Capitol Elementary School students, faculty make donations to SPC Foundation
LEVELLAND – The students and faculty at Capitol Elementary School recently made donations to the Jeanette Swaringen Memorial Scholarship Endowment at South Plains College in memory of the late counselor.
The students raised $500 through candy sales. Members of the Capitol Parent Club also made a donation of $100.
“Amy Alexander and Amee Dodson really got the ball rolling when they came up with the fund raiser,” said Liz Pruitt, secretary at Capitol Elementary. “They got the notes sent out about what we were doing, and the students raised $500 in a week.”
Jeanette Swaringen had been the counselor for three years at Capitol. She died unexpectedly on Jan. 18, 2017. Her husband, David, along with her parents Richard and Shirley Conley of Levelland, established a scholarship endowment with the South Plains College Foundation in February to help Levelland High graduates attend SPC.
“She was so good at what she did and so efficient that (when we lost her) we had to spread her duties across the district,” said Karl Race, principal. “I didn’t know all the things she did.”
Pruitt echoed those sentiments, “When we lost Jeanette, it left a big hole in the hearts of everyone in the building. She did her job and went the extra mile all the time.”
In May 2017, South Plains College will award an impact scholarship provided by Jeanette Swaringen’s family for a LHS graduate. The family plans to fund an impact scholarship annually for the following three years until the endowment reaches maturity. The scholarship is awarded to students who plan to major in education in preparation for a career as a public school teacher.
“Jeanette worked in Levelland and touched a lot of people,” said Swaringen. “They will be the ones who will benefit from the scholarship, and they will remember the person that it honors.”
For more information on the 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.
SCHOLARSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS – The students and faculty at Capitol Elementary recently made donations to the Jeanette Swaringen memorial Scholarship Endowment at South Plains College. The students raised $500 through candy sales. Shown on the front row, from left, are Mia Rangel, Kendall Maldonado, Allyson Looney, Alice Guerra, Chevelle Hopp, Dilan Hernandez, Raily Pence, Jeffrey Terrell and Lainey Batson. On the second row are, from left, Yvonne Smith, first grade teacher; Kallie Knock, Azure Wheeler, Anthony Torrez, Nehemiah Sanchez, Adden Luna, Zackary Lopez, Ivaniel Gandara and Sterling Van Zandt. On the third row are, from left, Sophie Miller, Anthony Gonzalez, Aden Zamora, R.J. Mireles, Taelor Guerra and Esteban Nieland. On the back row are, from left, Julie Gerstenberger, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at South Plains College; Judy Whisenant, Nurse; Karl Race, Principal; David Swaringen; Jeanne Smith, Reading Specialist; Phyllis Hopp, third grade bilingual; and Kristy Sanders, first grade teacher. Not pictured are the members of the Capital Parent Club who also made a donation of $100. (SPC Photo/Wes Underwood)
