South Plains College Foundation

09/06/2024

My office has a position available! SPC Institutional Advancement is looking for an administrative assistant. We do not put the Gala together, but we support that event and the other fundraising and donor stewardship events. We work most closely with the SPC Foundation Board of Directors. Details and the application are at https://southplainscollege.peopleadmin.com/postings/3852
We'll begin reviewing applications on 9/13.

03/03/2022

03/12/2021

Three South Plains College engineering and computer science students are benefitting from a $3,000 scholarship grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation this spring semester.

The grant was awarded to the South Plains College Foundation to support student achievement and completion in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

“It is unique and special to teach and serve in a community with so much public, private and corporate support of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) area,” said Dr. Sheyleah Harris-Plant, professor and chairperson of mathematics, engineering and computer science.

“Recent events continue to show the importance of science, technology and engineering, all of which are built on a strong mathematics foundation,” she said. “Xcel Energy’s continued sponsoring of these scholarships allows students to pursue an education in an area that will not only benefit themselves but also our community and world.”

The grant to South Plains College has provided $1,000 scholarships to three students who are studying pre-engineering or computer science for the 2020-21 academic year.

The scholarship recipients are Juliette Fernandez, engineering major from Brownfield; Breklin Davis, chemical engineering major from Lubbock; and Ramon Zubiate, computer science major from Denver City.
"Scholarships like the Xcel Energy scholarship, help students like us continue our journey of higher education by helping us worry less about being able to financially support ourselves and focus more on our studies towards a degree that we’re passionate about,” said Fernandez. “These awards mean a lot to us, even emotionally, because they show that people recognize the hard work that we students do, and choose to believe and support us."

“Coming from a large family, there is always an abundance of love; however, there isn’t always the financial support needed to achieve my academic goals,” said Davis. “Thanks to the kindness and generosity of donors, I am able to fulfill these aspirations without the weight of debt on my shoulders.”

“Receiving the Xcel Energy STEM scholarship motivated me even more than ever before to try my hardest in school and in my personal life,” said Zubiate. “The thought of receiving such a meritorious award gives me the confidence to finish my school year with my best academic ability. Scholarships give students the financial aid and the determination they could utilize in school. Since I am a recipient, I am thankful that the dean and faculty chose me for this scholarship, as well as thankful that Xcel Energy supplied the funds for the award.”

Since 2007, the Xcel Energy Foundation has provided $66,500 to the South Plains College Foundation to fund scholarships for various programs.

“Xcel Energy invests in the regional economy by ensuring our energy infrastructure is on a solid footing, but we also know that without an educated workforce, our investments can only do so much,” said Ben Jaime, Xcel Energy manager of community and economic development. “It is critical to develop that workforce by eliminating the barriers to higher education which, in many cases, are financial. The Xcel Energy Foundation’s support of scholarship programs at South Plains College is a small investment relative to the enormous benefits we all receive as the workforce becomes more educated.”

For more information about how to support South Plains College students through impact scholarships, contact Julie Gerstenberger, director of development and alumni relations at (806) 716-2020.

01/15/2021

South Plains College announces its 23rd Annual Scholarship Gala slated for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 (Friday) will be a live stream event that is open to the public. Many of the traditions synonymous with the gala will be included such as the presentation of the Pacesetter honor, the silent auction, SPC student and alumni musical entertainment and compelling student stories. Links to all parts of the Scholarship Gala are found on the SPC website and can be accessed directly by visiting www.southplainscollege.edu/gala.

“Embracing Opportunity” is the fundraising theme this year. A quote attributed to Albert Einstein expands on the theme and serves as a reminder that support for SPC students may be needed now like never before.

“One can find variations on the quote ‘In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity,” said Julie Gerstenberger, director of development and alumni relations, “but the idea is consistent: troubled times offer opportunities for us to help one another. We are in such a time.”

“The purpose of the event is unchanged,” she said. “The Gala is the college’s most important fundraiser for college-wide scholarships."

Established in 2003, the Pacesetter Award is presented annually by South Plains College on the recommendation of the South Plains College Foundation Board of Directors to recognize philanthropy that has set the pace and inspired others to support SPC. As in previous years, a video package will introduce the honorees and tell the story of their motivation for supporting the College.

One of the most popular segments of the gala is the auction which features unique treasures and collectibles. Bidding will open on Monday, Feb. 22 so supporters will have several days to enjoy the excitement of placing bids.

Gerstenberger said the planning for an online auction was actually started several years ago with the encouragement of Gala attendees so her office was prepared to handle the restrictions currently imposed by the pandemic. This year’s Auction Committee members started their work in October and continue working diligently to gather items. Donations of items or cash are welcome.

Christy Hartin, SPC alumna and anchor personality at KCBD TV Channel 11, will serve as the mistress of ceremonies for the gala. Hartin will also shares her story about her time as a student at South Plains College.

One hundred percent of the Gala proceeds go directly to student scholarships.

Sponsorship levels for the 2021 gala are mostly unchanged from last year but because it is a live stream event 100 percent of all sponsorships and donations are tax deductible this year. The top sponsorship levels are Underwriting Partner – $7,500; Diamond Sponsor – $5,000; Ruby Sponsor – $2,000.

Current Underwriting Partners are Larry and Mary Montgomery. Diamond Sponsors are Smith Auto Family, Pat and Annette Sykora; Terry and Shari Hill; Great Western Dining; and Richard and Carrie Ellis. The Ruby Sponsor is Krestridge Funeral Home, Gene and Kate Allen.

Additional sponsorship levels include; Sapphire Sponsor – $1,000; Pearl Sponsor -- $500; and Gold Sponsor – $125.

Current Sapphire Sponsors are Amazing Space Storage Solutions, Brett and Rita Paxton; Larry and Helen Roberts; BGR Architects, Inc.; Mark Gottschalk; Thunder on the Plains; and Jeff and April Hyde. Pearl Sponsors are Thompson Farms and Shear Imagination; Robbie Stansifer; Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, Dr. Alice White; Pam Moore and also Carlyon Veretto. Gold Sponsors are Danny Grant Agency; Dane and Jeri Ann Dewbre; and Zach and Robyn Reaves.

For more information about the Scholarship Gala or other ways to support South Plains College and SPC students, please contact Mrs. Gerstenberger at (806) 716-2020 or by email at [email protected].

12/04/2020

A scholarship has been established to honor the memory of Stephanie Smith, alumni coordinator at South Plains College.

Ms. Smith joined the college in 2014 as the first professional to lead efforts to formally establish an active Alumni Association for South Plains College. She was in monthly contact with more than 12,000 former SPC students. She directed the Distinguished Alumni Awards Recommendation Committee and served as the executive director of the South Plains College Alumni Association. In a groundbreaking program, she created a joint membership for SPC and Texas Tech University alumni. It is the first of its kind in the nation.

Contributions are welcome in any amount. Donations can be made securely online at www.southplainscollege.edu/donate. Checks can be made to the SPC Foundation and mailed to the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, South Plains College, 1401 S. College Ave., Levelland, Texas 79336.

For more information, contact Julie Gerstenberger, director of development and alumni relations, at (806) 716-2020 or email [email protected].

Photo courtesy of Krestridge Funeral Home

11/30/2020

The South Plains College Foundation recently announced the establishment of the Levelland Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee Scholarship Endowment to assist South Plains College agriculture students.

The Levelland Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee pledged $10,000 to create the scholarship.

According to Doug Hoelscher, chairman of the Levelland Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee, “We wanted to do something that would have a big impact on our recruiting efforts to help students pursue careers in the ag industry.”

Hoelscher said the campaign to raise funds for an endowed scholarship began in 2018. The scholarship committee received seed money for the project by hosting a Producer Appreciation Luncheon with varying sponsorships levels.

SPC’s Department of Agriculture Sciences hosted Ag Career Symposiums in the fall 2018 and 2019, which brought more than 600 students from across the state to campus. The students visited with 30 agricultural professionals about the variety of employment opportunities in agriculture industry.

Levelland Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee raised additional funds through donations from participating businesses at the Ag Career Symposium. Local ag businesses provide sponsorship and give Levelland Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee the opportunity to host various other events to help encourage youth to pursue careers in agriculture as well as help support the scholarship endowment.

“We want good people in agriculture, and we want to provide opportunities for students to find careers in this industry,” he said.

First consideration for applicants to the Levelland Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee Scholarship will be given to students majoring in agriculture. The recipient must be a full-time student taking at least 12 credit hours. The recipient also must maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.

For more information about ways to support scholarships and students at South Plains College, contact Julie Gerstenberger, director of development and alumni relations, at (806) 716-2020.

03/27/2019

Our thanks and appreciation to the Xcel Energy Foundation for providing $3,000 in STEM scholarships for students in the South Plains College pre-engineering and computer science programs. Helping recognize our three scholarship recipients at a recent reception were Ben Jaime, Xcel Lubbock region community services manager (left) and Steve Deaton, retired Xcel regional community services manager and vice president of the SPC Foundation Board of Directors (right). The students who are benefiting from the scholarships are John McWhirter, a freshman pre-engineering major from Plains; Dexter Downey, a sophomore computer science major from Lubbock; and Nathan Mendoza, also a sophomore computer science major from Lubbock. Thank you Xcel Energy for supporting STEM careers!

03/06/2019

02/28/2019

GIVE TODAY: https://southplainscollege.ejoinme.org

02/27/2019

The countdown has begun, have you completed your application!

12/23/2018

From all of us at South Plains College, we wish you the best of the Holiday Season and much happiness in the New Year.