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Sylvia Kelley Executive Director, Advancement

Together we’ll help students succeed

Sometimes it’s a good thing to revitalize our passion for working on our mission: giving our students a chance to succeed. The saying, “Your Success is Our Business” can be seen on all kinds of University publications, and we take it seriously.

Regardless of our individual roles, our missions are inextricably linked. Texas A&M University-Commerce has a lot of arms out there in the world— advisory groups, boards, volunteers, business people, students, faculty, and staff. And let’s remember our Alumni, who represent the University wherever their journeys lead them.

Many of us live whirlwind lives, focused within our own social, political and personal circles. We must let go occasionally and take flight, having a look around at what everybody else is doing. While in flight we will be amazed and marvel at the similarities in our goals for students!

Achieving student success requires your participation as a community of Alumni, working together to build longlasting partnerships for the benefit of our students. Whatever your role—as a board member, volunteer or business leader—the meaningful discussions and progressive activities you engage in will help us to advance our efforts to the next level.

The productive dialogue we all continually strive for will help us recognize where we can become stronger with collaboration, and how we can be entrepreneurial in generating and implementing new ideas. I would like to encourage your involvement with us—please call me (903-468-8180) if you have been considering volunteering so we can discuss some things that may interest you. After all, each student’s success is all of our business.

Sparkman remembers importance of education

Education had a huge impact on the life of Col. William Sparkman (BS ‘38, MS ‘50, MEd ‘51).

Now, with three $25,000 endowments –one in physics and two in elementary education–Col. Sparkman will ensure that an A&M-Commerce education benefits countless other lives.

Col. Sparkman retired in 1978 after a 20-year tenure as a physics professor at the University.

Prior to that, he served in the Marine Corps and was one of only 23 in the Corps’ history to be commissioned as an officer without completing Officer Training School.

This was because of Sparkman’s education in both math and physics. The Marine Corps needed talented officers to help bring their radar technology up to par after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Sparkman earned multiple degrees from the University – a bachelor’s in math and physics and two master’s.

A scholarship in the colonel’s name will benefit physics students. Col. Sparkman also set up the Betty Elaine Sparkman Shepherd (BS ‘68) and Rae Sawyer Sparkman Endowed Scholarships –both designated for elementary education students.

His daughter Betty died in 1999 of breast cancer. She was a vice president at a bank in Columbia, Md. and previously taught elementary school. Betty also served for many years as the city’s police community relations representative.

Col. Sparkman lost Rae, his wife of 64 years, earlier this year. She was a former student at ET, leaving school after she was married. She supported her husband throughout the years he was gone during World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam, remaining home to care for their two children.

Scholarships given at Honors Day

More than $320,000 in scholarship money was given recently at Honors Day. Many of the scholarships were made possible by donors to the Foundation. Pictured are finalists for the Mayo Scholar Award, a prestigious scholarship given to an academically gifted student. From left
to right are: Amanda Calder (scholarship winner), theatre/ speech major; Melissa Loibl, sociology major; Tamara Mitrofanenko, environmental science major and math/chemistry minor; Lauren Priest, chemistry major and history minor; and Steven Zandstra Jr., physics/math major, computer science minor.

Couple establishes scholarships in art and biology for A&M-C students

“I had a small academic scholarship and some grants along the way,” Alton said. “However, most of the money for school came from my parents and from money that I’d saved while working in high school and while working between college semesters.”

In paying for her education, Louise looked to her parents who paid for most of her college costs. “But I also worked all during high school and I saved much of what I earned. I don’t know if I’d have been able to make it without those meager savings. I have two younger siblings and my parents had them to take care of and to send to college, too.”

Through the years, the Biggses have contributed to many charities, professional organizations and their church.

“Alton and I both enjoy giving because of the positive changes that it makes,” Louise said. “We’re not rich by any means, but we believe that giving enriches both us and those who receive the gift.”

Alton is a co-author of four textbooks used widely in Texas. One of his texts, Biology: The Dynamics of Life, is in its sixth edition. Texas Science is a three-text series that is used in grades six, seven, and eight in almost half the school districts in Texas.

Alton is also the owner of Biggs Educational Consulting. Previously a science teacher at Allen High School for 26 years, he has 32 years of teaching experience.

In 2003, the University named him a Distinguished Alumnus for his professional achievements.

Louise teaches art at Farmersville High School. She has previously taught at Allen High School and Ford Middle School.