Viginia Hocksch

A Teacher With A Passion for Children, Music and Life Gives Back to Her Alma Mater

Virginia “Ginny” Hocksch is a teacher who translated her affection for music, her alma mater and her parents into a gift to West Chester University. Virginia graduated from West Chester State Teachers College with a B.S. in Music Education when she was not yet 19 years old. She immediately started to teach. After more than forty years in the classroom, Ginny retired to pursue her dream of international travel. Years later she was called back from retirement by a principal who asked her to serve as a substitute teacher in one of the schools where she had been a music teacher. Today Ginny continues to serve as a substitute teacher whenever her travel schedule allows. Virginia had always wanted to show her deep appreciation for her alma mater, West Chester States Teachers College. The excellent preparation that she received there opened the door to teaching music – a life that she loved. In 1994, she reconnected with her school while attending a football game. She visited the alumni reception before the game and started reminiscing about her college days. A few years later she contacted the University and told them of her interest in including a gift to the School of Music in her will. She then took the steps to make it happen.

Virginia enjoys her continuing relationship with the University. She loves visiting campus – the buildings that were there when she attended, as well as the new state-of-the-art facilities that have sprung up around campus. She has commented, “I look at the buildings named after faculty members that I knew, and remember the difference they made in my life.” Virginia's bequest to West Chester will establish an endowed scholarship for music education students. Ginny concludes, “ I am excited about this decision to enhance the experience of future music education students at the University. I hope their education and career will be as rewarding as mine.”