WT’s Attebury Honors Spring Graduates Celebrated at Year-End Reception

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - More than two dozen of West Texas A&M University's most accomplished spring graduates were recognized at a May 12 reception.

Students from the William H. and Joyce Attebury Honors Program celebrated their accomplishments and saluted their advisers during the reception in Legacy Hall in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on WT's Canyon campus.

"These students have a strong intellectual curiosity and a commitment to engage in meaningful research while contributing positively to the University and the community," said Dr. Carolyn Baum, program director and assistant professor of communication. "We are excited to celebrate their graduation and look forward to seeing them succeed in their chosen fields."

The program was established in 2001 to provide an enriched learning community for some of WT's best and brightest students.

The students have taken specially designed courses under faculty from across the University, completed a capstone project unique to their skills and majors, and displayed leadership in their respective disciplines, Baum said.

Those honored, all seniors, included:

• Luis Alfredo Avila, a nursing major from Hereford
• Leah Aviles, a general business major from Amarillo
• Marly Kate Burnett, a criminal justice major from Lubbock
• Miriam Giselle Camargo, a biology major from Amarillo
• Graceson Cole Carthel, a biochemistry major from Amarillo
• April Chavez, a biology major from Amarillo
• Emerson Dean, an animal science major from Decatur
• Skylen Drenae Escarcega, a sports and exercise sciences major from Eldorado
• Olie Ghosh, a biology major from Canyon
• Jacob Thomas Goettsche, a biochemistry major from Amarillo
• Brier Griffis, an animal science major from Lubbock
• Sanjuana I. Juarez, a plant, soil and environmental science major from Plainview
• Brooklynn Rachael King, a music major from Pearland
• Caitlin Rose Lewis, a history major from Amarillo
• Luis Abraham Martinez Jr., a general business major from Pampa
• Eliz Ily Miranda, a wildlife biology major from El Paso
• Emily Montgomery, an agriculture major from Shallowater
• Dominic Narvaez, a mechanical engineering major from Amarillo
• Madison Peters, a communication major from Denver City
• Riven Robinson, a psychology major from Levelland
• Romie Rubio, a finance major from Amarillo
• Zaylin Ruiz-Peregrino, an animal science major from Hereford
• Mackenzie Rhapsody Stephenson, a music major from Melissa
• Alison Fiona Sweeney, a political science major from Spring
• Josephine Thomas, an animal science major from Franktown, Colorado
• Emma Wewel, a biology major from Amarillo
• Brooke Williams, an animal science major from Plainview

The graduating seniors will receive a special designation in the commencement program and a medallion at the May 15 and 16 commencement ceremonies in the First United Bank Center on the Canyon campus.

The program presented Dr. Bruce Brasington, the Twanna Caddell Powell Professor of History in the Department of History in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities, with the Fanning the Flame Faculty Excellence Award, recognizing a faculty member who has "gone above and beyond to promote academic leadership, support student goals, and encourage student inquiry and critical thought."

Attebury Honors students initially enroll in honors sections of core curriculum courses taught by honors faculty that encourage development of exceptional written and oral communication skills with expanded content.

After taking courses within their major, students enroll in upper-level interdisciplinary honors seminar courses, where they critically consider local and global issues both past and present. Students are mentored throughout their degree by honors faculty from across the institution and complete an honors capstone research project or experience that showcase their unique talents.

Honors students also receive peer mentoring, priority registration and support for engagement in research conferences, internships and study abroad, and live in an honors-only residence hall.

The Attebury Honors program currently includes 194 students.

Currently, 83 students come from the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, 20 from the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, 15 from the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, 20 from the College of Engineering, 31 from the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities, and 25 from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

It was endowed in 2007 by William H. and Joyce Attebury.

The honors program is part of the rigorous educational environment laid out in the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million dollars, the largest such campaign in Texas Panhandle history.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: The graduating seniors from the William H. and Joyce Attebury Honors Program were honored at a May 12 pre-commencement ceremony. Students are, from left, Olie Ghosh, Jacob Goettsche, Miriam Camargo, Brooklynn King, Brooke Williams, Skylen Escarcega, Brier Griffis, Sanjuana Juarez, Kate Burnett, Alison Sweeney, Romie Rubio, Riven Robinson, Madison Peters, Leah Aviles, Emily Montgomery, Emma Wewel, Emerson Dean, Mackenzie Stephenson, Graceson Carthel, Zaylin Ruiz-Peregrino, Luis Alfredo Avila, April Chavez, Luis Martinez Jr., Dominic Narvaez and Eliz Miranda.

-WT-