Marisela Jimenez of Lubbock has been named the 2024 recipient of South Plains College’s Vera Sue Spencer Award.

The award is presented to an SPC student who demonstrates the qualities of outstanding leadership and service to the college and the community. Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Spencer established the award in memory of their daughter, Vera Sue, who died while Dr. Spencer was serving as president at SPC. The award was established by the Spencer family in 1971.

Jimenez, a graduating criminal justice

major, said being recognized with the award was a surprise.

“I’m very honored,” she said. “It’s amazing that they chose me to represent the school in this way.”

The opportunity to learn about criminal justice is one reason Jimenez chose to pursue higher education at SPC. Being the president of the college’s Criminal Justice Club helped her decide which career path she wanted to follow.

“It really opened up a lot of opportunities,” she said regarding her educational experiences at SPC. “It helped me choose what I wanted to do with my career, and it gave me a steppingstone to a bigger university.”

Being a criminal justice student at SPC has allowed Jimenez to learn about the different pathways of the field. She originally wanted to be a detective but later became more interested in forensics after touring Texas Tech University’s forensics program.

“It really opened my eyes to forensics chemistry,” she said. “There’s just a lot of directions in forensics and law enforcement.”

Along with the criminal justice classes, Jimenez said the faculty members are another great aspect of SPC.

“The teachers are so involved with the students,” she said. “They’re going to make sure you understand everything. They’ll get to know you as a person, and you’re not a number like a student at a bigger university.”

John Barnes, assistant professor of law enforcement at SPC, is one faculty member Jimenez said was a source of inspiration. As a professor and the Criminal Justice Club adviser, he works hard to connect with all the students he meets and continues to keep in touch with former students.

“I don’t think I would have made it through my whole college career without him,” she said. “He pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and pushed me to become president of the club.”

Jimenez’s college career consisted of multiple achievements including being nominated for Miss Caprock in Fall 2023, being nominated for Homecoming Queen in Spring 2024 and receiving the Outstanding Student in Criminal Justice award at the Spring 2024 student awards ceremony. She was also a dean’s list student in Spring 2023 and 2024.

Jimenez, a first-generation college student, also credits her parents for helping her succeed at SPC.

“They supported me throughout college,” she said. “Without them and their support, I don’t think I would have attended college in the first place.”

Jimenez is a graduate of Lubbock High School and is the daughter of Erineo and Maria Jimenez, who continue to love her and support her in everything she does. After graduating from SPC, she will major in chemistry and minor in criminal justice at Texas Tech University.