Mike Cabbiness encouraged his stepdaughter to go back and finish her degree and his continued support of her efforts has earned him Family of the Year honors during Family Weekend activities Nov. 2-4 at West Texas A&M University.
The event celebrated parents and their role in helping make the most of the University experience for their students. Various activities were planned, and students were encouraged to nominate their parents for Family of the Year honors. Mike Cabbiness of Hereford was selected from a field of 28 family nominees. All of the nominees and the winner were recognized at a special morning reception Saturday, Nov. 3, and the family was honored at the Buffs vs. Texas A&M Kingsville game that evening.
In her nomination letter, Stephanie Pena, a senior marketing major from Amarillo, wrote, “My stepdad, along with my other parents, always wanted me to go back to school and said he’d help me out financially so I can finish my degree. Almost every week, without fail, I get a text of support from my stepdad saying how proud he is of me, how much he loves me and to hang in there, that it’s almost over.”
Pena considers Cabbiness as her bonus dad. He came into Pena’s family when she was first attending WTAMU in 2004-2007. She left to do music ministry full time, but Cabbiness and her other parents have always wanted her to go back and earn her degree. She is now doing that through WTAMU’s “It’s Never Too Late” program and in a recent text, Cabbiness encouraged her to keep up the fight and that she can take a deep breath when it’s all over knowing she has accomplished her goal.
“My stepdad reminds me that I’m not alone,” she said.
Other Family of the Year nominees are listed with their nominating student.
• James, Joan and Corey Bailey—Collin Bailey
• Stephinie Bost—Terio Bost
• Sadie Brandt—Dallas Brandt
• Sonya Robertson—Kaeli Brown
• Robert and Karen Butman—Sabrina Butman
• Rachel Clark—Holly Clark
• Shane Clem—Brooklynn Clem
• Dena Daniel, Greg Curry, Blaine Edington, Bra and Grant Curry—Baden Gage Curry
• Ricky, Melodee, Justin, Miles and McKensie Rogers—Sheridan Dietz
• Eric Thomesen and Eric Thomesen Jr.—Cassie Dorsett
• Rick and Cat Enns—Avery Enns
• Escajaeda Family—Mandy Escajaeda
• Julie Evers—Sydney Evers
• John, Jessica, Paige and Tyler Fahey—Courtney Marie Fahey
• Ritchie Chambless—Myriah Garcia
• Abe, Lara and Grant Gott—Abby Gott
• Rodney and Matecha Kibble—Aletha Kibble
• Aurora and Vitto Kleinschmidt—Madeline Kleinschmidt
• Juan Mondragon—Venessa Mondragon
• Pedro Mario and Araceli Munoz—Gabriela Orona
• Mike Cabbiness—Stephanie Pena
• Kristi Potter—Christopher Kirk Potter
• Jennifer, Eric and Mackenzie Pritt—Madyson Pritt
• Patricia and Juan Rodriguez—Luis Rodriguez
• Alisa and Barbara Roop—Ashlynn Roop
• Melissa Maxwell—Emilee Walden
• Ancel and Mary Yarbrough—Lauren Yarbrough
• Johnny Wise—Nicole Yarnold
-West Texas A&M University
