students and getting to know everyone. And of course, the
primary care spa- I greatest thing for a college kid is free food, so all my friends
Jing family medic | loved it.”
nedicine. pediatn % en Jarvis’ parents were named Parents of the Year three
and gynecology’ I
/ three College oj
graduates
Texas hospital res
•grams, while
will go as far wet
mton and Califow-
r east as New Y®
Carolina
;n other states w
jency positions f
Tollege
‘Aggie Docs.
years ago, his mom could not believe they had a chance of
winning such an honor.
“We were at the awards ceremony and they were introducing
last year’s Parents of the Year,” Jarvis said. “Mom laughed and
said she’d never have a chance of winning something like that. I
thought, ‘OK, so this is going to be a big surprise.’”
Jarvis said what makes his parents special is the added support
they give to his friends.
“They came down for everything me or my sister ever did. You
name it, they were there,” Jarvis said. “But what made them stand
apart is that they were parents to so many other kids. They made
sure everybody had parents down here whether it was my parents
or their own parents.”
Erin Walters, a senior finance
major, said her parents
exceedingly devoted to
life at A&M. Last year
during Parents’
Weekend, Walter’s
parents were named
Parents of the Year
for 2001-2002.
“When they come
up for a game, it’s more like \
an event,” Walters said. “They
go to the march-in beforehand,
stay through the entire game
whether it’s a close one or a 1
blow out, and then always invite as
many Aggie students as they can to
dinner afterwards.”
“It’s not the football game that
they look forward to as much as it
is the chance to enjoy time with their chil
dren and their Aggie friends,” Walters said.
Sometimes a parent’s devotion to A&M
and their children takes them to unlikely
places. Cheryl Winkler, a sophomore political
science major, remembered being away at Fish
Camp for her 19th birthday.
“I was a Fish Camp counselor, and my parents
drove up to Lakeview and totally surprised me,”
Winkler said. “I was so shocked.”
Winkler’s parents brought her a birth
day cake big enough for her camp to
share, complete with green fish and
green writing for her camp color.
“They brought the cake and then they left, “Winkler said. “I
asked them to stay and they said, ‘No, we don’t want to interfere.’
All they wanted was to bring me the cake and wish me a happy
birthday. They drove five hours just for that.”
Often the dedication Aggie parents have for A&M comes from
being A&M alumni. Winkler’s father is Class of 1971.
“I think his love for A&M has been passed down to all of his
kids, ’’Winkler said.“Being here left an impact on his life and he
wants it to be the same for today’s students. He wants them to
love A&M the same way he does.”
ADRIAN CALCANEO
THE BATTALION
r
,ring the fall andsprt^
i POSTMASTER:
77843 ' U11 -
,eisityintheDwW^:
McDonald Building
ittp://»vww.thebattcw
lent by The Battalion.
S,clll845.0569.g
through Friday. Fax 845
lent to pick up a
per school year, $30
Visa, MasterCard, Disc ■
President and Mrs. Ray M. Bowen '58
and
Vice President for Student Affairs
Malon Southerland '65
invite you and your family
to drop by their campus homes
from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 13, 2002
The President's home is located on Throckmorton Street
across from Duncan Drill Field.
The Gilchrist-Southerland residence is located at
100 Throckmorton Street across from the
Sanders Corps of Cadets Center.
Light refreshments will be served at both homes.
Parents’ Weekend
April 12-14
Pre-construction sale extended!
Come by our open house for
refreshments and an introduction to
The Townhomes at Canyon Creek!
Texas
A&M I
Friday, April 12
Saturday, April 13
Sunday, April 14
3:00-6:00
10:00-6:00
10:00-3:00
1287 F.M. 2818
College Station
between Hollemon and Luther
979.846.4645 • Toll free 866.811.4645
Call for information in advance of your visit!
THE TOWNHOMES AT CANYON CREEK
P.O. BOX E-2
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
77844-9042