With commencement ceremonies about a week away, West Texas A&M University in Canyon has been busy celebrating the achievements of various students, faculty and staff for the 2026 spring semester.
For more about these awards and honors, as well as the full lists of those awarded honors, scholarships and more, visit the WT newsroom website.
WT Equestrian Team wins national championship
WT’s Western Seat equestrian team is the national champion following the 2026 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association finals, held May 1-3 at the Tryon International equestrian center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
“Coach Lori Jaixen and all the team members are proud Buffs who exemplify the best of WT through their dedication, skill and enthusiasm,” said Dr. David Lust, professor of agricultural science and head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.
WT social science students win $150,000-plus in scholarships
More than $150,000 in scholarships have been awarded to students in WT’s Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice and Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work.
The departments, which are housed in the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, also recognized their outstanding students for the 2025-2026 academic year:
WT faculty honored for institutional service at year-end event
Several WT faculty members were recognized for outstanding service to the university at a year-end gathering. Awardees, who were celebrated May 1, were given $3,000 honorariums.
Among them, Dr. Jeremy Lewis, professor of low brass, and Dr. Anirban Pal, assistant professor of engineering, were presented the Instructional Responsibilities Excellence Award. Dr. Elizabeth Rogers, assistant professor of counseling, earned the Professional Service Award. Dr. Keshav Shrestha, assistant professor of physics, and Dr. Michelle Bartlett, professor of sports and exercise science, won the Intellectual Contributions Excellence Award.
Dr. Andrew Li, the Williams Professor of Management, won the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award. Dr. Brandon Bang, associate professor of criminal justice in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, was given special recognition as leader of the new Faculty Advisory Council. Dr. Trenton Kelly, assistant professor of engineering, was presented the inaugural Geneva Schaeffer Digital Teaching Excellence Award.
WT’s nursing and health sciences students, faculty honored
WT’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences honored top students and faculty at a year-end celebration.
Nursing students recognized were Gatlin Guy from Wellington, Parker Steinman from Amarillo, Sirrah Harris from Lubbock, Zainab Khadeeja from Amarillo, Jessica Aguilar from Hereford, Reagan Caddell from Amarillo, Stephanie Cruth from Amarillo, Madison Nance from Lubbock, and Bittany Omer from Amarillo.
Speech and Hearing Sciences students recognized were Ella Scantlin from Canyon, Sidney Perkins from Amarillo, Ashton Skiles from Dalhart, Elisa Atkinson from Amarillo, and Marlee Hicks from Sweetwater.
Sports and Exercise Sciences students recognized were Adrian Legarreta from Friona, Madi-Lynne Englund from Slaton, Avery Cannon from Frisco, Raegan Walter from Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Lexi Maul from Pampa.
Health Sciences students recognized were Blessing Akintoye from Ogun State, Nigeria, and, for the RELLIS campus, Trent Wiatrek from Poth.
Faculty members recognized were Dr. Michelle Bartlett, professor of sports and exercise sciences, for research; Landon Brown, instructor of speech and hearing sciences, for service; and Austin Wiseman, the Northwest Texas Healthcare System / Eunice King Professor of Nursing, for teaching excellence.
WT PRSSA students earn second place in national competition
Two WT students earned second place in a national public relations competition.
Amanda Hibbard, a senior public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and Samantha Wilhelm, a junior public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Canyon, placed second in the 2026 Public Relations Student Society of America competition.
Both students are members of the WT chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America in the Department of Communication in WT’s Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.
The competition challenged students to develop a full public relations campaign aimed at increasing membership in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Over five weeks, the WT team created a research-based strategic public relations plan designed to educate current and prospective members about AEJMC and encourage attendance at its 2026 conference in New Orleans in August. The team was notified of its success April 25.
Outstanding WT staff members recognized at year-end gathering
A trio of WT staff members were celebrated by the Office of Academic Affairs at a year-end event. Staff Excellence Award winners were Kyler Estes, associate director of admissions; Jarvis Hampton, assistant vice president of institutional research and effectiveness; and Melissa White, assistant vice president of academic affairs.
Awardees, who were celebrated May 1, were given $3,000 honorariums.
WT communication students honored at year-end festivities
WT’s Department of Communication saluted some outstanding students at its recent year-end awards ceremony. Four students were given top honors at the April 30 celebration, and three students earned scholarships.
Madison Peters from Denver City won Outstanding Undergraduate Student. Jessica Kenedy from Wildorado was named Outstanding Graduate Student. Lindsey Carter from Carlsbad, New Mexico, was named winner of the Rising Star Award, and Rebecca Hayes from Midland earned the Top Senior Portfolio award.
Scholarship winners were Anthony Lucero from Lubbock, Dig In Scholarship; Taylor Martindell from Amarillo, A.J. Swope Scholarship; and Nathan Franks from Borger, Dr. Leigh Browning Scholarship.
The event also saw recognition for student organizations, the launch of the Eternal Flame’s spring issue, and more.
In other news:
Spring commencement ceremonies are scheduled for May 15 and 16.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: WTAMU equestrian team wins national championship
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
