WT Woman, Man of the Year, Other Student Leaders Honored

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

CANYON, Texas — A pair of outstanding West Texas A&M University student leaders and several other notable students were honored at an end-of-year celebration.

Peyton Hastings, a senior musical theatre major from Sundown, was named Woman of the Year and William Blackmon, a junior electrical engineering major from Hereford, was named Man of the Year at the University Honors Ceremony on April 25.

Hastings is president of Alpha Psi Omega, the honors theatre fraternity in the Department of Art, Theatre and Dance in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities, and has acted in several WT Theatre productions. She also represents the Harrington College with the Student Government Association, serving as parliamentarian and president pro tempore.

Blackmon, a WT Rogers LEAD Scholar, is president of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and a community service officer in F1RSTGEN, the student organization for first-generation college students. He also serves as an associate justice and a College of Engineering representative with the Student Government Association, and has conducted research into battery models and robotics.

“Having worked with both Peyton and Will over the past two years, I have seen firsthand their commitment to service, to students, and to WT,” said Dr. Chris Thomas, vice president for student affairs. “Peyton is an incredible talent and a strong advocate for the arts. Will is a thoughtful and kind student with the mind of an engineer. I expect great things to continue to come from these two outstanding students.”

Jordan Byrd, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Kingwood, and Morgan Elarton, a senior management major from Rye, Colorado, also were finalists for Woman of the Year. Caden Bonilla, a senior biology major from Amarillo, and Asher Nowak, a senior biology major from Amarillo, also were finalists for Man of the Year.

The honors ceremony also included several other student, faculty and staff awards.

Katelyn Lechwar, a junior sports and exercise science major from Canyon, won the Chancellor’s Century Council Award, earning a $1,000 scholarship to support leadership development opportunities related to the future of Texas higher education, rural community development and/or Texas public policy.

Lencher was cited for rebuilding the Campus Activities Board’s annual leadership retreat and taught a 10-week “The Art of Leading Yourself” curriculum.

Raven King, a senior nursing major from Amarillo, was named the winner of the Presidential Order of the Silver Buffalo Award, presented to individuals and groups who have brought national or international recognition to WT.

In December, King presented her research, “Foster Care Youth Transitioning into Adulthood and Higher Education for the annual National Area Health Education Scholars Collaborative. King, a Panhandle AHEC Scholar, joined five students from Wisconsin, Oregon, Missouri, Maryland and Illinois in making online presentations to AHECs around the country.

Outstanding student organization president is Logan Canada, a senior psychology major from Amarillo and president of Active Minds.

Finalists also included Yadhira “Yaya” Avalos, a senior biology major from Hereford and president of F1RSTGEN, and Ransom Colette, a senior mechanical engineering major from Big Spring and president of the Residence Hall Association.

Outstanding student organization is F1RSTGEN. Finalists also included Active Minds and the Residence Hall Association.

Outstanding student organization adviser is Frank Navarette for the Hispanic Student Organization. Finalists were Dr. Nick Flynn for American Chemical Society and Dr. George Pacheco Jr. for F1RSTGEN.

Tyann Phillips, a senior agriculture media and communication major from Lockney and member of Zeta Tau Alpha, and Bryce Wiginton, a senior political science major from Boys Ranch and member of Phi Delta Theta, were named Greek Woman and Man of the Year. Finalists also included Jordan Byrd, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Kingwood and member of Chi Omega, and Jacob Perez, a junior sports and exercise science major from Amarillo and member of Kappa Alpha.

Emerson Dean, a junior animal science major from Decatur, was named the recipient of the President’s Community Service Scholarship.

The WT Student Government Association also gave several awards:

• Academic Leadership and Development: Kat Kane, senior director of the Office of Career and Professional Services;
• Academic Learning and Community Engagement: Dr. Landry Lockett, agricultural sciences instructor in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences;
• Engaged Citizenship Academic Award: Gladys Essel, a graduate student in finance and economics from Ghana;
• Innovative Academic Program Award: WT Wool Judging Team, which won its first championship at its second-ever competition in January;
• Open Educational Resources Educator Excellence Award: Dr. Emily Kinsky, professor of media communication and interim head of the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages;
• Student Organization Community Service Award: Students Assisting in Good Endeavors;
• University Police Department Officers of the Year: Sgt. Pedro Sanchez and Sgt. Chad Harris; and
• SGA Member of the Year: Jordan Conde, a graduate student in marketing from Dumas.

Students also were recognized for completing a track in the Student Leadership Relay, a University-wide program designed to enhance leadership experience for all students. Those recognized April 25 included Byrd, Conde and Nowak as well as:

• Alexis Camara, a senior animal science major from Makawao, Hawaii;
• Kaelin Collar, a senior biology major from Stephenville;
• Christopher Herrera, a senior computer information systems major from Farwell;
• Caden McMurtrey, a senior business major from Borger;
• David Ortega, a senior political science major from Sunray;
• Omar Reynoso, a sophomore marketing major from Crane;
• Ribbin Saisasong, a sophomore computer information systems major from Amarillo; and
• Garrett Scardino, a senior electrical engineering major from Amarillo.

WT’s values of citizenship, hard work and servant leadership are the underpinnings 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 $166 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: William Blackmon, a junior electrical engineering major from Hereford, was named West Texas A&M University Man of the Year and Peyton Hastings, a senior musical theatre major from Sundown, was named WT Woman of the Year at the University Honors Ceremony on April 25.

—WT—