WT Students Earn State Awards at TIPA Convention

MEDIA CONTACT: Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University students brought home an impressive slate of awards from the 2026 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention.

Competing against hundreds of students from colleges and universities across Texas, WT students earned recognition for excellence in journalism, media production, design and public relations.

Students from both the Department of Communication and the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages competed. Both departments are part of the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.

WT students excelled across multiple divisions and categories, demonstrating the strength of the University's journalism, media, and strategic communication programs, said Kelly James, instructor and The Prairie News adviser.

"I'm absolutely thrilled for the students, but I have to say I'm not surprised at their success," James said. "Having worked with these students, I've seen the breadth of their knowledge and talent when it comes to grasping just how important this field is. Not taking away from the students themselves, I believe it's also a testament to just how good the communication department is at WT."

In live competitions, Samantha Wilhelm, a junior public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Canyon, placed second in radio announcing and third in print news editing. Anthony Lucero, a senior digital communication and media major from Lubbock, earned an honorable mention in magazine design.

For previously published works, Kodi Mackenzie, a May 2025 graduate in English from Canyon, and Rose Lewis, a senior history major from Canyon, earned first place in literary magazine cover design for their work on The Legacy, which is overseen by English, Philosophy and Modern Languages faculty.

The 1910 PR staff won third place for social media general coverage. Team members include Lucero; Nataley Bonilla, a senior public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Dimmitt; Ruben Denson, a December graduate in communication studies from Upland, California; Rebecca Hayes, a senior public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Amarillo; Nathan McCollum, a senior history major from Amarillo; Jacob O'Connor, a December graduate in public relations, advertising and applied communication from Amarillo; Javier Rivera Cordero, a senior communication studies major from Fort Worth; Sara Salas, a senior public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Miami, New Mexico; Alexis Schaben, a December graduate in public relations, advertising and applied communication from Amarillo; and Creighton Smith, a senior digital communication and media major from Amarillo.

Jade Ramos, a senior digital communication and media major from Amarillo, earned an honorable mention for sports column writing.

The TIPA Convention, held this year in March in Denton, is one of the oldest and largest collegiate press associations in the nation and has been held annually since 1909. Each year, the event draws an estimated 400-600 students from more than 40 colleges and universities from Texas for live contests, previously published work competitions, workshops and professional development sessions.

Promoting quality, both in education and student work, is a cornerstone of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign, which is now winding down, has raised more than $175 million.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence 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 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: Samantha Wilhelm and Anthony Lucero each won awards in the live competition at the 2026 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention in Denton.

-WT-