Monday, October 3, 2005, Issue 2
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South Plains Tech Prep Gives Boost to First-Generation College Students
by Jacob Tucker, feature editor

The idea of making it through life without an education is now a far cry from the truth.  Parents who missed out on their college education are telling their children they cannot afford not to miss out on furthering their education.

South Plains Tech Prep held a news conference on Sept. 15 at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center in Lubbock to update the efforts and successes of providing services to first-generation college students on the South Plains.

This program was founded to give students money to attend college.  These students must be from a home where the parent(s) did not attend college.

Jill Berset, executive director of SPTP, explained the general structure of the program.

“This program was designed to give students a chance for higher learning,” said Berset.

The process is two fold, beginning in high school.  Students attend workshops that help them learn how to fill out financial aid forms.  They also have access to specially trained counselors who are there to help the students through many pre-college and college trials that they may face.

As these first-generation students move from high school to college, these counselors change into mentors.  The mentors, who are older first-generation students, help guide the freshmen throughout their college days.

“Basically, these second or third-year first-generation students help the freshmen in any area that they have questions in,” said Berset. 

During the past four years, SPTP has provided $1.2 million in funding to first-generation students in the area.  This has helped pay for services such as locating funds for books, transportation and even housing.  

 

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SGA Elects New Officers

for 2005-2006

by Amanda Hurt, staff writer

With the school year just barely getting started South Plains College’s Student Government Association is already busy planning an eventful year.

The SGA is the governing factor of the student body, with their responsibility being to carry out the policies that pertain to student life. They also assist in the planning of student activities around the SPC campus.

The SGA officers are both elected and appointed. The officers consist of two elected offices, the president and vice president, an executive board ratified by the Senate, 10 senators and a representative from each club or organization.

The SGA elected sophomore Keva Garner as the new president at the end of last year. Garner was born and raised in Levelland, and graduated from Levelland High School in 2003. During her high school years, she was active in Student Council, 4-H, FFA, cheerleading, stock show, National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. This is her second year in SGA, as she previously served as a senator. In addition to serving as SGA president, Garner also is on the State Executive Board.

“ I wanted to be able to further expose South Plains College to the rest of the state,” said Garner. “As president of the Student Government Association, I plan to do everything in my power to do so.”

After she leaves SPC in May, she plans to transfer to Texas Tech University to finish her degree in business finance.

Other members of SGA include: vice president Megan King from Lubbock; secretary, Kristin Carroll, Meadow; Senators: Wendy De LaRosa, Denver City, senator; Leo Sanchez, Denver City, senator; Kandee Nichols, Loop, senator; Myka Collins, Levelland, senator; Jaree Cornell, Graham, senator; Josie Rodriguez, Kermit, senator; Brittney Kingsley, Houston, senator; Ruben Salinas Jr., Lamesa, senator; John Lopez, Whitharral, senator.

Those serving on the Executive Board are: King; Carroll; treasurer David Moore, Whitharral; historian Charollette Nichols, Whitharral; parliamentarian Josh Watson, Abernathy; and senate majority leader Chon Moron, Beeville.

The SGA assists students with any problem they might run into, such as parking problems and visitation. With a member of SGA on basically every board at SPC, problems get taken care of efficiently as possible.

 

 

 
  
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