40 WT Students Welcomed to Teaching Profession in Oct. 8 Ceremony

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

CANYON, Texas — Future teachers were celebrated Oct. 8 in a West Texas A&M University ceremony that formally welcomed them to their new profession.

Forty WT students who have been newly admitted into WT’s educator preparation program were celebrated at a new pinning ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 in Legacy Hall in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on the Canyon campus.

Pinning ceremonies, such as those in the nursing profession, are a symbolic marking of the occasion when students are formally welcomed into their chosen profession, said Dr. Betty Coneway, head of WT’s Department of Education in the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences.

The ceremony coincided with the Oct. 5 celebration of World Teachers Day.

“The hope is that this event will elevate the teaching profession and validate the students' decision to enter an increasingly demanding field,” said Coneway, who also serves as WT’s Geneva Schaeffer Professor of Education and Social Sciences.

WT’s first education pinning ceremony was held in February.

Students recognized in the October education pinning ceremony include:

Paula Adams, a senior English, language arts and reading education major from Hereford; Jadyn Anderson, a senior education major from Lubbock; Viviana Arias, a junior education major from Salina, Kansas; Gabriella Bishop, a senior physical education major from Amarillo; Jacqueline Briones, a senior science education major from Tulia; Teresa Cervantez, a senior education major from Hereford; Rruven Chavez, a senior history education major from Pampa; Joshua Crain, a senior agriculture education major from Bakersfield, California; Kellie Mae Davis, a senior education major from Pampa; Anahi Flores, a senior education major from Hereford; Alexandria Garcia, a senior science education major from Dumas; Ysabella Garza, a senior education major from Spur; Elizabeth Gonzalez, a PACE Spanish education major from Amarillo; Aspyn Graham-Tuttle, a junior education major from Clarendon; Soliel Guckian, a senior special education major from San Antonio; Chasity Guillen, a senior education major from Amarillo; Sam Kendall, a junior math education major from Canadian; Danielle Kirkpatrick, a junior education major from Kermit; and Monika Link, a junior math education major from Amarillo.

Also, Lisa Manriquez, a senior education major from Amarillo; Yvonne Marquez, a senior education major from Hereford; Taylor McFaul, a senior education major from Missouri City; Elvia Melgar Ortiz, a senior education major from Amarillo; Emily Montgomery, a junior agriculture education major from Shallowater; Carmen Mooring, a senior education major from Gruver; Naw Ei Ei Nge, a senior education major from Hlaingbwe, Myanmar; Jessie Nguyen, a senior math education major from Amarillo; Jeran Nolen, a senior music education major from Stinnett; Esmeralda Osornio, a junior education major from Perryton; Alexandria Peterson, a junior math education major from Manor; Victoria Rinker, a junior education major from Perryton; Oscar Rivera, a senior physical education major from Houston; Paula Rodriguez, a junior math/science education major from Amarillo; Biounce Ruiz, a senior education major from Hereford; Karla Salazar, a senior education major from Amarillo; Judith Sanchez, a senior education major from Amarillo; Bayli Sosa, a junior education major from Amarillo; Chloe Spruill-Jaramillo, a senior English, language arts & reading and social studies education major from Amarillo; Melinda Thomas, a junior music education major from Amarillo; and Dalila Velazco, a PACE Spanish education major from Amarillo.

Students entering the program, but not present at the pinning ceremony, included:

Nathaniel Bernal, a senior education major from Amarillo; Vanessa Betancourt, a junior education major from Dimmitt; Mia Briseno, a junior history education major from Amarillo; Tristan Brunson, a senior music education major from Kosse; Trace Bryant, a junior agriculture education major from Fulshear; Giselle Carrazco, a junior education major from Amarillo; Micah Carter, a senior music education major from Missouri City; Kathleen Curry, a junior history education major from Andrews; Patrick Daly-Williams, a senior music education major from Amarillo; Heather Davis, a junior special education major from Dalhart; Emma Drake, a senior education major from Borger; Hazel Escobal, a senior education major from Hereford; Karen Ferrel Williams, a junior education major from Farwell; Colton Gallandat, a senior music education major from Silverton; Brandon Garcia, a junior music education major from Amarillo; Austin Gollihugh, a senior physical education major from Amarillo; Jennavie Greene, a junior education major from Waipahu, Hawaii; Kelton Harbison, a junior music education major from Amarillo; Payton Hayes, a senior music education major from Amarillo; Alina Heredia, a senior education major from Borger; Haven Holman, a junior English, language arts and reading education major from Amarillo; Landri Ivie, a senior education major from Amarillo; Adam Johnson, a senior physical education major from Springtown; Rylee Johnson, a junior education major from Amarillo; Rebecca Lahr, a senior education major from Skellytown; Michael Larson, a junior music education major from Amarillo; and Alexis Lovell, a junior agriculture education major from May.

Also, Dillon Martin, a junior music education major from Odessa; Zoey McBroom, a junior education major from Canyon; Riley McDaniel, a senior art education major from Amarillo; Mason McWest, a junior music education major from Amarillo; Elias Medina, a junior music education major from Fort Worth; Jack Montgomery, a junior music education major from College Station; Adyson Murdock-Poff, a junior agriculture education major from Moriarty, New Mexico; Campbell Offield, a junior agriculture education major from Plainview; Brightan Potter, a junior education major from Canyon; Floreya Quintero, a junior education major from Amarillo; Haley Rodriguez, a senior education major from Lubbock; Judith Sanchez Solano, a senior education major from Amarillo; Christopher Santiago, a senior music education major from Canyon; Alejandro Santillan-Favela, a senior physical education major from Olton; Tara Schultz, a senior education major from Amarillo; Zane Shifflett, a junior agriculture education major from Poolville; Rylan Sims, a senior agriculture education major from Breckenridge; Dalton Tallant, a junior physical education major from Canyon; Jacob Terry, a junior education major from Amarillo; Fayth Thompson, a junior theatre education major from Crane; Samuel Treadaway, a senior history education major from Katy; Brett Young, a junior agriculture education major from Amarillo; and Pyi Zaw, a junior mathematics/science education major from Amarillo.

WT opened in 1910 as West Texas State Normal College, a school that trained teachers. Today, about 75 percent of all teachers and administrators throughout the Panhandle region have at least one degree or certificate from WT.

Training educators is still a vital mission of the University, as laid out in its 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: Dr. Gary Bigham, right, dean of the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, presents a pin to Oscar Rivera, a senior physical education major from Houston, signifying his entry into WT's Educator Preparation Program. Also pictured, center, is Dr. Teri Bingham, professor of education.

—WT—