By Tiffany Pelt
Texas State News Intern

On Saturday, December 9, the Texas State University Police Department woke up bright and early to put a smile on the faces of several local San Marcos children. At 8 a.m. UPD, working in conjunction with the San Marcos Wal-Mart, held their annual “Shop with a Cop” program.
Each year students in the San Marcos CISD, grades kindergarten through fourth, are asked to draw a picture of what they imagine it would be like to “shop with a cop at Wal-Mart”. Police officers from UPD collect all the drawings and determine the years winners by selecting the pictures that speak to them the most.
Eight winners from first through fourth grade are given a $100 shopping spree at Wal-Mart, and four kindergarten winners are chosen to receive $50 each.
This weekend uniformed police officers from Texas State University gathered at Wal-Mart to accompany the twelve winners as they raced through the store excitedly spending their money. This annual program, which the children look forward to participating in each year, is just one more way Texas State brightens up the holidays for the local community.
If you are interested in seeing the winning drawings, they will be displayed at the San Marcos Wal-Mart during the holiday season.