Jeremias Chavez

President’s Student of the Year Recipient

 

Jeremias Chavez of Whiteface has been named the 2026 recipient of the South Plains College President’s Student of the Year award.

The President’s Student of the Year is an honor presented to an outstanding student who exemplifies academic excellence and contributes to the SPC campus environment. It is the highest recognition a student can receive at the College.

Jeremias, a graduating business administration major who started at SPC in Fall 2024, said he is very grateful to be recognized with this special honor.

“It really means a lot,” he said. “I was honored to be nominated in the first place. You can’t get this experience from any other institution.”

During his sophomore year of high school, Jeremias began taking dual credit courses at SPC and planned to enter the workforce after graduation. His co-workers at Smith Auto Family in Levelland recognized his business acumen and encouraged him to attend college and further his career. Everyone close to Jeremias pointed him toward SPC.

After applying to the College, Jeremias received the Wheeler Foundation First to College Scholarship and was welcomed into a supportive community.

“That changed my whole perspective on everything,” he said regarding the Levelland area. “With the locality and how close everyone is, God really put together a community. That’s something you can’t really find at large universities.”

Jeremias’ love for working with numbers was not the only factor in his pursuit of an Associate of Science in business administration. Connecting with people, whether in or outside of the workplace, has always been a goal of his.

Through his faith in God, Jeremias strives to love and serve others and credits the Lord for any opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. This intentionality in building relationships is a characteristic he also found in the hearts of SPC faculty and staff.

“I feel like I can actually connect with professors and even get life advice from them,” he said.

Michela Heth, assistant professor in accounting; Dr. Joshua Keneda, former math professor; Dr. Danie Vaughn, instructor in government; and Angela Roberts, Social Science Department chair, are all professors Jeremias said go above and beyond to get to know their students and showcase a deep passion for their work.

In addition to faculty, Samantha Goldie, director of SPC Development and Alumni Relations; Julie Gerstenberger, vice president for SPC Institutional Advancement; and other Advancement Office staff have been Jeremias’ support system during his time at the College. These employees touched his heart by always having their doors open for questions and leading by example in the professional space.

“People prepare you so much in different ways you don’t see,” Jeremias said.

Jeremias’ desire to grow and help others has led him to host a Bible study in his residence hall, volunteer with Chi Alpha at Texas Tech University, coach a Little Dribblers team, and participate in intramural sports. As a scholarship ambassador, he connects with community members at SPC events, such as the Scholarship Banquet and Monte Carlo Evening, and communicates the College’s impact to people outside of campus.

Jeremias, the son of Cesar and Norma Chavez, graduated third in his class at Whiteface High School and is an honoree on the SPC dean’s and president’s lists. He hopes to be a great role model for his two younger brothers by exemplifying Christ's love throughout his higher education journey.

After SPC, Jeremias plans to attend Texas Tech University and specialize in a type of business. Serving the Spanish-speaking population through banking, working with businesses in the electrical energy industry, and representing people in local government are a few dreams he aims to achieve in the future.