As the spring 2026 semester winds down, West Texas A&M University is recognizing several students, staff and faculty for their achievements, and teams are notching new wins for the Canyon campus.
Here are some of the recent announcements from the WT newsroom:
Top WT students celebrated at University Honors Ceremony
Two significant WT student leaders and several other outstanding students were honored at an end-of-year celebration. Katelyn Lechwar, a senior sports and exercise science major from Tulia, was named Woman of the Year, and Luis Abraham Martinez Jr., a senior finance major from Pampa, was named Man of the Year at the University Honors Ceremony on April 24 in the Alumni Banquet Hall on WT’s Canyon campus.
Lechwar is treasurer and community events coordinator for Delight Ministries and vice president of leadership and learning opportunities for the Campus Activities Board, where she leads leadership initiatives and campus events. She also is the founder and president of Future Leaders in Sports and Exercise Science and represents the College of Nursing and Health Sciences as an ambassador. Lechwar also is a student in Rogers LEAD WT and a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
“Katelyn exemplifies what it means to be a leader through both her influence and her initiative,” wrote Sabrina Imel, campus activities coordinator, wrote in a nomination letter. “In every setting, Katelyn approaches her work with confidence, positivity and a solutions-oriented mindset. She is the student others look to for direction.”
Martinez, a Texas Leadership Scholar in WT’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Omicron Delta Epsilon. Both a McNair and Tri Alpha Scholar, he has earned multiple academic honors, including placement on the President’s and Dean’s Lists, and has been named College of Business Student of the Month. He is also a published researcher on cultural immersion and professional development and has participated in several international Study Abroad programs, while earning recognition through numerous scholarships, leadership awards, and national nominations.
“Luis’s leadership is both extensive and impactful,” wrote Dr. Ashley Morgan, clinical assistant professor of marketing in the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, in a nomination letter. “He represents the very best of the University, and I am confident he will continue to make significant contributions wherever his path leads.”
Ribbin Saisasong, a senior marketing major from Amarillo, and Miriam Camargo, a senior biology major from Amarillo, also were finalists for Women of the Year. Andrew Berngen, a senior agricultural business and economics major from Dalhart, and Kevin Olivas, a junior digital media and communication major from Amarillo, also were finalists for Man of the Year.
The honors ceremony also included several other student, faculty and staff awards:
For more details on the winners and finalists, visit the WT newsroom website.
Top students, community leaders honored by WT’s Engler College of Business
Outstanding students and community leaders were honored at a recent year-end event for WT’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business. Dozens were commended as outstanding students or inducted into honor societies ahead of May 15 and 16 commencement ceremonies at the University.
“This symposium is really about celebrating our students and the community that stands behind them. Their success comes not only from a lot of hard work, but also from the people and partners who support them along the way,” said Dr. Amjad Abdullat, dean of the Engler College of Business. “Through our community awards, we recognize those individuals and organizations who show up, invest in our students, and make a real difference—not just in their lives, but in the future of our region.”
Maylee Wertz, a senior marketing major from Balko, Oklahoma, was named outstanding undergraduate student. She also won a leadership award for the Engler Ambassadors student organization.
Landry Ritchey, a graduate student in finance and economics from Abilene, was named outstanding graduate student.
Seven undergraduates also were recognized as outstanding students across the several disciplines in the Engler College of Business, including:
Five graduate students also were honored as outstanding students:
Abdullat also presented significant community leaders with special awards.
Student leadership awards were presented to outstanding members of various organizations.
Benjamin Mosley, a senior computer information systems major from Borger, won the Carey Lyles Emerging Technology Award.
Isaac Silvey, a graduate student in accounting from Canyon, won the Texas CPA Accounting Education Foundation Accounting Excellence Award.
Ten students were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society. Seven students were inducted into Alpha Mu Alpha, the marketing honor society of the American Marketing Association. Three students were inducted into Omicron Delta Epsilon, one of the world’s biggest international academic honor societies, which recognizes scholastic attainment and honors outstanding achievements in economics. Nineteen students were inducted into Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the only international honor society in computing and information disciplines.
The 2025 student and community awards symposium was held April 22 in Legacy Hall in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center.
For more on the students who were honored, visit the WT newsroom website.
WT equestrian riders advance to nationals
WT equestrian team members are riding to nationals. WT’s Western Seat and Hunt Seat teams will compete May 1 to 3 at the Tryon International equestrian center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
The Western Seat team advanced after taking home a championship on the semifinal level, March 20 to 22 at New Mexico State University.
The Hunt Seat team placed third overall in its zone competition, held March 28 and 29 at Texas Tech University.
Learn more about the individual team members and their achievements on the WT newsroom website.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: WT honors students for their achievements, awards and wins
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
