SPC Foundation announces new scholarship for education students 

 

LEVELLAND – The South Plains College Foundation recently announced the establishment of the Amy Lynn Drennan Memorial Scholarship to assist SPC sophomore students majoring in education.  

Since April 2019, the Drennan family has worked to create a scholarship to memorialize the late Amy Lynn Drennan. In addition to the endowed scholarship, the family is providing Impact Scholarships to make awards possible during the fund’s earning period.  

“It was important to us and we wanted to honor Amy,” said Jody Drennan, Ms. Drennan’s sister-in-law. “I have first-hand experience with scholarships and how they work as far as the giving side. And we wanted to help with that.” 

Jody Drennan formerly worked in SPC’s office of Development and Alumni Relations. Presently, she is the administrative assistant to the vice president for institutional advancement. 

Amy was born on Sept. 8, 1975 in Littlefield. She attended school in Bledsoe and Morton prior to her graduating from Levelland High School in 1998. She grew up with her older brother Chad and her parents Terry and Sharon Drennan nearly 20 miles from Morton. 

Amy and Chad would have as much fun as they could during his biweekly visits to his father’s house. Sharon said even though he lived with his mother, Chad and Amy were inseparable during their weekend visits.   

“They were as thick as thieves growing up,” Sharon said. “Chad would try to put 14 days into those two days. From the time he got here on Friday night, they were busy all the time! At sun up on Saturday, they’d take off and come back in the evening. If Chad went hunting, she would go, too.” 

Anything Chad did, Amy wanted to do too. Although Amy had amassed a huge Barbie doll collection, she would never play with them because she always wanted to be with Chad who was never interested in the dolls. Because the family lived in the country, Terry said the kids had to get along well because there were no other children around for them to play with. 

When Chad was not there for Amy to play with, she would practice her teaching skills. She would tape a sheet of paper to the refrigerator with spelling words on it and then ask Sharon to quiz her on the words. 

“Amy had planned on going to college and she planned on becoming a teacher,” Chad said.  “She wanted to teach sign language. She was a very special person.” 

Throughout Amy’s life, she collected thimbles from every state they visited. Her dad’s friends helped, too. In addition, when Chad served in the U.S. Air Force, he and Jody would pick up thimbles in all of the countries he and his family lived or visited. Chad then would deliver the thimbles to Amy when he came home. Her eyes would light up because she was so excited to get a new thimble. In the end, Amy’s collection featured more than 160 thimbles. 

“She was taken from us way too early,” said Chad. “She had a surgery in 1990 which left her handicapped.” 

Amy passed March 20, 2010 at the age of 34. It was exactly 20 years from the date of her life-altering surgery.  

The first recipient of the scholarship was Jessica Cruz of Lubbock. She plans to pursue a teaching career in either early childhood or junior high school. Cruz graduated from South Plains College in May 2020 with an Associate of Arts in Teaching. 

“I really appreciate the scholarship and I am so thankful,” said Cruz. “It’s a blessing that they’re giving back to help students. I’m truly honored.” 

Amy was a very important person, Terry said.  She would be proud to know that she is helping students.  

For more information on this scholarship, to make a donation or 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. 

 

SPC ANNOUNCES DRENNAN SCHOLARSHIP – The South Plains College Foundation recently announced the establishment of the Amy Lyn Drennan Memorial Scholarship Endowment. Shown are, from left, Chad and Jody Drennan of Levelland, brother and sister-in-law of Ms. Drennan; Terry and Sharon Drennan from near Morton and Plains, father and step-mother of Ms. Drennan; and Jessica Cruz of Lubbock, the first recipient of the scholarship. (SPC Photo)