What does it mean to be a parent at University? For Jackie and Stephana Bledsoe, it means showing up for their own sons and for the wider community through service and a spirit of generosity.
For the Bledsoes, being parents at University has always meant more than just drop-offs and pick-ups. Whether serving on the Parent Association Board, guiding Open House tours, or cheering from the stands at basketball games, they’ve become familiar and welcoming faces in the UHS community. Their involvement reflects the gratitude they feel for the ways University has embraced their family.
That gratitude extends to the traditions that connect the whole community, and one of Stephana’s favorites is Grandparents’ Day. “I love that University still does this because the joy you see on the faces of the students and their grandparents when they share in the life of the school is really special,” Stephana reflects. “Generosity at University really reaches across generations.”
That same spirit of generosity shows up in the lives of their sons, Joshua ’28 and Jackson ’24. “We’ve had two boys at University, and both are very different,” Stephana explains. “But each has been celebrated and supported in ways that made them thrive.” The Bledsoes see how families and faculty give of themselves in ways big and small whether it be offering rides, preparing meals, or stepping in with support during life’s unexpected moments.
They’ve also seen generosity modeled by teachers and staff. Mentors, they recall, often go “above and beyond,” whether offering academic encouragement or making sure a student didn’t go without lunch. Those gestures, they say, may seem small but have a lasting impact because they show students they are seen and valued.
So, what does it mean to be a parent at University? For Jackie and Stephana, it means supporting not only their own children but also the wider school community. It means modeling generosity through service, hospitality, and encouragement, and helping sustain the culture of belonging that makes University such a special place for students and families alike.
When you give to the U Fund, you strengthen the community that families like the Bledsoes love. Your generosity sustains signature programs like one-to-one mentoring and beloved traditions like Grandparents’ Day, helping University remain a place where students are known, families are engaged, and community thrives. Please consider a gift to the U Fund today.
