Historic Number of WT Students to Be Inducted in National Honors Society

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

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University boasts a record number of invitees for its chapter of the all-University academic honor society Mortar Board.

WT’s Scribes chapter has invited 61 seniors for the 2023-24 class. Nationally, Mortar Board typically recommends that chapters not have more than 50 members at schools with fewer than 5,000 in the junior class.

“The quality of our nominees and our efforts to return our chapter to pre-pandemic levels of activities convinced Mortar Board to allow us to tap these additional nominees,” said Dr. Elizabeth Morrow Clark, professor of history and Scribes adviser.

Mortar Board nominations promote students who embody the values of scholarship, leadership and service. Members are selected by the previous class based on recommendations from faculty, Mortar Board alumni and active chapter members.

New members will be initiate in a formal ceremony in the fall, and they will participate in chapter traditions throughout their senior year, including the “Apple Polishing” recognition of outstanding faculty, a biannual graduation rose sale and service activities in support of the national “Reading Is Leading” Mortar Board project.

This year’s class of WT’s Mortar Board students represent four of the University’s six Colleges.

“I love teaching core courses,” Clark said, “because I get to see a cross-section of students from all majors. And then I get to work with the very best of those students when they join Mortar Board. I love seeing Mortar Board members go on to pursue excellence in academics and careers.” 

Mortar Board consists of 234 chartered chapters across the United States. Founded in 1918 as a scholastic society for senior women, Mortar Board was the only women’s honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies when it became a member in 1937. 

In 1943, the first Black student was initiated and thereafter, the society declared that all candidates would be eligible “regardless of race, color, or creed.” In response to Title IX, Mortar Board National opened membership to men in 1975, retaining as a priority the advancement of the status of women. WT’s Mortar Board brought men into the chapter soon thereafter. 

Today, there are around 3,000 active Mortar Board members across 45 states, meaning WT’s incoming nominees are among the top 1 percent of college students in the country. 

The 2023-24 Mortar Board class, all seniors, will include Shannon Anderson, an agriculture major from Seguin; Araceli Sanchez Avalos, a nursing major from Amarillo; Sariah Battle, a nursing major from Lubbock; Koelle Brandenberger, an agribusiness and economics major from Claunch, New Mexico; Paige Brandon, an agriculture media and communications major from Edgewood, New Mexico; Tobin Brooks, a music major from Canyon; Jacob Cannon, an animal science major from Centerville; Adam Caswell, a nursing major from Amarillo; Falyn Childers, a marketing major from Amarillo; Tami Clay, a nursing major from Amarillo; Deanna Coey, a nursing major from Amarillo; Jamie Crandall, a nursing major from Earth; Jennica Dannehl, an equine industry and business major from Bertrand, Nebraska; Raeann Davis, a nursing major from Rockwall; Jentre Dollar, a nursing major from Amarillo; Paige Finegan, an equine industry and business major from Orchard, Colorado; Mattie Ford, a history major from Amarillo; Lauren Fritzler, an agriculture media and communications major from Yuma, Colorado; Hannah Gibson, a nursing major from Amarillo; Melanie Gomez, a nursing major from Amarillo; Trenton Hammerand, an agribusiness and economics major from Epworth, Iowa; Sabine Harmer, an animal science major from Carson City, Nevada; Jacquelyn Hatley, a nursing major from Amarillo; Maggie Hernandez, a nursing major from Pampa; Allison Hunter, a computer information systems major from Borger; Klaire Jeffreys, a nursing major from Amarillo; Aubry Johnson, a marketing major from Amarillo; Alejandra Jurado, a nursing major from Albuquerque; Marty Kacsh, an animal science major from Evergreen, Colorado; Steven Kelly, an accounting major from Amarillo; Josiah Kinsky, a history major from Canyon; Kylie Koak, a nursing major from Canyon; Gracie Liles, a nursing major from Amarillo; and Mirella Loeza, a nursing major from Dimmitt.

Also, Shanna Marquart, an equine industry and business major from Fredericksburg; Robin Martinez, a nursing major from Amarillo; Carlee Metcalf, a nursing major from Stratford; Payne Morris, a music education major from Canyon; Abigail Newbold, an agribusiness and economics major from Alvord; Cali Newton, a general business major from Littlefield; Katelynn Noel, a nursing major from Canyon; Kiven Nsameluh, a nursing major from Amarillo; Valeria Pacheco Ramirez, a nursing major from Canyon; Caitlin Parkes, a nursing major from Amarillo; Esperanza Rhoades-Chavez, a general business major from Tulia; Scarlett Rossi, a nursing major from Amarillo; Eavia Ryan, a nursing major from Amarillo; Lindsey Sawin, an agriculture media and communications major from Vernon; Lia Schneider, a nursing major from Amarillo; Lauren Segura, a nursing major from Amarillo; Cheyann Shadden, a nursing major from Abernathy; Sidney Stratton, a chemistry major from Clovis, New Mexico; Jose Tellez, a nursing major from Canyon; Gabriella Valforte, a marketing major from Haslet; Anna Wilhelm, an equine industry and business major from Shannon, Illinois; Stephanie Williams, a nursing major from Amarillo; Audree Wilson, a nursing major from Amarillo; Sierra Winther, an equine industry and business major from Midland; Gabriella Young, a marketing major from Amarillo; and Ethan Zimmerman, a nursing major from Lubbock.

Recruiting, retaining and rewarding the best students 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, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign — which publicly launched in September 2021— has raised more than $125 million and will continue through 2025.

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—