South Plains College Foundation names Terry and Shari Hill
As 2019 Pacesetter Award Recipients
LEVELLAND – The South Plains College Foundation Board of Directors will honor benefactors Terry and Shari Hill of Seattle, Wash., who have provided exemplary philanthropic support by naming them 2019 Pacesetters. The pair will be honored during South Plains College’s 21st Annual Scholarship Gala on Thursday (Feb. 28).
The gala events will begin at 6 p.m.. in the Mallet Event Center.
“The Hills’ consistent generosity and commitment to our students is overwhelming,” said Dr. Robin Satterwhite, president of South Plains College. “They are making an impact on many students that will change the direction of the students’ lives and for those in their families for generations to come.”
Established in 2003, the Pacesetter Award is presented annually by South Plains College on recommendation of the South Plains College Foundation Board of Directors to recognize philanthropy that has set the pace and inspired others to support SPC.
The Hills are being recognized for establishing the Hill Family Scholarship Endowment in 2016 to support students majoring in science at SPC. Since then, they have made regular and significant contributions to the endowment.
A Levelland native and 1980 graduate of South Plains College, Mr. Hill credits the SPC faculty and staff for encouraging him to excel in science as well as challenging him to become a better student and develop a passion for learning.
“I was the first generation in our family who actually went to college,” Mr. Hill said. “For me growing up in Texas, education was really the doorway that led me to take my God-given talent and it really opened up the world to me.
“I think one of the things about higher education obviously is that you learn a lot but most importantly is that you always continue to learn,” he said.
It is a sentiment that is also shared by Mrs. Hill.
“The importance of higher education is opening up those doors for young men and women to follow their passions and their dreams,” said Mrs. Hill, who earned her degree as a registered nurse.
After completing his associate of science degree at SPC, Mr. Hill then finished his bachelor of science degree in microbiology at Texas Tech University. He moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area where he met Shari, a nursing student at Baylor University. They married in 1985. They moved to Houston for seven years prior to moving to Washington State in 2002.
Mr. Hill is a distribution executive and advisor with more than 30 years of experience in chemical distribution and sales industry. He has developed commercial strategies yielding impressive growth in the United States, Europe, China and South America. He identifies market trends, crafts strategy and developing business models that set the bar for industry innovation.
Mr. Hill guided the development and execution of commercialization strategy at Univar, where he held leadership roles of U.S. president of field operations, chief commercial officer and executive vice president of industry relations. Under his leadership, field operations developed critical hubs across the country, streamlining operations and enabling more efficient movement of products across the company and increasing service levels.
In 2015, Mr. Hill formed his consulting firm Apex Distribution Consulting, LLC, to share his expertise about opportunities in chemical distribution. He is an affiliate member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors and invests in the future of the industry as a board member of the Chemical Education Foundation.
“South Plains College reaches out and takes everyone at their own abilities and helps them build value,” Mr. Hill said. “SPC provides opportunities for people to help themselves and their families. It’s a ripple effect.”
Shari Hill volunteers her time at a women’s shelter called for a women’s homeless shelter called Acres of Diamonds. She said SPC is very successful because of its focus on students.
“The individual attention that the students receive at South Plains is incalculable,” she said. “I know personally how much that can matter in your education and in your life choices. So for South Plains to keep to their roots, keep students first in your teachings and really pouring into the lives of each individual, I think that speaks volumes.”
Mr. and Mrs. Hill have also established scholarships at Texas Tech and Baylor with a preference given to SPC students as they pursue their degrees.
“An investment in scholarships is an opportunity to give back to the college,” he said. “It’s a chance to make a difference in the lives of students.”
The Hills are the parents of three sons, Josh, Daniel and Michael and a daughter, Sarah. All of the Hill children came back to Texas to attend college. Josh, Daniel and Sarah attended Baylor and Michael attended Southern Methodist University.
