It is a personal blessing to discover one’s passion early in life. It is a gift to mankind when that passion is helping others. Andrea “Andi” McKenna ’08 was that gift, selflessly dedicating herself to teaching special education students how to cope with their challenges and to find strength in God. While many college students dream of material rewards, she dreamed of spiritual benevolence. Earlier this year, McKenna professed this desire to her mother, Sissy McKenna ’79, when she asked, “Can you imagine what it would be like to teach children with special needs about God?” 

McKenna possessed the rare gift of understanding the needs of others and an even rarer conviction to do something to help. “She just glowed and had such a love for it,” her mother said. Friends and family described her as “spunky, independent, spirited and giving.” Born and raised in Galveston, she learned Aggie traditions at a young age by attending football games with her father, John McKenna ‘78. McKenna was so proud to become an Aggie in the fall of 2004 that she sent out personal newsletters with pictures and explanations of Aggie traditions. “She put a lot of thought into everything she did,” her father said. She was destined to enrich the lives of others. 

Sadly, that destiny and her life was cut short in May 2007 when Andi was involved in a car accident while on her way to Camp Summit in Fort Worth, Texas―a camp for people with disabilities. McKenna was weeks away from her 21st birthday and ordering her Aggie ring. She had begun her term as president of Kappa Beta Theta Catholic sorority and was planning for post-graduation. She hoped to teach children with Down syndrome and eventually become a diagnostician, developing curriculum to meet their needs. She also considered a nursing degree to assist with children’s medical needs. She was thinking, acting and planning to help others until the very end. 

In her memory, McKenna’s parents created the Andrea E. “Andi” McKenna ’08 Memorial Scholarship in Special Education. They wanted to do something special in their daughter’s memory that would inspire other students to help people with special needs,  “Texas A&M is a huge part of our lives and we want to help give that experience to someone else,” they said.

Julie Marie Ness ’09 is the scholarship’s first recipient. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Julie also has experience working with children who have special needs. She has been a counselor and cabin leader at Camp CAMP in Comfort, Texas, for several years, and is involved in Texas A&M’s Project Sunshine, which provides activities for children with special needs in the Bryan-College Station community. She learned about Texas A&M from her brothers, Peter Ness ’05 and Jacob Ness ’03.

“I enjoyed the kids and found the experience challenging and rewarding,” she said.  “Because of this scholarship, I feel I have an even greater obligation to now capture the full experience of Texas A&M and to help make a difference as a special education teacher. Most Aggies do more than study and get a degree―they want to help the community and make a difference in lives around them.”

A person’s contribution to the world is measured not by what they possess, but by what their passing invokes in others.  News of McKenna’s death resulted in the largest outpouring of memorial cards and gifts to Texas A&M’s St. Mary’s Catholic Center since the bonfire collapse.  She has been named a St. Mary’s honorary agent for the class of 2008. In her memory, the College of Education and Human Development has added two bricks to the statue outside the Harrington Education Center.  In 2011 Camp Summit will open a new camp with the arts and crafts area named in her memory. These honors, along with the scholarship in her name, ensure that McKenna’s “selfless and remarkable character” will live on for years to come.

Members of Andi’s family who are Aggies:  Parents John ’78 and Sissy ’79 McKenna; Uncle Michael Roiz ’77; cousin Matthew Roiz ’08 who had Andi’s initials engraved in his ring along side his name; cousin Megan Roiz ’11; Uncle Alfred Rodriguez ’72; and cousin Natalie Cloudy ’97.

By Carrie Paxton-Lamke