A Legacy That Teaches Forward

For Sharon Storey Lippke ‘71, Texas State University is more than a place, it is a thread woven through generations of her family, shaping lives, careers, and a shared commitment to education that spans more than a century.

That story begins in 1910, when her grandmother attended Southwest Texas State Normal School. At a time when education looked very different, her grandmother earned a teaching certificate and went on to teach in a one-room schoolhouse, planting the seed for a family legacy rooted in service.

Over the decades, that legacy grew. Her father, a 1938 graduate, served as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal. Her sister and brother-in-law followed, graduating in 1968 and 1969 and dedicating their careers to education. Sharon earned her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in 1971 and went on to spend 29 years as a teacher and counselor. Her brother graduated in 1977, and the next generation continued the tradition, her nephew’s wife becoming a teacher after graduating in 2008, and her son, also a 2008 graduate, serving others today as a music therapist.
 

Inspired by both her family’s history and her own experience, Sharon chose to make a lasting investment in the future of Texas State. While revisiting estate plans, her husband expressed his intention to establish a scholarship at his alma mater, Texas A&M. For Sharon, the decision felt both natural and deeply personal.

“I decided to do the same… but to my university, Texas State.”

She included a gift in her will to create an endowed scholarship that honors four generations of Bobcats and is dedicated to supporting students in the College of Education who are pursuing teacher certification at the elementary, middle, or secondary level. Recipients will be students who have been admitted to the Educator Preparation Program, demonstrate strong academic achievement, and reflect on the inspiration behind their calling to teach.

“I hope that my gift will provide financial support for a student who is dedicated to educating our youth. In this day and time, many students can use the assistance to complete their degrees.”

Her time at Texas State was filled with moments that helped shape her path, from participating in the Bobcat Band to building lifelong friendships through Alpha Xi Delta, to witnessing a surprise visit from President Lyndon B. Johnson.

But beyond those memories, it was the sense of purpose, and the example set by those before her, that stayed with her most.

For current students, her advice reflects both wisdom and intention:

“Enjoy your college experience. Make life-long friends. Prepare yourself to be a productive member of society upon graduation. Give back to your community and to your college when you are able, either financially or in service.”

For Sharon, being a Bobcat is about more than personal achievement, it is about belonging to something enduring.

Through this future scholarship, Sharon is ensuring that legacy continues, not only within her family, but through every future educator who will go on to shape young minds, strengthen communities, and carry forward the enduring impact of a Texas State education across the state of Texas and the world.