Those who leave a legacy through a gift to Angelo State help ensure the continued success of the institution and its students.
Legacy can also refer to families, where generations of the same family attend the same institution. Meet Chloe, Avery, Whitney and Hailey Edinburgh – four sisters (two sets of twins), San Angelo natives and all currently attending or recently graduated from Angelo State.
“Our mom went to ASU,” said Avery, a Class of 2023 Distinguished Graduate with a degree in education with special education certification. “She really liked it, so Chloe and I went on a tour and that was really fun. I was drawn to the smaller class sizes, and it seemed like it would be possible to do more at ASU than bigger schools with bigger classes.”
“The closer we got to actually applying and choosing where to go, it was really only ASU.”
- Chloe Edinburgh
“We went to an event,” added Chloe, a Class of 2023 Distinguished Graduate nominee and first-year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. “I talked with the kinesiology faculty and I felt they were really interested in me as a person. Everyone was just so nice and welcoming. To us, that was a huge deal. The closer we got to actually applying and choosing where to go, it was really only ASU.”
“I also liked being able to know the area since we grew up here,” said Hailey, a freshman majoring in education with special education certification. “I didn’t have the stress of college along with the stress of learning a whole new town.”
(L-R) Avery, Chloe, Hailey and Whitney Edinburgh
For Whitney, also a freshman, her decision to choose Angelo State was a little more specific.
“When I was around 14 years old, I had surgery and was hugely impacted by the nurses taking care of me,” she said. “Just the impact and the kindness that they showed me – they showed me how much I want to do that for other people. I heard amazing things about the ASU nursing program and met people who have gone through it and gave advice, and that drew me to the program.”
“But,” Whitney added, “seeing Chloe and Avery have their college experience here just made me and Hailey both want to come here even more.”
“I’m excited for the future and what we’re all going to do.”
- Hailey Edinburgh
And being on campus together has definitely had its perks.
“I sometimes see Chloe around,” Whitney said, “and I think it’s really cool just knowing she’s here and that she’s going through the same process we are.”
“It’s fun,” Hailey added. “I don’t see them a ton, but it’s fun when I randomly run into them. The other day, we were walking on the sidewalk and someone was yelling my name. I didn’t recognize them, and it was Chloe!”
(L-R) Avery, Chloe, Hailey and Whitney Edinburgh
Another key aspect of choosing Angelo State was the affordability and scholarship opportunities.
“Since there are four of us, and we’re all in college at the same time, that was a very big component,” Chloe said. “Our parents really wanted us to have the experience of living on campus even though we’re from San Angelo. They wanted to allow us to have that on-campus experience, and I think that the scholarships really helped us be able to do so.”
“Just having these scholarships makes me want to try even harder and get even farther towards my career.”
- Whitney Edinburgh
Their scholarship awards include the Carr Scholarship, Distinguished Scholarship, ASU Ram Edge Scholarship, True Blue Friday Scholarship and several department-specific awards. Plus, Chloe and Avery each received the Honors Scholarship as members of the Honors Program.
“Just having these scholarships makes me want to try even harder and get even farther towards my career,” Whitney said.
(L-R) Whitney, Avery, Hailey and Chloe Edinburgh
All four siblings have their sights set on their careers, and Avery, a special education teacher at Lamar Elementary and working on her master’s degree, has already gotten started.
“Since second grade, I knew I wanted to be a teacher,” Avery said, “but didn’t get to the SPED part of it until high school. We all gave swim lessons. But one summer, I had one swim lesson with autism and one with cerebral palsy, and they were my favorite to give lessons to because you had to think of different ways to teach them. I got to ASU and took all of the SPED classes. Those were my favorite, and I just love learning different ways to teach. Honestly, I want to come back to ASU and be a professor for special ed.”
“Honestly, I want to come back to ASU and be a professor for special ed.”
- Avery Edinburgh
Chloe is working towards becoming a physical therapist, Whitney is getting ready to apply for the nursing program, and Hailey has begun her practicum work within the College of Education.
“I’m excited for the future,” Hailey said, “And what we’re all going to do.”
