Morgan and Craig credit their organizations for teaching them valuable life lessons including how to be accountable, how to manage their time and how to keep their goals in sight. These lessons paid dividends after graduation, with Morgan securing a third-grade teaching position at Davis Elementary in the Royse City ISD, and Craig going to work with his dad as a sales associate after graduating with his master’s degree in business administration. “A&M Commerce gave us the social skills and strong educational background we needed to be successful in our society and place of business,” Morgan said. She also credits Dr. John Koldus, the former vice president of student affairs at A&M-Commerce, for teaching her how to be a professional and handle difficult situations with poise and grace when she was a student worker in his office. He was a good role model.
The university also served as a welcoming home away from home for Craig and Morgan where everyone knew just about everyone else. The close-knit environment helped them each become more involved on campus, and in return, more independent and responsible.
Today, Harry and Georgia remain active on campus, attending Parents’ Day when their sons were attending, and regularly attending Homecoming and events with the Alumni Board, of which Harry is a member.
“A&M-Commerce is small enough that the college is its own small town,” she said. “It is also big enough, however, to give the eager 18 or 40-year-old a real college experience.”
“I always vowed that somehow I would give back to ETSU in some form or fashion,” Harry said. “I’ve remained a loyal alum, and Georgia and I are dedicated to the betterment of our university.” The second-generation Powers, Craig, Kyle and Morgan, found their niche at A&M-Commerce through their involvement in Greek life. “Greek life had a huge impact on our lives,” Morgan said. “We would not have the wonderful friends we do todayif it had not been for our fraternities, Chi Omega and Kappa Alpha Order.”
For Kyle, the youngest Power, going to A&M-Commerce never required a second thought. He came to campus with fresh memories of attending East Texas State football and basketball games with his dad. “Craig was going to A&M-Commerce. He is my best friend and he would never steer me wrong,” Kyle said. “When he told me that he wanted me to go to school with him I knew that I was going to Commerce.” After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a minor in biology in 2007, Kyle enrolled in physical therapy school at Texas Tech University; an accomplishment largely due to the personal attention he received from his professors at A&M-Commerce.
“A&M-Commerce is one big family. People really care about you,” Kyle said. “You can’t find that at a big COLLEGE when you are just a number.” Looking back, the Power family has a multitude of memories from their time on campus from meeting spouses and the 1972 national championship in football, to Greek life and gaining acceptance to physical therapy school. For the Power parents, however, their greatest highlight was seeing Kyle, Craig and Morgan walk across the stage with diplomas in hand. “The most awesome moments have been our sons and daughter-in-law graduating,” Georgia said. “We are very proud of all of them and their accomplishments.” And they are all very proud to call themselves Lions. o
“A&M-Commerce gave us the social skills and strong educational background we needed to be successful in our society and place of business.”
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