WT Business Students Raise Thousands for Wildfire Relief, Other Charities

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

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University business students raised more than $13,000 for Panhandle-area charities, including several agencies connected to the historic wildfires that tore through the area in March.

Students were assigned to run a philanthropic project for the Leadership and Teamwork course taught by Dr. Kelly Davis McCauley, associate and Engler Professor of Management in the Department of Management, Marketing and General Business in the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business.

“These students are outstanding examples of the exceptional citizens our College produces,” said Dr. Amjad Abdullat, dean. “They have greatly exceeded all expectations and deserve commendation for supporting the Amarillo and Canyon communities. Additionally, thanks to the Paul and Virginia Engler Foundation's support, we can enhance our students’ fundraising efforts, further enabling their positive impact on these communities.”

The College made matching donations through funds made available by the historic $80 million donation from the late Dr. Paul Engler and his foundation.

Projects had to be large enough that students had to work together and also each have clear leadership roles in the project, McCauley said.

“This course is all about teamwork, so the project serves as the vehicle for experiencing the team concepts that we discuss throughout the semester in class,” McCauley said. “I thought it provided the perfect opportunity to combine experiential learning and service learning to illustrate how business education can be used to make a societal impact and do good for our community.”

The 24 students were allowed to select charities that were meaningful to them. The lineup included the Hope and Healing Place, Hartley Fire and EMS, Hope Lives Here, Kids Inc., and the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund.

Among the fundraising tactics used by the students were obtaining goods and services from local businesses for silent auctions on campus and online; bake sales; dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments; and direct solicitations of donations.

Participating students include Kyndra Andres, a junior management major from Abilene; Betty Bajika, a senior health sciences major from Arlington; Alexis Bolton, a senior general business major from White Deer; Gaige Bracket, a junior management major from Canyon; Joshua Cox, a senior marketing  major from Amarillo; Elizabeth Earl, a senior health sciences major from Strasburg, Colorado; Hannah Felker, a junior management major from Amarillo; Lizbeth Fuentes, a senior management major from Dimmitt; Makala Graham, a senior management major from Pampa; Victoria Gutierrez, a senior general business major from Farwell; Raul Dysin Hernandez, a junior general business major from Lubbock; Stephen Hunt, a senior general business major from Lubbock; Jackson Landry, a senior general business major from Kingwood; Tony Le, a sophomore management major from Amarillo; Luke McCaffety, a junior management major from Hockley; Jennifer Morado, a senior management major from Borger; Min Naing, a junior management major from Bangkok, Thailand; Bella Neill, a senior general business major from Canyon; Korbin Preston, a junior management major from Panhandle; Carlos Ramos Garcia,a senior general business major from Chihuahua, Mexico; Douglas Rojas, a senior management major from Valencia, Venezuela; Kayler Soule, a senior general business major from Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Kinleigh Soule, a senior general business major from Scottsbluff, Nebraska; and Keyanna Williams, a junior management major from Amarillo.

Addressing regional challenges and producing responsible citizens are key tenets 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.

Photo: Kyndra Andres, right, a junior management major from Abilene, encourages West Texas A&M University students to place bids in a silent auction raising funds for Hope Lives Here.

—WT—