Parents of the Year

The Parents of the Year (POY) program is a unique family recognition program that has existed at Texas A&M since 1956. When the program began in 1956, it was known as the Aggie Mother of the Year program. Current students would nominate deserving Aggie Mothers and they would be honored at Mother’s Day ceremonies. In 1974 the award was changed to Parents of the Year, yet the selection and announcement process remained the same. Although the announcement process looks slightly different now, all other aspects of the program remain the same.

The award, given once a year, recognizes the dedication and involvement of Aggie family members. Families selected as Parents of the Year are invited to be recognized during Family Weekend events, Parents of the Year reunion events, and other campus activities.

Meet the Trans…

2026-2027 Parents of the Year

Texas A&M University is proud to announce Krystina ’99 and Alex Tran ’97 as the 2026-2027 Parents of the Year. With deep ties to the Aggie Family, Krystina and Alex serve as shining examples of the Aggie Spirit.

The Trans were nominated by their daughter, Alyssa Tran ’28, a sophomore pursuing a career in physical therapy. As the youngest of three siblings, Alyssa coordinated the surprise announcement while her father was deployed overseas. She ensured both her brothers were present and brought her mother to Aggie Park under the guise of taking photos with a friend. Krystina shared, “Getting that kind of recognition from one of your children is one of the most special and greatest compliments you could ever receive.”

From 7,500 miles away, Alex learned about the award during an early morning call from Krystina. Bracing for bad news, he was instead met with the surprise. Alex said, “To my surprise, it was quite the opposite and took me a few minutes to comprehend!”

In her nomination, Alyssa reflected on how her parents have shaped her into the strong, grounded Aggie she is today. She wrote that her father embodies courage, while her mother is a constant source of support, encouragement, and ambition. Both Krystina and Alex exemplify selfless service as Alex currently serves as both a U.S. Army soldier and Blinn College police officer while Krystina works as a communications coordinator for the Texas A&M Police Department.

With deep roots in the Aggie community, Krystina and Alex demonstrate the Six Core Values that define Texas A&M. When asked to identify three, Alyssa highlighted respect, leadership, and selfless service, all values that her parents have instilled in their children. Their legacy continues with one son joining the U.S. Army, another serving in the U.S. Navy, and a daughter training to be a physical therapist.

When asked what most excites them about the year ahead and representing Aggie families, the Trans shared heartfelt reflections. “The Aggie Spirit is at least a century and a half old, growing bigger and stronger with each generation,” Alex said. “I’m excited to meet former and future Aggies!”

Krystina added, “I am excited to network with other Aggies that love Texas A&M and the Aggie community as much as I do. I am also looking forward to representing the law enforcement and military family and hope we are an inspiration to others that may struggle on balancing work and home life.”

The Aggie Parent and Family Ambassadors (APFA) would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Kristen ’83 and David Cox, the 2025-2026 Parents of the Year, for their service to the university this past year.

Every year, current Texas A&M students can nominate their parents and family members to represent the university as Parents of the Year. Members of APFA, a sponsored student organization with Student Life’s Family Programs unit, select the winners based on their character and embodiment of the Texas A&M Core Values.