Members Share PA Benefits

Watching the students of our members graduate is the greatest reward of being a part of the Parents Association. To honor those members who have worked to further the goals of the Association, we would like to share their experiences. We encourage members to submit their experience to help explain the unique role the Association performs at Texas State University.

Brooks Family - members from 1994-1998
Dicker Family - members from 1998-2007
Allen Family - members from 1999-2004
Wymore Family -members from 2001-2005
Harris Family - members from 1991-present
Kaspar Family - members from 2001-2006
Hopson Family -members from 2002-2007

Brooks Family - members from 1994-1998

Barbara and I became members of the Texas State Parents Association and were very active for four years. Our participation gave us a much better insight into and appreciation of Texas State University and the great things the Association does for the students and the institution. Our son, Andrew, enjoyed our participation and appreciated his parents taking an interest in his education and his institution of higher learning during his time there. The Association contributed to a richer educational experience for him and a personally rewarding four years for Barbara and me. We enjoyed watching the Association grow and prosper while it expanded its ability to award scholarships to deserving students and to fund worthwhile and deserving activities on campus.

Another benefit of our membership was getting to know and work with the wonderful Texas State staff and parent volunteers. The volunteers came from all parts of Texas and a variety of walks of life. We worked well together, sometimes hard, and always had fun doing it. We treasure the memories of our time at Texas State and would not trade that experience for any other. Some of the friendships we made there are lasting and are still an important part of our lives.

Parents will benefit in many and unexpected ways by becoming a member of the Texas State Parents Association. Becoming an active member is an opportunity that you should not let slip by. Our son completed his degree in Nutrition and Foods and went on to receive a culinary degree at LeCordon Bleu in Sydney, Australia. Today, he owns his own successful personal chef company in Austin called Spirited Food. He attributes his success at LeCordon Bleu and as an entrepreneur to the foundation that Texas State provided him.  Wayne and Barbara Brooks Austin, Texas

1994-98 Association members Wayne and Barbara Brooks pose with their son Andrew H. Brooks following commencement.

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Dicker Family- members from 1998-2007

Chuck and I are both alumni of Texas State and have always had a special place in our hearts for this wonderful University. As our daughters were growing up, all they heard from the two of us was how much we enjoyed our years at Texas State. That explains in large part why attending Texas State has always been their dream, too.

Katy, our oldest, started classes in the Fall of 1998. I’m not sure who was more excited, her or Chuck and me. I attended freshman orientation during that hot summer in June. As I wandered around from session to session, the warm smiles and enthusiasm coming from the Parents Association table were contagious and inviting. I ventured over and began a conversation with Marian and other parent volunteers about joining. It was then that I discovered the great link between home and college.

Even though we only live 21 miles from the campus, Katy chose to live in a dorm. Moving her out from under Mom and Dad’s “control” and into her college life was a great experience, but did present some challenges. We still had one in high school that needed our continued support and involvement. The Parents Association provided us with the best option for getting involved with the University without sacrificing any of our commitments to our younger daughter.

We have been involved with our daughters throughout their school years, so why should we stop here? Our decision to get involved was so rewarding for us. It was our connection to our daughter, and staying involved was as important to us as to Katy. She knew we cared about her education and valued it enough to still work football games, go to meetings, work New Student Orientation and speak to parents about the advantages of joining the Parents Association.

The Parents Association is a tremendous group of parents who care about the fine education their children are getting. It is rewarding to see the awarding of scholarships, the funding of many organizations across the campus, and the help that is given to parents and students who are in need of advice or need to know who to turn to when questions or concerns arise. All of this is done through your dues. It is one organization that has benefited our family and has given us a link between home and school. We have been involved since August of 1998.

Katy graduated on December 21, 2002, and Lindsay is a sophomore. Yes, we are still active in the Association and have served as Association Presidents. We plan to stay involved and show Lindsay, as we did Katy, that we value and care enough about her education to volunteer our time to Texas State. The Parents Association is your link to the University and to your child’s success at Texas State.

Chuck and Ginger Dicker
Buda, Texas

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Allen Family - members from 1999-2004

Your children have made a good choice in making Texas State their new home-away-from-home! Transition from high school student to college student is a big step and can be lonely, scary at times, overwhelming and frustrating. And as your children grow into young adults, they are going to need your support even more but in a different way.

For many of us, our children will be leaving home for the first time to embark on the new phase of their lives. But, it’s nice to know that you can still be involved in their lives, even after they go to college. One way you can do that is through the Texas State Parents Association. The goal of this group is to provide an avenue of communication between parents and the university. When you have a question or concern, you can just pick up the phone and call the association for help.              Another important function of this organization is to provide funds to improve the quality of education our children receive. We keep parents informed of what's happening at the university through our newsletter, Notes Home, and the university's magazine, Hillviews. We plan special activities for our members to spend time with their students in their "home-away-from-home" and to get to know the campus better.                 Don and Libby Allen                2002-2003 Presidents The Parents Association has been a blessing for us, and we encourage you to become members of this important organization. It has allowed us to be a part of our daughter’s college experience and to be informed about what’s happening on campus. Good luck, and we hope to meet you soon! Sincerely, Don and Libby Allen    BACK TO TOP Wymore Family - members from 2001-2006 What an exciting time this is in our children’s lives! Each stage seems to have its own special memories, and we can now look forward to this new endeavor. Many of you may have children that are leaving home for the first time. It may be your first experience with this transition. It may be your last. Either way, we are all faced with mixed emotions, challenges, uncertainty and new decisions. We have two members of our family that attended Texas State. Our son Bud received a fine arts degree and Emilie graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. Our decision to join the Parents Association enabled us to support our children, be informed, and stay involved with the University. We believe that this may be the time in our children’s lives that they need our support more than ever, but we’ve realized that our support roles have changed. The goal of the Parents Association is to provide an avenue of communication between the parents and the university. When you have a question or concern, simply e-mail or telephone the Association office to get help or answers. We can tell you from personal experience that the staff is committed to meeting your needs and the needs of our young adults. We invite you to be a part of the Parents Association and look forward to meeting you! Sincerely, Kent and Jodie Wymore Buda, Texas       Kent and Jodie Wymore 2003-2004 Presidents   BACK TO TOP Harris Family - members from 1991- present Dear Marian and Parents Association, Just finished reading “Notes Home” and it brought back pleasant memories of Adrienne and my many years of active participation in the Parents Association.  Those were days of learning and giving and making many friendships.  Your guidance and friendship kept the Association on track to become the flourishing organization it is today; we could say it was a “Rags to Riches” story. You are a true friend and because of you we are delighted to continue to be members long after Ralph and Geoffry have graduated.  Your friends and Parents Association Alums, Harold and Adrienne Harris Houston, Texas  BACK TO TOP Kaspar Family — members from 2001-2006 We are proud parents of our son, Jared, who received his Wildlife Biology degree from Texas State University in 2006. We joined the Parents Association to become more involved with Jared and the University. Being involved has enabled us to be in contact with our son through University activities and Parents Association activities. The Parents Association will help you and your student become more aware of the many programs offered by Texas State. So join now, become involved, and enjoy these great college days with your student. Sincerely, Jeff and Melissa Kaspar Houston, Texas Jeff and Melessa Kaspar 2004-2005 Presidents BACK TO TOP Hopson Family - members from 2001-present Kathy and Dale Hopson 2005-2006 Presidents We are proud parents of our daughter, Kimberly, who is a May 2006 graduate of Texas State University-san Marcos with a degree in Art Education from the College of Fine Arts and Communication. Our participation in the Parents Association gave us a sense of relief and good feeling in knowing that our daughter was in a safe environment and getting a good education from highly qualified instructors. Being a part of this organization provided us with many opportunities, to learning first-hand about university activities and policies, having a contact person when a concern or question came up, and meeting and working with other parents in volunteer activities throughout the academic year. You don't have to stop being involved just because your child is moving on to the next step-college! We are glad we continued our involvement with Kimberly through her college years. And she is glad we did, too! It has been such a wonderful experience to watch her blossom into the savvy young woman she is today. We're glad we didn't miss it! We hope you, too, will join the Parents Association and learn more about this great university by staying involved. Thank you, Kathy and Dale Hopson Houston, Texas BACK TO TOP   Lynch Family

Jim and Joyce Lynch

Dear Parents,
We have two reasons for being involved in the Parents Association--our son David, who will graduate next May with a degree in computer science and math, and our daughter Sarah, who is in her third year as an English major. We were very active in their elementary and secondary schools, and we decided to continue that involvement when they moved on to Texas State.

The Parents Association provides us with the opportunity to network with other parents as we all work to help our students succeed in their college careers. The PA staff provides assistance with our questions and concerns. We, in turn, can contribute to Texas State and all of its students through the Association's fundraising activities that provide financial support to a variety of groups across campus.

For some parents, sending children off to college can be nerve-wracking; for others it is a joyful experience. For many, it is a combination of both. The Parents Association can give parents a little University "family" to make the process more comfortable. We hope you will join our little "family" to benefit yourselves, your students, and the University as a whole.

Sincerely,

Jim and Joyce Lynch, Austin
Presidents, Texas State Parents Association