Xcel Energy Foundation Awards $3,000 For Stem Scholarships at SPC

 

LEVELLAND – Xcel Energy Foundation recently presented South Plains College with a $3,000 grant to fund scholarships for engineering and computer science students. Three students will benefit from the scholarship grant for the fall and spring semesters.

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 critical we keep our eyes on our future workforce and not allow the disruption of the pandemic to slow down efforts to build a quality workforce for our region,” said Ben Jaime, Xcel Energy manager for community and economic development. “SPC is uniquely qualified to adapt to the changes and maintain the push to prepare students for careers in the industries that are foundational to our economy.”

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 students will be selected by the scholarship committee in the Math, Engineering and Computer Science Department. Dr. Sheyleah Harris-Plant, professor of mathematics, is the chairperson of the department.

“It is an honor to teach and serve in a community that has public, private and corporate support of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas,” Dr. Harris said. “Recent events have shown us the importance of science, technology and engineering, all of which are built on a strong foundation of mathematics. Xcel Energy’s continued sponsoring of these scholarships is allowing students to pursue an education in an area that will not only benefit themselves but also our community.”

According to Dr. Robin Satterwhite, president of South Plains College, “We are very grateful for the continued scholarship support that Xcel Energy has provided South Plains College students. SPC has an outstanding math and pre-engineering program with strong transfer pathways to computer science and electrical engineering programs at our regional and state universities.  Encouraging more students to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering and math through scholarships will benefit business and industry in the future.”

Since 2007, the Xcel Energy Foundation has provided $69,500 to the South Plains College Foundation to fund scholarships for various programs.

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.