As a longstanding educator and Levelland native, Ashley Davis received the Mamie Sue Bastien Scholarship from The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
As member of the Society’s Texas Theta Epsilon Chapter, Davis is attending Texas Tech University where she is seeking a masters in higher education administration.
Pat Graff, International Scholarship Committee Chairperson, announced the recipients following the committee’s recent meeting in Austin, Texas. “We granted 5 Graduate Program Scholarships of $6,000 each for the 2023-2024 academic year,” Graff said.
Recipients must have earned a bachelor’s degree, be enrolled in a recognized graduate studies program and have been a society member for at least one year to qualify for scholarship consideration.
Born and raised in Levelland, Davis attended West Texas A&M College then found herself back in Levelland teaching for Levelland ISD. Taking the position of teaching eighth grades science at Levelland Middle School, Davis enjoyed working with her students the most. She often finds excitement of seeing her previous students outside of the school.
After five years of teaching for Levelland ISD, Davis found herself taking a position at South Plains College.
“When I heard about the position being open at SPC I jumped at it as quick as I could because I always heard it was great working for the college and the environment was amazing,” said Davis.
Currently working with a Title IV grant, Davis is able to help students at a large capacity compared to teaching a core subject for a public school.
“I want to be able to put myself in an administrative position so that I can make changes and advocate for students,” explained Davis. “Being able to do that at the community college level would be amazing because you can help so many students even if its not in the classroom necessarily.”
Looking into the future for Davis is a little hard as she doesn’t have a hard goal she has set for herself in the future with her studies and pursuit of helping students.
“What I am learning as I progress is that student services is really important for community college students,” said Davis. “That includes advising, supporting them as a whole student and not only academically.” Ranging from residential living to plugging in kids to organizations, Davis is beginning to see how important student affairs can be for student growth.
“Right now, I am kind of leaning with working with student affairs to help support their development in the classroom and out of the classroom,” explained Davis. “With the possibility of helping as much as I can from even an administrative level, I know getting my masters and continuing to work will put myself in a better position of achieving my goal which is to help students grow to the best of their ability.”
Hoping to stay in the Levelland community as she progresses through her studies and work, she admires the ability for the community to come together and hold each other up during tragedy or when times of time.
“I want to be able to return that feeling to the community where I am doing everything I absolutely can to help and make the community a better place for all who live and visit it,” said Davis.
Initiated in Delta Kappa Gamma in 2018, Davis has been a part of the group and has continued to enjoy being a part of a group of women who enjoy putting in hard work for their goals.
Since its scholarship program began in 1940, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International has given 1,194 women educators more than $5,600,000 in scholarships. In addition to the international scholarships, many state organizations and local chapters have scholarship funds to assist members pursuing graduate studies.
The honor society for women educators promotes excellence in education and personal and professional growth of women educators. By providing graduate scholarships to members, the organization emphasizes leadership development for its more than 52,000 members in 17 countries.
The honor organization of key women educators was formed in Austin, Texas, on May 11, 1929, by Dr. Annie Webb Blanton from a nucleus of 12 founders representing all levels of education, kindergarten through university, from various parts of Texas.
Professor of rural education at the University of Texas, Dr. Blanton was elected president of the Texas State Teachers’ Association in 1916, the first woman to hold the office. Blanton was also the first woman to serve Texas as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, having been elected to that post in 1918.