WT Attebury Honors Program Graduates Celebrated at Reception

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

CANYON, Texas — A dozen West Texas A&M University honors students were recognized at an April 21 graduation reception.

Members of the Attebury Honors Program were celebrated at a Wednesday afternoon reception in Legacy Hall at Jack B. Kelley Student Center. The program was established in 2001 to provide an enriched learning community for some of WT’s best and brightest students.

“Each semester we celebrate the graduates of the Attebury Honors Program due to their accomplishments both inside and outside the classroom, but no more than this year, when these students have struggled to attain their goals under extremely challenging circumstances,” said Dr. Pamela Lockwood, Attebury Honors Program director and associate dean and professor in the College of Engineering.

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, Lockwood said.

Those honored included:

• Sarah Woodard Finch, senior history major from Hereford;
• Stephanie Ortega Hernández, senior health sciences major from Plainview;
• Alexander George Luce, senior mechanical engineering major from Grapevine;
• Gaven Ludington, senior music business-technology major from Canyon;
• Shawn Emmanuel Martinez-Soto, senior chemistry major from Copperas Cove;
• Marissa Medrano, senior psychology and communication disorders major from Amarillo;
• Alyssa Mince, senior graphic design major from Roswell, N.M.;
• Shelby Layne Morton, senior biology and biochemistry major from Amarillo;
• John Pleming, senior history major from Childress;
• Kylie Scott, senior plant, soil and environmental science major from Justin;
• Penny Nicole Welter, senior ag business and economics major from Faith, S.D.; and
• Jessica N. Williams, senior wildlife biology and broadcast journalism major from Merkel.

The graduating seniors will receive a special designation in the commencement program and a medallion at the May 8 commencement ceremonies.

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 137 students. 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-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

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. With enrollment of more than 10,000, WT offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 40 master’s degrees and 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 15 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WTAMU—