Department of Communication Success Stories

• During Homecoming 2021, the KWTS Media Truck participated in the parade down Russell Long Boulevard, throwing candy out to Buffs and future WT Buffs on the sidelines. Homecoming highlights are here.

• Communication Studies and Media Communication students in COMM 1315 educated Panhandle Plains Historical Museum guests on various artifacts around the museum. To view photos from the event, click here.

• The theme of COMM Week 2021 was Stranger Games, which included a variety of games, from lawn to video, befitting the 80s themed
• Stranger Things COMM Week photos are included here.

• The video—which can be seen at here - explained the City of Canyon’s budgeting process in laypeople’s terms.
• “The Department of Communication emphasizes to our students the importance of giving back to our communities. I’m proud of the work my students did on this project,” said Randy Ray, associate lecturer of media communication and director of broadcast engineering. “This award—for which the students competed with professional videographers—is another example of how helping our communities is a win for everyone involved.”
• WT students recognized with the award were Jordan Conde, a junior digital communication and media major from Dumas; Christian Guerrero, a senior digital communication and media major from Hereford; and Jacob Toon, a junior digital communication and media major from Flower Mound.
• More on this story can be read here. 

Students were recognized for outstanding student acheivements within WT's Department of Communication. 

The following is a list of student awards given out at the ceremony: More on this story here. 

Academic Awards:

• Outstanding Undergraduate Student: Hannah Valencia, a May 7 communication studies graduate from Santa Rosa, California
• Outstanding Graduate Student: Gissel Olivas, a May 7 master’s communication student graduate from Amarillo
• Graduate Service Award: Aaron Hamilton, a communication graduate student from Model, Colorado
• Rising Star: Kiley Duggan, a junior public relations/advertising/applied communication major from Canyon
• Top Portfolio: Valencia and Mallory Grimm, a May 7 public relations/advertising/applied communication graduate from Amarillo

Organizational Awards:

Digital Media and Communication

• KWTS Best On-Air Personality: Will Conway, a sophomore digital communication and media major from Panhandle
• KWTS Best Special Show: Drew Helterbran, a senior digital communication and media major from Amarillo
• KWTS Best Podcast: Justin Mahan, a May 7 communication studies graduate from Canyon
• Dig In Award: Sophia Britto, a senior digital communication and media major from Amarillo
• Leigh Browning Digital Media Student of the Year: Isaiah Tanner, a senior digital communication and media major from Perryton
• J. Swope Legacy Award: Skylerr Patterson, a May 7 broadcast journalism graduate from Electra

The Prairie News

• Leadership Award: Valencia
• Journalism Award: Victoria Fatiregun, a junior English major from Houston
• Golden Press Pass: Filiberto Avila, a junior broadcast journalism major from Spearman

Eternal Flame

• Best Survey Data Visualization: Kara Villarreal, a senior digital communication and media major from El Paso
• Best Campaign for Staff: Johnny Lawhon, a senior digital communication and media major from Amarillo

Buffalo Advertising

• Most Scrappy Team Member: Salvador Gutierrez, a senior public relations/advertising/applied communication major from Amarillo
• Most Dedicated Team Member: Grimm
• Most Humble Team Member: Taylor Pennington, a junior public relations/advertising/applied communication major from Canyon, and Alex Price, a junior communication studies major from Amarillo
• Most Eclectic Team Member: Tearanee’ Lockhart, a junior broadcast journalism major from Amarillo
• Most Spirited Member: Jonathan Calderon, a senior public relations/advertising/applied communication major from Shallowater, and Alex Price, a junior communication studies major from Amarillo
• Most Outstanding New Team Member: Taylor Pennington, a junior public relations/advertising/applied communication major from Canyon
• Most Overall Outstanding Team Member: Grimm
• Team Member Most Likely to Work for “Meta Quest 2”: Calderon
• The New College Try Award: Gutierrez

1910 PR

• Creativity Award: Claudia Zuniga Hicks, a senior communication studies major from Amarillo
• Commitment Award: Valencia
• Legacy Award: Adam Jiwa, a graduate communication student from Canyon
• WT Public Relations Student Society of America Chapter Award: Kiley Duggan, a junior public relations/advertising/applied communication from Canyon

Bateman Team

• Outstanding Reel Creator: Alix Maza, a senior communication studies major from Amarillo
• Outstanding Designer: Duggan
• Outstanding Writer: Valencia
• Outstanding Editor: Lindsey Sawin, a junior ag media and communication major from Vernon
• Outstanding Connector: Karree Belmares, a junior digital communication and media major from Turkey

• Five West Texas A&M University undergraduates have been inducted into the Gamma Phi Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Honor Society. 
• Gabriel Christian Guerrero, a junior digital communication and media major from Hereford; Hekla Sif Magnusdottir, a junior digital communication and media major from Reykjavik, Iceland; Laiken McClure, a senior public relations/advertising/applied communication major from Canon City, Colorado; Jayden Moss, a junior digital communication and media major from Archer City; and Christian Turner, a senior communication studies major from Borger received their honor cords, membership certificates and pins.
• Read more of their story here.