The annual Sudan Education Foundation Dinner and Auction was held on September 25th, 2021 at Sudan High School. So many people from the Sudan community, businesses and alumni came out to support Sudan ISD, teachers and students through the Education Foundation and it was a successful fundraiser for the foundation. It truly was an amazing night!
The Taylor Whitley Show Up Foundation presented two scholarships to Sudan ISD seniors, Nathan King and Hailey Flores. Taylor Whitley was a 1998 Sudan High School graduate, Texas A&M graduate and football player and NFL player. According to the foundation website, “Taylor passed away unexpectedly on August 1st, 2018 due to cardiovascular disease, and the Taylor Whitley Show Up Foundation was born. Showing up is how people consistently describe Taylor’s life and legacy. His life was a series of action, whether at work, home, on the football field, in his community, or within his church. He was one of those people that didn’t ask “what can I do to help”… he just helped. Taylor believed in goodness, kindness, and generosity – not just in words, but in deeds. The Taylor Whitley Show Up Foundation was started to give grants and scholarships to high school and college students who exemplify “SHOWING UP.” Showing Up is the extraordinary act of making a difference in someone else’s life by valuing them more than yourself. The unique characteristic of this award is the fact that it is character based, not academic based. Exactly as Taylor would have it.”
Taylor’s parents, Dennis and Lanette Whitley, were able to attend the Dinner and present Nathan and Hailey with their scholarship awards. We are so thankful for The Taylor Whitley Show Up Foundation, Susan Baker facilitating the presentation and Dennis and Lanette for coming to Sudan to present the scholarships. And congratulations to Nathan King and Hailey Flores for their scholarships!
The Hornet Harvest Festival also presented awards to the 2021 Hornet Harvest Festival Queen, Susan Baker, and King, Raul Gonzales. Lacy Magby of the Hornet Harvest Committee, and SEF Board Members, Seth Sowder and Nancy Davis, presented the awards to the King and Queen. Congratulations to Susan Baker and Raul Gonzales!
Former Sudan High School student and current Texas Tech Lady Raider Basketball coach, Krista Kirkland-Gerlich was the speaker for the evening. Krista was a thoughtful and engaging speaker and we are so thankful that she took time out of her busy schedule to come back to Sudan and speak at our fundraiser dinner.
Krista talked about her time at Sudan ISD, playing for the Sudan Hornettes, including their State Championship, the things that she learned while growing up here and how she has used that knowledge throughout her high school, college and professional career.
Sudan is proud that Krista Kirkland and her family are written into the history of Sudan ISD and so thankful that she’s willing to come back and give back to the Education Foundation. Thank you, Krista, and good luck to you and the Texas Tech Lady Raiders this season! Sudan will always be rooting for you!
Overall, the 2021 Sudan Education Foundation Dinner & Auction was a success and we are so thankful for each and every person that made it happen.
Thank you to the Sudan ISD students that served the meal. They do a great job every year and this group was no different. Thank you to these students and their sponsors.
Thank you to Scott Harrell and Sudan ISD for the use of the facility, Rosa and the lunchroom staff for teaching the board how to use all of their equipment and letting us use it, and Raul Gonzales and his staff for their hard work on getting everything clean for the event. The flowers on the check-in table were purchased by the Sudan Youth Baseball and Softball Association and beautifully arranged by Suzanne Reese at Shelby’s Bridge. The gorgeous balloon arch at the entry was created by Sudan alum, Chelsea Lewis, the owner of Gift and Gab. Thank you to Cory Been for auctioneering our live auction, that was a lot of fun!
We also want to thank each one of our event sponsors: Atmos Energy, Capital Farm Credit, First United Bank, Gaines Therapy, King Ag Aviation, Lance Insurance, Prescription Shop & PAINT Nail Bar and Xcel Energy. We could not have put this event on without each one of them. We had so many other donors, from auction items, food donations to individuals that purchased tickets for others and we are so thankful for each one of them.
And thank y’all! Thank you for giving. Thank you to the Sudan Community, the local businesses and alumni for showing up each year, for donating, for caring about our school, our teachers and our kids. Y’all always blow our expectations for this fundraiser out of the water every single year and we are just so grateful.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Education Foundation, serving on a committee, or donating towards future innovative grants for Sudan ISD, please visit our website for more information at stxef.org. And follow along in 2022 to see what the SEF is up to!
