b'TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION|LEAD BY EXAMPLE 401 GEORGE BUSH DRIVECOLLEGE STATION, TX 77840\x1f2811 A LOOK BACK: MARIA REYESAggielands First Mother of the YearAfter the end of World War I, many Aggie moms were concerned about their sons well-being. To help these mothers feel at peace and honor the then recently-established Mothers Day holiday, the university invited Aggie parents to campus to witness their cadets progress. This new tradition became known as Family Weekend.To expand on this idea, Texas A&M University established the Mother of the Year program in 1956 to recognize outstanding Aggie moms. Therst recipient of this award, Maria Reyes, was nominated by her son, Margarito Mike Reyes 56. In his nomination letter, Mike shared his gratitude for Maria, a sel ess mother of 14 children, eight of whom attended Texas A&M: My mother only has a third grade education, but she has seen to it that every member of my family who is old enough has obtained a college education.Eighteen years later, the award evolved into Parents of the Year, recognizing both traditional and non-traditional families. Forty-seven couples have been recognized since 1974, including the 2020-2021 winners, Tanya and T.J. Gillespie.'