For the Parker family, Texas State University is more than a place of learning, it is home. Generations of Parkers have walked its campus, grown within its classrooms, and carried the Bobcat spirit into the world. Among them was Abigail “Abby” Parker, a 2021 Texas State graduate with a degree in history whose love of learning, kindness, and sense of purpose left an indelible mark on those who knew her.
To honor Abby’s life and legacy, the Parker family established the Abigail Parker Memorial Scholarship, an endowed fund that supports students pursuing middle-level teacher certification in Social Studies or Core Subjects. In doing so, they hope to keep Abby’s light shining through the educators she continues to inspire.
Carrying Forward Abby’s Light: The Abigail Parker Memorial Scholarship
To honor Abby's life and legacy, her established the Abigail Parker Memorial Scholarship, supporting students pursuing middle-level teacher certification in Social Studies or Core Subjects.
“Abby loved her time at Texas State,” her family shared. “It shaped her, challenged her, and gave her purpose. Creating this endowment is our way of keeping her light alive and continuing the impact she made in this world, one student at a time.”
Abby had a deep love for history and believed fiercely in the power of education to transform lives. Though she faced challenges in middle school herself, those struggles became the foundation for her empathy and her ability to truly see and support others. She carried that perspective into her teaching, believing that every student had potential waiting to be unlocked.
The Parker family hopes this scholarship will encourage future educators to embrace that same joy for learning and to never underestimate their own impact. “We want students to know they’re supported, seen, and capable of making a real difference, just like Abby did in her time here and beyond,” they said.
Their advice to today’s Bobcats is to slow down, take in the moments, ask questions, and be kind. “Don’t be discouraged by your struggles,” they added. “Sometimes your greatest strength is born from what once felt like your weakness.”
The scholarship also continues a proud Parker family legacy at Texas State. Abby’s father, Andy, is an alumnus, as are her siblings Andrew and Amy. Additionally, her brother Adrian attended and played football at Texas State, and several aunts and an uncle are also Bobcats.
“Texas State poured into Abby and helped her become the incredible woman she was. Now, through this scholarship, we get to give back to the campus that gave us so much,” they said.
Abby’s legacy lives on through the #SmileForAbby movement and the Abigail Parker Memorial Fund, both of which remind others to be brave, be kind, and be themselves. With this scholarship, her impact will continue to ripple across classrooms for years to come, carried forward by educators who believe, as Abby did, that education has the power to change lives.