Spring Break
Scholarship established in memory of student
By: Erin Wood
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: News
The family of Andrea "Andi" McKenna has established a scholarship to memorialize her commitment to Texas A&M and special education. The Andrea "Andi" McKenna '08 Memorial Scholarship in Special Education was established in honor of McKenna by her parents, Sissy and John McKenna, and siblings, Lauren and Johnny.
The scholarship will award $1,250 annually to a college junior or senior pursuing a degree in special education. The recipient in 2007 is Julie Ness.
After McKenna died, her family established a scholarship to honor her life and dedication to assisting those with special needs. The McKennas also donated her Aggie Ring to represent the Class of 2008 in the Association of Former Students' ring collection.
"We decided to give this scholarship because Andi loved helping people, and we would like for her to still be able to help people even after her death," Johnny McKenna said. "We also made it so she could help special education children after her death as well, by giving the scholarship to a special education major. I think Andi would like knowing that she helped someone else do what she loved to do, and knowing that she could help people in her death and in life."
"Texas A&M has been in all of our lives since we were born," Johnny said.
The McKennas, Andi included, grew up going to College Station almost every fall weekend for football games and other activities.
"We knew more about Aggie tradition than most students by the time we were 13," he said. "A&M means everything to our family, aside from, you know, our family."
"Andi was the most amazing person in her line of work," Johnny said. "I worked at Camp Summit with her and she had a radiating glow when we were there."
Both of Andi's parents graduated from A&M - Sissy in 1979 and John in 1978. Lauren is a student at Sam Houston State University and Johnny hopes to follow in Andi's footsteps by transferring to A&M and majoring in special education.
The scholarship will award $1,250 annually to a college junior or senior pursuing a degree in special education. The recipient in 2007 is Julie Ness.
After McKenna died, her family established a scholarship to honor her life and dedication to assisting those with special needs. The McKennas also donated her Aggie Ring to represent the Class of 2008 in the Association of Former Students' ring collection.
"We decided to give this scholarship because Andi loved helping people, and we would like for her to still be able to help people even after her death," Johnny McKenna said. "We also made it so she could help special education children after her death as well, by giving the scholarship to a special education major. I think Andi would like knowing that she helped someone else do what she loved to do, and knowing that she could help people in her death and in life."
"Texas A&M has been in all of our lives since we were born," Johnny said.
The McKennas, Andi included, grew up going to College Station almost every fall weekend for football games and other activities.
"We knew more about Aggie tradition than most students by the time we were 13," he said. "A&M means everything to our family, aside from, you know, our family."
"Andi was the most amazing person in her line of work," Johnny said. "I worked at Camp Summit with her and she had a radiating glow when we were there."
Both of Andi's parents graduated from A&M - Sissy in 1979 and John in 1978. Lauren is a student at Sam Houston State University and Johnny hopes to follow in Andi's footsteps by transferring to A&M and majoring in special education.
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