West Texas A&M University

01/31/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/31/2025 10:09

Student Financial Literacy Workshops to Be Offered by WT, Education Credit Union

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University alumni will offer students invaluable financial advice at a series of workshops, thanks to a continuing partnership between the University and Education Credit Union.

The Advanced Money Management Boot Camp will offer students five interactive sessions beginning Feb. 4, all featuring alumni who are area experts discussing topics such as building credit, home and car buying, relationships and finances, and more.

The boot camp is cosponsored by ECU, the Education Credit Union Buff $mart program and the WT Alumni Association.

"Our mission is to equip students with the financial knowledge and skills necessary to achieve financial independence," said Meghan Williams, Buff $mart program director. "This series offers valuable insights on managing everyday finances."

Each session will begin at 4 p.m. in the Legends Club in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on the Canyon campus. Zoom options also are available.

Sessions are scheduled to include:

  • Feb. 4: Building Credit, led by Amy McClenny, ECU AmTech Branch assistant branch manager and intern supervisor;
  • Feb. 11: Home Buying, Car Buying and Large Purchases, led by Brittnie Agirre, mortgage supervisor;
  • Feb. 18: Cover Yourself: A Guide to Insurance, led by Michelle Wilson, senior vice president of human resources;
  • Feb. 25: Invest in Yourself, led by Jen Ufford, senior vice president of member experience; and
  • March 4: Finances in Relationships, led by a mix of WT employees, alumni and others.

All are WT alumni and part of the ECU WT Alumni Network.

The Finances in Relationships panel will be led by JJ Castillo, a WT alumnus and facility service sales representative at Cintas; Sam Langford, associate director of WT's Office of Career and Professional Development; Amber Black, assistant vice president for student success and well-being, and husband Kelly Black, a nurse anesthetist at KJB Anesthesia.

"WT alumni have a wealth of knowledge, and we are thankful to have them share their real-life experiences in these financial sessions," said Ronnie Hall, executive director of the WT Alumni Association. "The advice and guidance alumni give prepares our students for their future after graduation and it can have a lasting impact on their lives."

Sessions are designed for current students, but WT alumni are free to participate as well. To register, including for virtual options, visit wtamu.edu/buffsmart.

For information, call 806-651-2369.

Meeting regional needs is a key mission 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's new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest's finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men's and women's athletics programs.

-WT-