The Weyenbergs enhance ‘opportunities of a lifetime’ through PLC

This story is written by Johnathan McGinty

Education is a gift that yields a generational impact.

Andy and Jamie Weyenberg, UGA alumni and the parents of a trio of Bulldogs, live by that sentiment through a commitment to enhancing the experiences of many.

The two are active members of the University of Georgia’s Parent Leadership Council (PLC), which is made up of highly engaged parents eager to be involved on campus and make a direct impact on undergraduate student life. It’s enabled them to stay engaged with their children while also fostering a deeper bond with their alma mater.

The Weyenbergs are Bulldogs through and through. The couple met during their college days at UGA and made it a priority to return to Athens regularly, immersing their family in the Classic City through frequent visits for football and basketball games that strengthened their children’s connection to the university.

When their oldest, Katelyn, was a sophomore at Georgia in 2018, Andy and Jamie first joined the PLC. Like many parents, they wanted to know what was going on at their daughter’s school.

“It does allow you to be involved without burdening your kids,” said Andy. “You know, coming here on campus, not necessarily to visit the kids, but to be here and be involved and see all that is going on, see all the improvements, the new things that have developed over the years, it gives us a chance to really get involved.”

Their two other children would follow their older sister. Drew recently graduated from UGA, and now their youngest, Jake, is following in his family’s footsteps and beginning his education. Being parents to three students allows certain views into a school, but Andy and Jamie noted their involvement with the PLC has enabled them to explore the full breadth of service, research and opportunity available at UGA.

The PLC hosts two annual Parents Weekends that showcase various programs and colleges on campus, meeting in a host of locations like the Terry College of Business, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and Georgia Museum of Art. This gives PLC members a deeper, more holistic understanding of the university’s mission. Various speakers also provide unique insights into activities throughout the campus, including UGA President Jere W. Morehead.

“He always gives us kind of an overview of what’s going on: what are the needs, what are the students’ needs, how is he involved on campus, what’s he seeing,’” said Andy. “You know, he’s involved. He loves what the PLC is doing.”

Andy and Jamie have served on the PLC Grants Committee, which provides support for a variety of projects and needs, such as academic tutoring, safe-campus initiatives, career planning, scholarships, leadership experiences and more. It also led them to consider additional ways to give back to their alma mater.

Jamie’s late father, James K. Jones, was the principal at Habersham Central High School, where he coined the catchphrase “Today is the Day of the Raider.” To honor the impact he had on countless generations of students in northeast Georgia, Jamie said they opted to establish two Georgia Commitment Scholarships.

The James K. Jones Scholarship is open to any UGA student and provides funding to assist with the cost of attending college, while the Day of the Raider Scholarship benefits Habersham Central High School students or students from Northeast Georgia.

The family’s commitment to the PLC throughout the past few years is a testament to their belief in its mission. They recognize the financial strain of college can stop some students from pursuing it altogether, but they know the importance and value of higher education.

“We just know how important it is to get that education because it really opens up many opportunities of a lifetime,” said Andy. “It changes your perspective on the world. It changes your future.”