WT Business Students Launch Series of Career Exploration Trips

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

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University business students recently took flight in the first of a planned series of trips designed to broaden their horizons and expand their career options.

Students and faculty members from the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business took the inaugural Buff Business Trek to Southwest Airlines’ headquarters at Love Field in Dallas on Jan. 16 before spring semester classes began at WT.

The Buff Business Trek initiative supports the Engler Edge, a program designed to increase the leadership, business acumen and communication effectiveness for all graduates of the programs in the Engler College of Business, said Dr. Jeffry Babb, associate dean of graduate business programs.

“By connecting students, alumni and business leaders, the Engler College of Business contributes to the aspirations and goals of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World, by providing high-impact academic experiences that build positive relationships between stakeholders and students,” Babb said.

Dr. Anne Macy, director of the Amarillo National Bank School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, said faculty members who accompanied the students also benefited from the trip.

“Teaching is a two-way street,” Macy said. “I gain just as much insight and inspiration from my students as they do from me.”

The Southwest Airlines trip was made possible by two WT alumni: Maddie Little, Southwest Airlines project manager–flight operations, who earned a marketing degree in 2017 and an MBA in 2019; and Justin Lovell, Southwest videographer/digital marketer, who earned an MBA in 2022.

“Maddie and Justin graciously provided Engler College of Business students with a highly valuable opportunity to experience the corporate culture, history, and operations of an industry leader in the airline business,” said Dr. Robert A. King, associate dean of undergraduate business programs.

Connecting with alumni isn’t just about career opportunities, said Kami Drinnon, a junior accounting major from Vega.

“It’s about learning from their experiences, gaining insights and building relationships that can guide and inspire your own professional journey,” Drinnon said.

In addition to Drinnon, students taking part in the Buff Business Trek were Heidi Giesbrecht, a junior marketing major from Seminole; Luis Martinez, a senior international business and finance major from Pampa; and Camden Sperry, a junior finance and accounting major from Happy.

King said students were given a first-hand lesson in the importance of professional networking as they build their future career paths.   

“My favorite part was seeing how much work was put into creating Southwest’s company culture. One prominent example is the many culture centers located throughout their buildings,” Giesbrecht said. “These are open areas where employees can meet and go to outside of their office, and it showed how important the people are to the company.”

“One interesting aspect that I saw while attending Southwest headquarters was the culture and environment instilled from previous leaders,” Martinez said. “They showed that when you invest into Southwest, they will invest in you.”

Students also visited the Southwest Training Center’s full motion Level D flight simulators, Southwest’s historical archives, training and development areas for flight crew, and the Network Operations Center. They also interacted with several WT alumni working for Southwest.

WT 125 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 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; 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: Representatives of West Texas A&M University's Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business launched the College's Buff Business Trek series with a trip to Southwest Airlines' headquarters in Dallas. Pictured are, from left, Dr. Jeffry Babb; Dr. Anne Macy; alumnus Dillon Vaughan; Camden Sperry; Luis Martinez; Heidi Giesbrecht; Kami Drinnon; alumna Maddie Little; alumnus Judd Baker; and Dr. Robert King.

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