Jess Roan Foundation

Meet Our Scholarship Recipients

Meet the inspiring students who have been awarded scholarships through the Jess Roan Foundation. Hear their stories of perseverance, determination, and the impact of receiving support from our foundation.
Jess Roan Scholarship Winners
2020
Ariana Rodriquez $2,000 University of Texas Architecture
Jennifer Tran $2,000 Texas A&M Architecture
2021
Kevin Zubiate $2,500 Texas Tech Architecture
Amarie Urbieta $2,500 Oral Roberts Education
Nyah Schneck $1,000 WTAMU Education
2022
Jaelin Ornelas $2,500 Texas Lutheran University Education
Nadiah Zuniga $2,500 WTAMU Education
2023
Fabian Garcia $2,500 WTAMU Engineering
2024
Yaritza Contreras $2,500 WTAMU Engineering
$20,000
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Lindy Hopper
Class of 1982

I taught Industrial arts, Industrial Technology,  Tech Ed for 33 years. I taught at Tascosa  3 years (woodworking and Drafting), Caprock,  (Woodworking next to Jess Roan), Canyon High (woodworking, Cad, Engineering Design, Architectural Design, and finished up 14 years at Amarillo High School teaching CAD and Engineering. Jess Roan is the one who encouraged me to be a teacher, and was my mentor and advisor. I retired in 2020 and since then have had  my own woodworking and laser engraving business. I thought I’d some day take over when Mr. Roan retired, and that's what he wanted as well; it just never worked out timing wise.

 

Mr. Roan taught me how to motivate kids, and to run a classroom, and make teaching enjoyable. I would never have been the teacher I was without Jess Roan in my corner. I even emulated  him so much I married me a Joanne

My favorite memory is how Jess helped bring me to Christ. He worked on me, talked to me and poured into me. Jess also took me to my first OU football game when I was in high school. I was already a huge fan because of my Dad but he is the one who took me to my first game and now I have season tickets.. I guess it's because we always competed at contests against each other but we remained very close and life long friends.

Not a fun fact, but a fun story. Jess always encouraged me to go to college to become a teacher as I said before and I did go to WT for that. My senior year I found out an Engineering class I took at AC would not count toward my education major, so I ended up taking a freshman level class again my senior year. My instructor told me I knew more about it then he did so being I was going to teach anyway he thought it would be a good experience for me to teach the class,. so I did.

 

 One day there was a younger kid Rob Brown that I had  known from Caprock was  taking the class, he called me over and we were visiting and I asked him what his plans were. He told me Mr. Roan had told him if he'd go to college to be a teacher that when he was done he’d be ready to retire and he could take his place, We had a great laugh because I told him Mr. Roan told me the same thing, and I was about to graduate and neither one ended up taking his place.

Mark Roan
Class of 1991

Mark Roan

Upon graduating from Texas A&M University, I returned to Amarillo for a short time to work for Lavin Associates alongside my sister Sheila, and Richard Sims, who would become my Brother-In-Law. As much as I enjoyed working with them and living back in Amarillo, I took a job in Dallas with what was then Collins | Reisenbichler Architects in February of 1997. We became the Dallas Office of Perkins&Will in 2002 and I just celebrated my 27th anniversary with the Firm.

I am a Principal in our Dallas Healthcare Practice leading teams that design Hospitals, Ambulatory Care Centers, Cancer Centers, Integrated Health Campuses and Medical Office Buildings. I consider myself very blessed to have the opportunity to create buildings and healing environments that provide talented Physicians and Nurses with state-of-the-art Facilities in which to treat their Patients and positively influence Patient outcomes. All of this is possible because of my Dad (Jess Roan).

In addition to my love for Architecture and Design, my Dad taught me some of the most valuable character traits that I would ever learn.

He taught me:

  • The value of being genuine and having integrity.
  • The value of having a strong work ethic.
  • The value of having internal drive, self-motivation and persistence.
  • The importance of honesty and trust in building successful relationships.
  • The importance of investing in the lives of others and giving back.

What sticks in my mind about the Caprock Drafting Program is the pride that we all had in ourselves, in the Program that Dad built from scratch and all the many Students over the years that he had the opportunity to teach, mentor and be a role model for. All the long nights and weekends preparing for Regional, State and National Competitions were so much fun. The pride that we had in the Projects we entered, how successful we all were as individuals, but more importantly how we were successful as a Program because of how hard we worked together and how dedicated we all were to make it better, year over year. Traveling to State and National Competitions all over the country, running, winning and serving as TSA State President and as a national TSA Officer. The list goes on for me…!

I always thought I was lucky having him as my Dad. I realized even then that he provided all these experiences, opportunities and instilled all these lifelong characteristics and qualities not only in me, but in everyone who walked through his classroom door. He invested in ALL of us… Now, in the same way that my Dad inspired and influenced me by investing in lives of others and building lasting relationships as a Teacher, Mentor and Role Model, I have both the privilege and the responsibility of doing the same for others in my career and throughout all facets of my life. I learned it all from him…

Probably less of “fun facts”, but just more about me…

I married my wife Kristin 24 years ago and we have 3 boys. I happily balance a challenging and rewarding career with the challenges and rewards of family life and involvement in my community, just like Dad did. I make spending time with my Family and investing in the lives of my 3 boys a priority. I’ve coached my boy’s baseball and basketball teams throughout the years just like Dad did for me. I serve as Baseball | Softball Commissioner and sit on the Board of Directors for a non-profit youth sports organization that serves over 12,000 children per year. I am actively involved in school activities through leadership roles within the PTA, Dad’s Clubs and Kristin and I are past Presidents of the Wildcat Club (Athletic Booster Club for Lake Highlands). I have had speaking engagements with students about careers in the Architecture | Design | Construction profession. I serve in Deacon Leadership at my Church of over 3,000 people. I serve others in my community and around the State of Texas through my Church and through non-profit organizations such as Brother Bills Helping Hand and Buckner International.

I always figured that the best way to live life (and now to honor Dad), is to pattern my life after his. God, Family, Others (along with lots of Baseball)…!

Carolyn (Roan) Franks
Class of 1982

Carolyn Franks
I’ve had many “jobs" in my life including 12 years at American Airlines/Sabre/EDS, full & part time ministry in church and I even had a drafting job thanks to Dad. Throughout my work life, my most significant job was my “calling” which was to open a studio of the arts in Grapevine, TX. As the owner and director of Lifesong Studio, I wore many hats and had many responsibilities that come with small business ownership. In all of that, my overriding mission was always to make a positive difference in the lives of kids and families and the studio was my platform to do that. Dad was my example and inspiration in many ways. Although his platform was different, his mission in life was the same - to make a positive difference - and that he did!
So many memories about my amazing Dad and taking his class at Caprock come flooding in. I loved laughing at his jokes, which were repeated so often they were numbered. He always said he loved having me in class because he knew he could count on at least one laugh! I wasn’t headed toward a career in architecture or engineering and yet I learned so much in Dad’s class about being a leader, an encourager, having a strong work ethic, attention to detail and the importance of being genuine and having integrity in everything.
I’ve threatened for years to write a book called “My Bad Hair Life” and one of the chapters in that book will include the one when Dad gave me an “at home" perm. I smile when I think about all of the things Dad did for me and all the ways he influenced my life for the good. We learned a lot from Dad about story-telling, joke telling, sports-loving and most of all people-loving and God-loving. It was FUN growing up with Jess Roan!
I’ve had many “jobs” in my life including 12 years at American Airlines/Sabre/EDS, full & part time ministry in church and I even had a drafting job thanks to Dad. Throughout my work life, my most significant job was my “calling” which was to open a studio of the arts in Grapevine, TX. As the owner and director of Lifesong Studio, I wore many hats and had many responsibilities that come with small business ownership. In all of that, my overriding mission was always to make a positive difference in the lives of kids and families and the studio was my platform to do that. Dad was my example and inspiration in many ways. Although his platform was different, his mission in life was the same – to make a positive difference – and that he did!
So many memories about my amazing Dad and taking his class at Caprock come flooding in. I loved laughing at his jokes, which were repeated so often they were numbered. He always said he loved having me in class because he knew he could count on at least one laugh! I wasn’t headed toward a career in architecture or engineering and yet I learned so much in Dad’s class about being a leader, an encourager, having a strong work ethic, attention to detail and the importance of being genuine and having integrity in everything.
I’ve threatened for years to write a book called “My Bad Hair Life” and one of the chapters in that book will include the one when Dad gave me an “at home” perm. I smile when I think about all of the things Dad did for me and all the ways he influenced my life for the good. We learned a lot from Dad about story-telling, joke telling, sports-loving and most of all people-loving and God-loving. It was FUN growing up with Jess Roan!

Sheila (Roan) Sims
Class of 1987

Sheila Sims
I got my first drafting job my Junior year in High School working for a local house designer that my Dad (Jess Roan) knew. After surviving that experience, I began working for John Notestine, Architect, during the summers and holidays while I was going to Architecture School at Texas A&M University… whoop! The summer before I graduated from college, 1990, I had to find another job and landed at Lavin Architects where I began my full-time career after graduation in 1991. In 2020, after 30 years with the firm, Tom Lavin retired and I became majority owner and President of the firm, renaming it to Sims Architects in 2021. Since that time, our firm has flourished and had the opportunity to design many amazing projects in the Texas Panhandle and beyond. I am currently licensed in Texas, Oklahoma (Dad would be proud!), New Mexico and Kansas and absolutely love my career and the team I work with. Without the lessons my Dad taught me about perseverance, hard work, patience, and ALWAYS doing your best, I would not be where I am today. The road has not always been easy, but it has been worth it.
There are so many fun memories about Dad’s class! Preparing for contest every year brought a lot of late nights working on projects which were always rich with comedy! And to see a group of kids, who other than this class really didn’t have a lot in common, come together as friends and help each other out and push each other to be our very best was just one of the things that Dad / Mr. Roan fostered in his program. Teaching us drafting was just a perk that helped us get jobs. The real lessons he taught us were how to be good people and how to make a difference in our communities wherever that may be.
It’s no secret that I LOVE baseball. When I was growing up, my dad was an umpire for High School and College games and I used to love to go with him. My whole family is in love with the sport and we go to as many games together as we can! I cherish the memories I have with Dad at Spring Training in Arizona where we would go watch the Rangers prepare for the season. I know he had the best seat in the house when they FINALLY won the World Series!

Joey Hall
Class of 1984

Joey Hall

Joey retired as the Executive Vice President, Operations, for Pioneer Natural Resources and a member of its Executive Committee where he was responsible for drilling, completions, production operations, and capital projects.

Hall’s career began in 1989, when he joined Pioneer’s predecessor company, MESA, Inc. He held several positions in worldwide facilities, eventually managing onshore, offshore, deep water and international projects across the company.

Hall was then assigned as Operations Manager in Alaska in 2005, where he was responsible for all drilling, production, and construction activities. Under his leadership, Pioneer completed the Oooguruk development in the Beaufort Sea, establishing Pioneer as the first independent oil and gas company to produce on the North Slope of Alaska.

When Pioneer turned its focus to developing its Eagle Ford Shale assets, Hall was tasked with leading upstream and midstream development starting in 2010, as Vice President, Eagle Ford Asset Team, then Senior Vice President, South Texas Operations. Hall’s attention shifted to the Permian Basin when he became Executive Vice President, Southern Wolfcamp Operations in 2014. In 2015, he assumed leadership over all of Pioneer’s Permian Operations.

Hall is a Distinguished Engineer and honorary member of the Mechanical Engineering Academy and Petroleum Engineering Academy at Texas Tech University where he also served on the Dean’s Council for the College of Engineering. Hall previously served as Board Chair for Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Texas to serve on the State Energy Plan Advisory Committee in 2022.

Hall has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas (Inactive).

Bob Darden
Class of 1974

Bob Darden
Thanks to the technical education I received from Jess Roan, I started working for a Consulting Mechanical Engineer in Amarillo while I was still in high school and continued for about 10 years, switched to a Mechanical Contractor doing Plumbing and HVAC design, estimating and project management for 23 years, moved to a General Contractor as an MEP Coordinator in Las Vegas at what was, at that time, the largest private development commercial project in history in the U.S., and on to projects in Atlantic City, the Bronx and Los Angeles. Currently I'm in the same position with a GC in Colorado Springs and close to our kids and two granddaughters. The life lessons learned as a 4-year student of Jess Roan have served me well for all those years.
One of my favorite of the countless memories of Jess Roan and our drafting class was when I slipped out of his class without his knowledge (or so I thought!) to get to lunch early. Needless to say, I got my come-uppance in a unique and creative "punishment" that only Mr. Roan could issue. He and I laughed about that together only a few years ago.
I love spending time with our granddaughters, and I also love getting out and exploring the beautiful highways of Colorado on my motorcycle. Living in Atlantic City and New York enabled me to discover that I really do enjoy seafood and Italian food.

Matt Griffith
Class of 1981

Matt Griffith
From a City Planner for 10 years for the City of Amarillo, to designing homes, to Real Estate Development as a partner in Rockrose Development for the past 30 years. None of this would have been an option without the education, guidance, and wisdom of Jess Roan.
Soooo many, I think in general, as I look back I understand all the wisdom he instilled in me even when I didn’t understand it at the time. I remember when he helped me get a job as an estimator by Sophomore year and a few months later he said, “Boy, are you makin’ em money?” It took me a while to understand that. I wasn’t selling anything and I really didn’t understand business, but many years later, I would catch myself saying the same thing to all of my kids.
I’ve been volunteer teaching at Caprock and now AmTech for about 10 years and the reason I do is because I want to make sure that as many students as possible can get what I got from Jess Roan.