Fostering an Aggie community for years to come

Raised only a few miles from Texas A&M University, Mary Hirsch ’83, Teddy “Jim” Hirsch Jr. ’91 and Sarah Hirsch Thompson grew up witnessing their parents’ devotion to higher education. Mary Jane Hirsch ’72 and Dr. Teddy Hirsch ’52 regularly brought their children to campus and exposed them to the Aggie core values from a young age. Now, the siblings have collectively established a scholarship named after their parents to honor the family’s foundational values in community and education at Texas A&M.

“My parents’ dedication to education and young people makes our gift a great opportunity to honor their legacy,” Mary Hirsch said.

Dr. Teddy Hirsch pursued an undergraduate degree in civil engineering while actively involved on campus. Soon after graduation, he was hired by H.B. Zachry Construction to build a new runway for high-speed jets. His talent was quickly recognized, and he received a scholarship to return to Texas A&M to pursue his master’s degree and later his doctoral degree in civil engineering.

Teddy and Mary Jane met while Teddy was pursuing his masters, and they soon began their life as a married couple. Mary Jane attended Texas A&M the first semester women were allowed to enroll in the university, and she graduated with her master’s degree in education. She was passionate about creating academic opportunities within the community, so she taught algebra at A&M Consolidated High School and sponsored the Junior Engineering Technical Society.

Teddy was also heavily invested in education, specifically civil engineering. He dedicated nearly 40 years of his career to conducting groundbreaking highway safety research, teaching as a professor and holding many leadership positions within the College of Engineering. His expertise brought him across the globe to deliver presentations on his research.

“My parents, Teddy and Mary Jane, always taught us to value education and shared their passion for influencing young minds,” Mary Hirsch said.

The Hirschs did not focus their time on academics alone. Teddy and Mary Jane cultivated an Aggie community. As they settled down to raise their family close to campus, they became active members of their church and hosted many activities for the students in their church. Mary Jane took pride in working to level the playing field for women in the community by bringing girls’ sports to College Station.

As firsthand witnesses to their parents’ academic accomplishments and their ability to cultivate a strong community, the Hirsch siblings were inspired to establish the Dr. Teddy J. ’52 and Mary J. Munson-Hirsch Civil Engineering Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship will provide students with financial support to embody excellence and community, just as Teddy and Mary Jane did. The siblings hope this scholarship will allow their parents’ legacy to live on in generations of Aggie engineers.

“My hope is that other students in the future will have personal values and pride instilled in them, have opportunities to become successful and have a positive impact on the world,” Jim Hirsch said.