Student, Community Leaders Recognized by WT’s Engler College of Business

Chip Chandler May 05, 2025

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Student, Community Leaders Recognized by WT’s Engler College of Business

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

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business honored top business students and community leaders at a recent year-end event.

About 100 Buffs were commended as outstanding students or inducted into honor societies ahead of May 16 and 17 commencement ceremonies at the University.

"This annual event always brings our College a deep sense of pride and joy,” said Dr. Amjad Abdullat, dean. “It is a moment to celebrate our students’ academic excellence and leadership and, just as importantly, to honor the remarkable community members and supporters who contribute meaningfully to our mission. Their dedication and partnership elevate everything we do—from the classroom to the broader business landscape—and we are grateful for their role in shaping the future of our college and our students.”

Douglas Shields, a senior finance and economics major from Littlefield, and Megan Shields, a senior management and marketing major from Littlefield, were named outstanding undergraduate students. The Shields are married and commuted to classes at WT after previously attending South Plains College.

“Their journey is a testament to perseverance, partnership and the strength of achieving personal and professional goals together,” said Dr. Robert A. King, associate dean of undergraduate business programs. “While they are both independently successful, the fact that they were there for one another makes this all the more special.”

Susan Fleming, a graduate student in strategic human resource management from Wolfforth, was named outstanding graduate student.

“Susan is our first graduate with a master’s degree in strategic human resource management, and her progression through the Engler College of Business, including earning a bachelor’s and an MBA, demonstrates that she is a highly motivated student who appreciates the value of higher education to accelerate her success,” said Dr. Jeffry Babb, associate dean of graduate business programs. “We celebrate that Susan has placed great trust in WT to assist her in reaching her goals and we are proud of her accomplishments.”

Seven undergraduates also were recognized as outstanding students across the several disciplines in the Engler College of Business:

Accounting: Antonella Periotti Omisolo, a senior from Cordoba, Argentina;
Computer Information Systems: Jessica Hanke, a senior from Amarillo;
Economics: Bradley Sellinger, a senior from Amarillo;
Finance: Wesley Matthews, a senior from Childress;
General Business: Denisa Weathers, a senior from Amarillo;
Management: Ahtziri Soltero, a senior from Friona; and
Marketing: Nga Thao Trinh, a senior from Amarillo.

Four graduate students also were honored as outstanding students:

Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics: Alexandria Bridenbaugh from Amarillo;
MBA: Jayla Burgess from Tulsa;
Finance and Economics: Christopher Brooks from Amarillo; and
Accounting: Nikolas Westbrook from Fritch.

Abdullat also presented significant community leaders with special awards.

Gina Woodward, regional director of America’s SBDC at WTAMU, was given the Ambassador Award, celebrating her commitment to advancing student, recruitment, teaching and mentorship. She has earned two undergraduate and two graduate degrees from WT while building a career with SBDC and the Engler College of Business.

Southwest Airlines was given the Employer of the Year Award for advancing internship and employment opportunities for Engler College students.

Madison Little, a 2017 WT graduate and project manager in Flight Operations at Southwest Airlines, was given the Horizon Alumnus Award for reaching significant career advancement in an early stage of a career.

The Amarillo Executive Association, a group of Amarillo business owners and leaders, was given the Legacy Award for providing support to Engler College students through engagement, mentorship and community partnerships.

Student leadership awards were presented to outstanding members of various organizations: Kaycee Sultemeier, a graduate student in accounting from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, for Accounting & Finance Association; Christopher Bachman, a junior computer information systems major from Amarillo, for American Marketing Association Club; Jocyln Marie Carrasco, a senior applied arts and sciences major from El Paso, for Association of Latino Professionals for America; Samuel Packer, a senior computer information systems major from Wildorado, for BuffTeks Club; Kami Drinnon, a junior accounting major from Vega, for the Chartered Financial Analysts Research Challenge team; Cassandra Gamboa, a senior marketing major from El Paso, for Media Minds; and Charlee Jones, a graduate student in strategic human resource management from Canon City, Colorado, for Society for Human Resource Management.

Packer also won the Carey Lyles Emerging Technology Award.

Jax Ferrell, a senior accounting major from Memphis, won the Texas CPA Accounting Education Foundation Accounting Excellence Award. Romie Rubio, a senior finance major from Amarillo, won the Women in Business Award and the Engler Ambassador Leadership Award. Maylee Wertz, a junior marketing major from Balko, Oklahoma, won the Engler Edge Award.

Other Engler Ambassadors recognized, in addition to Rubio and Wertz, were Larissa Alderete, a senior marketing major from Plainview; Luis Martinez, a senior general business major from Pampa; Camden Sperry, a senior finance major from Happy; and Tory Trahern, a senior finance major from Sunray.

Twenty-five students and one faculty member were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society. Students must be in the top 5 to 10 percent of all College of Business students and receive a faculty recommendation. Inductees were:

Dr. Anne Christine-Barthel, the Hodges Professor of Business; Jayla Burgess, an MBA student from Tulsa, Oklahoma; Lana Bracken, a graduate student in computer information systems from Canyon; Rebecca Brooks, a senior accounting major from Amarillo; Alex Diaz, a senior general business major from Amarillo; Hannah Felker, a senior management major from Amarillo; Paul Garrido, an MBA student from El Paso; Matthew Herbstritt, an MBA student from Childress; David Hernandez, a graduate student in finance and economics from Miami, Florida; Todd Jaco, an MBA student from Desloge, Missouri; Broc Kinikin, a senior finance major from Dumas; Melissa Marcelloni, an MBA student from Rancho Viejo; Luis Martinez, a senior general business student from Pampa; Michael Mason, a graduate student in finance and economics from Wylie; Shannon McCormick, an MBA student from Rockton, Illinois; Anna Nomrowski, an MBA student from Neuss, Germany; Samuel Packer, a senior computer information systems major from Wildorado; Antonella Periotti Omisolo, a senior accounting major from Cordoba, Argentina; DongNi Qui, an MBA student from Canyon; Shawn Reukauf, a graduate student in finance and economics from Lancaster, California; Ashley Scott, an MBA student from Lazbuddie; Faith Shagula, a senior management student from Lubbock; Ahziri Soltero, a senior management major from Friona; Conrad Spangler, an MBA student from Hillsboro, Iowa; Matthew Streeton, an MBA student from Santa Barbara, California; and Summer Tebeest, a senior marketing major from Amarillo.

Two students were inducted into Alpha Mu Alpha, the marketing honor society of the American Marketing Association. Inductees were Krista Bishop, a senior marketing major from Sherman, and Ajit Sankhe, an MBA student from Westlake Village, California.

Six students were inducted into Omicron Delta Epsilon, one of the world’s biggest international academic honor societies, which recognizes scholastic attainment and honors outstanding achievements in economics. Inductees were:

Jacob Baker, a graduate student in finance and economics from Kansas City, Missouri; Zach Cunningham, a graduate student in finance and economics from New Orleans; Peter Henstock, a graduate student in finance and economics from Medford, Massachusetts; David Hernandez, a graduate student in finance and economics from Miami, Florida; Bradley Sellinger, a senior economics major from Amarillo; and David Wasserstrom, a graduate student in finance and economics from Galveston.

Nineteen students were inducted into Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the only international honor society in computing and information disciplines. WT’s chapter has won an excellent chapter award for six consecutive years. Inductees were:

Mariam Adegbindin, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Lagos, Nigeria; Godfred Amponsah, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Tarkwa, Ghana; Jonah Anderson, an MBA student from Amarillo; Sera Bargas, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Amarillo; Rahmat Begum, an MBA student from Carrollton; Diana Benitez Perera, a junior computer information systems major from Spring; Raul Garcia III, a senior computer information systems major from Rialto, California; Christopher Gariby, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Galveston; Joshua Gonzalez, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Midlothian; Vigneshwaran Kennady, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Frisco; Glenn Kim, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Auburn, Washington; James Kinter, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Boerne; Shawn Melendes, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from San Antonio; Samuel Packer, a senior computer information systems major from Wildorado; Kanpicha Saisasong, a sophomore computer information systems major from Amarillo; Praveena Saravanakumar, an MBA student from Houston; Aubrey Skinner, a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Amarillo; Matthew Streeton, an MBA student from Santa Barbara, California; and Kerry Yang, , a graduate student in computer information systems and business analytics from Canyon.

The 2025 student and community awards symposium was held April 23 in Legacy Hall in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center.

Recruiting, retaining and rewarding excellent 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 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 $165 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: Undergraduates honored by West Texas A&M University's Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business included, from second from left, Wesley Matthews, Douglas Shields, Megan Shields, Jessica Hanke, Bradley Sellinger and Ahtziri Soltero. Also pictured, left, is Dr. Robert A. King, associate dean of undergraduate business programs.

—WT—