Xcel Energy Foundation grants $3,000 for STEM Scholarships at SPC

 

LEVELLAND – The South Plains College Foundation has received a $3,000 grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation to fund scholarships for students majoring in pre-engineering and computer science at the college. 

“On behalf of Xcel Energy, we are honored to be able to assist young people and enhance their educational pursuits,” said Ben Jaime, regional community service manager for Xcel Energy. “We do all we can to support education in our territory.” 

Jaime, a 35-year Xcel employee, recently transferred to Xcel Energy’s Lubbock community service region March 1. He spent the last 14 years managing the Hobbs, N.M., community service region. 

The grant to South Plains College has provided $1,000 scholarships to three students who are studying pre-engineering or computer science for the 2018-19 academic year. 

Students who have been awarded the scholarships include Dexter Downey, a sophomore computer science major from Lubbock; John McWhirter, a freshman pre-engineering major from Plains; and Nathan Mendoza, a sophomore computer science major from Lubbock. 

 “We are very grateful for the continued scholarship support that Xcel Energy has provided South Plains College students,” said Dr. Robin Satterwhite, president of South Plains College.

“SPC has an outstanding math and pre-engineering program with strong transfer pathways to electrical engineering programs at our regional and state universities,” he said. “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 $63,500 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 the Development Office at (806) 716-2020.

 

The South Plains College Foundation has received a $3,000 grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation to fund scholarships for students majoring in pre-engineering and computer science at the college. Shown are, from left, Ben Jaime, regional community service manager for Xcel Energy; scholarship recipients John McWhirter, a freshman pre-engineering major from Plains; Dexter Downey, a sophomore computer science major from Lubbock; and Nathan Mendoza, a sophomore computer science major from Lubbock; and Steve Deaton, retired community relations for Xcel.