WT History Department Hands Out Accolades

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University's Department of History recognized outstanding students and scholarships at a year-end luncheon May 7.

"We are so proud of this year's award winners and scholarship recipients," said Dr. Tim Bowman, department head and professor of history in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. "WT history majors work incredibly hard, and getting to honor them at the end of the spring semester is always such a joyous occasion for all of the faculty members."

Joshua Copas, a graduate student in history from Floresville, was named Outstanding Graduate Student. Erick Garcia, a senior history major from Perryton, was named Outstanding Undergraduate Student.

Lily Forbes, a junior history major from Amarillo, was named Rising Star and also won the Brasington Family and the Magical History Tour scholarships.

Scholarship winners include:

• Mia Briseno, a senior history major from Amarillo, I Have a Dream and Break on Through to the Other Side scholarships
• Emily Carroll, a junior history major from Clint, Opening Doors of Perception and Pete L. Peterson History scholarships
• Robert Cooke, a sophomore history major from Canyon, Smith-Sheffy Fund Scholarship
• Charles Crinella, a sophomore history major from Amarillo, Smith-Sheffy Fund Scholarship
• Kaden Dick, a sophomore history major from Gruver, Retired Professors Scholarship for History and Geography
• Elizandro Esquivel, a graduate student in history from Plainview, Forman/Rathjen History Scholarship
• Mary Freas, a junior history major from El Dorado, New Mexico, Shirley Nichols History and Peace, Love and Rock 'n' Roll scholarships
• Edith Heuss, a graduate student in history from Jacksboro, Forman/Rathjen History Scholarship and Texas Panhandle / Amarillo History Scholarship
• Haleigh Klaehn, a graduate student in history from Amarillo, Forman/Rathjen History Scholarship
• Gabriel Martinez, a graduate student in history from Hereford, Forman/Rathjen History Scholarship
• August Vinson, a senior history major from Amarillo, Brasington Family Scholarship and Magical History Tour Scholarship
• and Rebekah Williams, a junior history major from Amarillo, Forman/Rathjen History Scholarship and Frank and Patsy Helfin Scholarship

Recruiting, retaining and rewarding the best students is a key component of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million dollars, the largest such campaign in Texas Panhandle history.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University 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 boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 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. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: The West Texas A&M University Department of History honored top students at a May 7 luncheon. Among the honorees were, from left, Haleigh Klaehn, Joshua Copas, Edith Heuss and August Vinson.

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