38 WT Students Win Nearly $10K in Scholarships After Financial Literacy Workshops

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

CANYON, Texas — Nearly $10,000 in scholarships were presented to financially responsible students who recently completed a series of seminars at West Texas A&M University.

The students took part in WT’s Money Management Bootcamp, a six-week series sponsored by the Education Credit Union Buff $mart program.

At a Nov. 19 graduation reception, 38 students each were awarded $250 scholarships from WT and ECU.

ECU became a naming sponsor of WT’s Buff $mart Program in September 2020. The program helps students improve their understanding of financial literacy and empowers them to make informed choices to improve their financial well-being.

“Education Credit Union believes in empowering students to take control of their financial futures,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO. “Through our partnership with WT’s Buff $mart Program, we are proud to invest in the success of these remarkable students, equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to achieve lifelong financial well-being.” 

In all, ECU and WT jointly provided $9,500 in scholarship funds for the students.

The bootcamp offered six sessions on topics such as paying for college, building credit responsibly, overcoming financial obstacles and more.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students received points for attendance, participation, completing assignments, and attending a one-on-one coaching session.

“Education Credit Union’s generosity and constant support of WT students is inspirational,” said program coordinator Meghan Williams.

The ECU Buff $mart program offers one-on-one coaching sessions with trained peer financial coaches via webinar or in person; classroom and organizational presentations on money management, budgeting, planning to pay for college and more; and outreach programs and money management workshops on credit cards, credit scores, identity theft, budgeting and more.

Scholarship recipients include Mariam Adegbindin, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Canyon; Jayden Bunce, a freshman psychology major from Weatherford, Oklahoma; Isabel Cadavid Posada, a graduate student in school counseling from Amarillo; Arantza Covarrubias, a freshman sports and exercise sciences major from Roy, New Mexico; Logan Dietz, a freshman graphic design major from Katy; Keni Drennan, a sophomore animal science major from Ballinger; Chamberlaigne Elliott, a sophomore wildlife biology major from Spring; Tokoni Forun, a graduate student in finance and economics from Canyon; Bradley Frost, a junior digital communication and media major from Conroe; Alyson Gullett, a sophomore agricultural media and communications major from Snyder; Judson Gurley, a freshman economics major from Amarillo; Evan Hernandez, a freshman sports and exercise sciences major from Perryton; Hadley Hines, a freshman sports and exercise sciences major from Goodwell, Oklahoma; Noah Huddleston, a sophomore health sciences major from Canyon; Pilar Hunt, an Amarillo native pursuing a master’s in teaching; Benjamin Igweze, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Asaba, Nigeria; Sarah Johnson, a sophomore equine industry and business major from Plano; Lorelai Kreiman, a sophomore chemistry major from Amarillo; Kennedy Lance, a freshman agribusiness and economics major from Sanger; Jacob Liscano, a freshman pre-nursing major from Hereford; Sanai Lowe, a senior musical theatre major from McKinney; and Rosalinda Lucio, a junior psychology major from Plainview.

Also, Hazel McCormick, a sophomore agricultural media and communications major from Canyon; Alice Moody, a freshman pre-engineering major from Austin; Alyssa Mosley, a sophomore education major from Amarillo; Anna Neufeld, a freshman health sciences major from Farwell; Madisson Pedraza, a junior accounting major from Dalhart; Harmony Powell, a freshman public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Canyon; Victoria Reyes, a senior musical theatre major from Inez; Shelby Risher, a freshman marketing major from Montrose, Colorado; Avery Rodriguez, a freshman pre-social work major from Lubbock; Gerardo Salas, a freshman general business major from Hereford; Heaven Salinas, a senior speech and hearing sciences major from Amarillo; Oluwaseyi Sanusi, a graduate student in environmental sciences from Canyon; Thomas Sluder, a freshman English major from Gainesville; Hilary Thompson, a freshman English major from Big Spring; Idalia Warren, a freshman wildlife biology major from Lexington; and Lohn Worthington, a freshman pre-engineering major from Santa Anna.

Creating a commitment to being self-reliant, courageous, resourceful and part of something larger than one’s self in its 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 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 more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. 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 more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree 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 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: Education Credit Union and West Texas A&M University's ECU Buff$mart Program recently celebrated the conclusion of the fall Money Management Bootcamp by giving out nearly $10,000 in scholarships. Scholarship winners and ECU representatives include, front from left, Mariam Adegbindin, Isabel Cadavid, Kennedy Lance, Avery Rodriguez, Madisson Pedraza, Idalia Warren, Heaven Salinas, Pilar Hunt and Keni Drennan; middle from left, Sanai Lowe, Victoria Reyes, Lorelai Kreiman, Harmony Powell, Shelby Rischer, Rosalinda Liscano, Hadley Hines, Evan Hernandez and Jacob Liscano; and back, from left, Adrian Alejandre from ECU, Tokoni Forun, Hilary Thompson, Thomas Sluder, Bradley Frost, Noah Huddleston, Benjamin Iqweze, Logan Dietz, Alyson Gullett, Chamberlaigne Elliott, Alyssa Mosley, Jayden Bunce, Lohn Worthington, Meghan Williams and Colten Hibbs from ECU.

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