SURVEYING EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF TEXAS, INC.
The surveying profession in the State of Texas has benefited from a group of surveyors who had the foresight to initiate a surveying education program that began in about 1956. Since that time the Tyler Junior College Surveying and Mapping program has produced an alumni of an estimated 500 graduates and 100 registered surveyors in the State of Texas.
The Tyler Junior College Surveying and Mapping Program has been guided for many years by an Advisory Board made up of local surveyors from Chapter No. 4 and Chapter No. 23 of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors. Several years ago the advisory board recognized the need to initiate an upper level program to provide an opportunity for a 4-year degree plan in surveying and mapping. As a result of the efforts of the Advisory Board, Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas at Tyler, a 4-year degree plan has been implemented between the two colleges to provide a seamless degree plan designed specifically to fulfill the needs and requirements for registration as a Professional Land Surveyor in the State of Texas.
Another idea born out of the advisory board has been the creation of at non-profit foundation to support surveying education in Texas with emphasis toward the Tyler Junior College and UT Tyler surveying programs. The foundation was incorporated in the fall of 1999 under the name of Surveying Education Foundation of Texas (SEFT). The goal of SEFT is to provide educational programs in the field of surveying and to educate the general public about the surveying profession.
SEFT plans to take an active role to support surveying education by sponsoring various annual events including a Surveying Camp for high school graduates, benefit golf tournament and seminars for paraprofessional and professional surveyors. SEFT plans to support the Tyler Junior College and UT Tyler surveying programs by providing significant scholarships to students attending these programs.
If SEFT is to accomplish its goals of providing free tuition for the summer camp, support the two surveying programs and provide student scholarships we need your help. You can help SEFT in any of the following ways: 1) Volunteer as a helper-instructor for the Surveying Camp 2) Sponsor the tuition cost of a surveying camp attendee ($300.00) 3) Become a member of the Foundation (see attached membership application) 4) provide a scholarship in your name to a TJC or UT Tyler surveying student or 5) help find qualified students to enter the surveying field.
Sincerely,
Joey Stanger, Chairman