Jason Foglesong is a local public educator who has spent years providing this nation’s future leaders with the tools they need to be informed and engaged members of our community. In addition to his work as a public educator, Foglesong has worked in retail management, security, and corrections. Foglesong is a graduate of The State University of New York at Binghamton, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. When not working to serve local students, Foglesong has been a leader in Amarillo Republican politics, formerly serving as a precinct chair in the Potter County Republican Party and as a volunteer for numerous conservative Republican candidates, including U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson. Foglesong is married to his beautiful wife, Karina, and is a resident of Amarillo's historic San Jacinto neighborhood.

Tom Scherlen is an Amarillo business leader and community servant. An alumnus of Frank Phillips College and West Texas State University, Tom worked in business in Amarillo for nearly four decades, including his time as CEO of Austin Hose. A community leader, Tom serves on the board of the 100 Club of the Texas Panhandle and volunteers with numerous organizations in our community. 

In addition to his business and board service, Tom has volunteered in a unique way for Christian charities across the United States, helping to sell Christian radio stations across our nation. Tom has also been a Sunday school teacher and Bible study leader for local churches in Amarillo. Tom is married to his wife of 47 years, Nancy, and is a father of two and grandfather of six.

“What can I do for you?”

Tom’s son always asked this question while serving as a police officer. Tom’s son, Justin Scherlen, died of injuries sustained while serving with Amarillo Police Department. Asking “what can I do for you?” is one of Tom’s guiding principles.

Student Ambassador Rashar “Ray” Steward is the co-founder of the Black Is Beautiful Book Project. At just 14 years old, Ray is committed to helping to ensure that Black children in under-served communities in Texas, as well as around the nation, are able to get lost in stories they can envision themselves in.

“The Black is Beautiful project was created to inspire support and uplift the Black students in our community,” Rashar explained in a local news interview.

As a lifelong avid reader, Ray is now taking major steps to share his love of reading with kids that look like him.

Since its inception, the Black Is Beautiful Book Project has provided 522 brand new books to teachers in Amarillo, TX and 3223 books to teachers in other areas of Texas, as well as Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina, and Dominica.

Through this project, Ray and his mother, Deetress Peoples, want to spread the message that “Hey, it’s okay to be Black, and you’re beautiful”.

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