By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
As it progresses with an $8.2 million capital campaign to build a new high school, Southwest Covenant will host Oklahoma’s new lieutenant governor at an upcoming banquet.
Southwest Covenant Schools will celebrate its mission and ministry during the second annual “Patriot Banquet” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18 at the 10 W Main Event Center.
Keynote speaker will be Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who was elected on Nov. 6 as the state’s 17th lieutenant governor.
Southwest Covenant Schools, 2298 S Yukon Parkway, is about $3 million away from reaching a $8.2 million goal in a capital campaign to build a new high school and athletic facilities.
“We’re continuing to fund-raise,” said banquet chair Patti Betts, Southwest Covenant’s director of development. “We are close. The great news is that we currently have a matching opportunity. We have somebody who will match it dollar-for-dollar. So if we’re able to raise $1.5 million, we will have met our goal.”
Ground-breaking is planned this spring on Southwest Covenant’s new high school and athletic facilities.
Southwest Covenant students, parents, staff, and supporters are “pumped” to have Lt. Gov. Pinnell as guest speaker for the Feb. 18th Patriot Banquet, according to Betts.
“We are blessed. We are super-excited that this is going to be one of his first stops now that he’s in office,” she said. “It will be great to have him in this part of the state and be able to speak to our school and community.”
As lieutenant governor, Pinnell serves as secretary of tourism and branding on Gov. Kevin Stitt’s cabinet. He also serves on the Department of Commerce executive committee, leading efforts to maximize Oklahoma’s opportunity zones and focusing on small business growth.
Before being elected lieutenant governor, Pinnell was the director of state parties for the Republican National Committee from 2013-17. The Oral Roberts University graduate operates a small business with his wife Lisa, an entrepreneur and inventor.
Bob Bean Catering of Yukon will provide dinner at Southwest Covenant’s Feb. 18th Patriot Banquet on Yukon’s Main Street.
A Southwest Covenant alumnus also is expected to speak to the audience and students will provide music.
Banquet tickets are $50 per person and corporate sponsorships are $500 each. Each corporate table will seat eight people and sponsors will have their names listed in the banquet program.
For reservations to the Patriot Banquet, visit http://www.southwestcovenant.com, call the school at 354-9222 or email pbetts@southwestcovenant.com
