Corsicana —
On Tuesday, the mothers of Texas A&M students from Navarro County loaded up 25 enormous Christmas stockings with plenty of gifts and treats and drove to College Station to be among the Aggie Moms giving out gifts in the week leading up to final exams.
The bags contains gift cards to Subway, a blanket, a sleeve of plastic cups, microwave popcorn, homemade hot chocolate mix, and other goodies intended to help the college kids feel special. This isn’t just a Navarro County thing, though. On Tuesday, they were one of dozens of other mom’s clubs from around the state that prepared similar goodie bags and boxes for their students.
“There’s competition of how you prepared the gifts, and what gifts you give,” said Paula Cain, president of the Navarro club. “It’s fun.”
“(The students) just grin from ear to ear. They’re excited to see what’s in it.”
Shae Harp, a junior who transferred to A&M after getting his associate’s degree from Navarro, said he was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the mother’s club members with the traditional gift bags.
“It’s an awesome experience for the kids here because you’ve got the anxiety of finals but you get to see your mother and you get some gifts,” said Shae Harp, son of Sharla Allen. “It’s a great experience for us.”
Jacob Williams, the son of Cindy Williams, has gotten the exam bags in the past, and it’s something he looks forward to each semester. The bags are delivered in fall and spring in the week approaching exams.
“It’s kind of a hallmark thing we have,” he said.
The group, formally called the Navarro County Texas A&M Mothers’ Club, and more informally the Aggie Mom’s Club, raises money for scholarships, takes the goodie bags prior to finals’ week, and hosts a monthly meeting that’s part social and part business, with an emphasis on the social.
“We’re here to support the students in any way that we can,” said Lesa Goins, one of the founders of the local organization. The group was started in Navarro County in 2004.
The Navarro County club is part of a larger Federation of Aggie Moms’ Clubs was formed nationwide in 1928 by 11 concerned mothers in a time when A&M was a smaller, rougher all-boys school. Now, the Aggie Moms have 119 clubs around the state and country, which donates about $300,000 a year to the school and scholarships, according to the Federation of Aggie Moms’ Clubs website.
Beyond the scholarships, things like the goodie bags, tailgate events and events both on campus and off, come out of moms’ pockets, not the club funds, Goins pointed out.
Only the students whose mothers are in the club receive the goodie bags, but any student interested in going to A&M can apply for one of the scholarships, according to Goins. The scholarships are awarded based on a students’ financial need and merit.
Currently, there are about 30 mothers in the club, but they’re aware there are dozens more students at A&M from Navarro.
“There’s always been a lot of Aggies from Navarro County,” Goins said. “We try to encourage all mothers of A&M students to participate.”
Mothers interested in joining the club, or students interested in applying for scholarships, can contact Cain at (903) 654-4021.
—————
Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jjacobs@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “sound off” to this article? E-mail: Soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
Latest News
Related Photos
-
Daily Sun photo/Janet Jacobs Texas A&M Navarro County Mom's Club members Lisa Goins, Sharla Allen and Paula Cain share a laugh over the 25 exam goodie bags destined for college students this week. The bags are being distributed Tuesday in time for fall final exams at the university.
-
Courtesy photo Aggie mom Kerri Donica, left and Lesa Goins, right, took exam-relief stockings to students Bree Smith and Shae Harp Tuesday.
-
Courtesy photo Student Justin McCullom picks up his stocking along with hugs from Aggie moms Paula Cain, left, Sharla Allen and Kerri Donica.
Discussion
Aggie moms carry warm wishes
Exam gifts just one of group’s projects
- Latest News
-
-
Texas Country artists organize Moore benefit
It took less than 30 minutes for a devastating EF-5 tornado to make a shambles out of the community of Moore, Okla. on Monday afternoon.
It took less than two days for Texas country musicians Scott Brown and Josh Ward to find themselves stopping in Corsicana on their way to Moore with three trailers full of relief supplies for the victims of the storm. -
Oklahoma tornado damage could top $2 billion
MOORE, Okla. — The tornado that tore through an Oklahoma City suburb destroyed or damaged as many as 13,000 homes and may have caused $2 billion in overall damage, officials said Wednesday.
-
‘Click it or Ticket’ enforcement underway locally
As motorists take to the roads this Memorial Day holiday, Corsicana police are urging everyone to buckle up.
Law enforcement officials are out in full force, taking part in the 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization and cracking down on motorists who are not belted. -
Blooming Grove ag mechanics 15th at state
Four Blooming Grove FFA Agricultural Mechanics team members were district champions, ranked third in Area competition at Tarleton State University, and advanced to the State contest at Sam Houston State University.
-
Local Beat 5/23/13
A listing of meetings and events of interest from throughout Navarro County.
-
AAA: 31.2M drivers to take Memorial Day road trip
It's going to be another busy Memorial Day weekend on the nation's highways. From Thursday through Monday, 31.2 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more to a beach, campground or other getaway, according to car lobbying group AAA.
-
Mental health exam ordered for former West paramedic
WEST — A judge has ordered that a mental health evaluation be done for a former West, Texas paramedic who's accused of possessing bomb-making material.
-
Texas House girds for major budget vote Wednesday
AUSTIN — In the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature, a furious final week is being dominated by distrust, deadlines and delays.
-
Council OKs airport rules
The Corsicana City Council approved minimum rules and standards for the Corsicana airport when the group met in regular session Tuesday. The written rules will allow the city to receive grant money from the Federal Aviation Administration, which comes through the Texas Department of Transportation.
-
Rescue and recovery efforts continue in Oklahoma twister
MOORE, Okla. — Helmeted rescue workers raced Tuesday to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives.
- More Latest News Headlines
-
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
