WT’s Association of Latino Professionals for America Named Chapter of the Year

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

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s branch of Association of Latino Professionals for America was selected the 2021 Student Chapter of the Year for the Central Region.

“This award recognizes the tireless efforts of our students during the Covid-19 pandemic, including several major community service events,” said Leslie Ramos Salazar, the chapter’s faculty adviser and associate professor of business communication. “We are humbled and honored to win this important regional award, and I believe all the hard work put forth by the leaders and members of the ALPFA chapter has helped get the chapter noticed at the national level.”

The WT chapter’s official recognition will take place during a virtual national ALPFA convention on Aug. 2.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the ALPFA at WTAMU chapter hosted several virtual career development workshops, trainings and community speakers. The chapter also conducted several community-service events such as a Meals on Wheels fundraiser, which raised $1,750 for the meal cost of seniors in the Amarillo area.

Also, the ALPFA chapter helped encouraged blood donor signups and helped with the marketing in one of the blood drives offered by the Coffee Memorial Blood Center.

Chapter award winners serve as inspirational leaders that embody ALPFA’s mission to empower Latino men and women as leaders of character for the nation, Ramos Salazar said.

WT is entering its fifth year as a Hispanic Serving Institution, with an enrollment rate of nearly 30 percent Hispanic students as of Fall 2020.

In addition to winning the award, the Texas A&M University ALPFA chapter has sponsored ALPFA at WTAMU with 50 free premium memberships and 50 convention registrations for the convention, which will run Aug. 2 to 6. The premium membership includes access to the national career center, VIP trainings and events, scholarship access, and networking opportunities.

The convention’s theme is “Connecting for Impact,” and it will include a career boot camp, corporate events and trainings, a virtual career fair, and CPE credit workshops.

The ALPFA at WTAMU student chapter is actively recruiting new members and leaders. Any WT student who wishes to be part of the chapter and attend the convention can contact wtalpfa@wtamu.edu.

For information about the virtual national convention, visit alpfa.org/page/alpfaconvention.

WT’s aim to recruit a student body that reflects the diverse population of the Texas Panhandle is goal of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

About ALPFA at WTAMU

The ALPFA at WTAMU student chapter consists of Latino/Hispanic and international undergraduate and graduate students who are passionate about business leadership, career development, and networking. The chapter regularly hosts trainings, workshops, speakers, and community service opportunities. For information, visit facebook.com/wtalpfa. For information on membership or future events, contact wtalpfa@wtamu.edu.

About ALPFA National

ALPFA, founded in 1972, is the first national Latino professional association in the United States. ALPFA serves more than 95,000 professional and student members across the US. The association offers networking and professional leader development opportunities, including summer internships and scholarships. For information, visit alpfa.org.

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. With enrollment of more than 10,000, WT offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 40 master’s degrees 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.

—WTAMU—