WT Political Science, Criminal Justice Students Honored

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

CANYON, Texas —  West Texas A&M University’s Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice awarded more than $85,000 in scholarships in a recent year-end celebration.

In addition, the department also recognized its outstanding students for the 2024-2025 academic year:

• Political Science: Casen Lucas, a senior from Wolfforth; and David Ortega, a senior from Sunray;
• Emergency Management Administration: Joel Chapa, a December graduate from McAllen; and Camden Allen, a senior from Lantana;
• Criminal Justice: Havana Todd, a senior from Lubbock; and
• Master of Public Administration: Andy Kraus, a graduate student from Amarillo.

“Casen, David, Joel, Camden, Havana and Andy have distinguished themselves as outstanding students over many semesters, and it’s been a privilege to have them in our classrooms,” said Dr. Reed Welch, Teel Bivins Professor of American Politics and department head. “We also have many other exceptional students and, thanks to our donors, we are able to award these students with scholarships that helps ease the cost of higher education and also acknowledges their academic achievements.”

Scholarship winners include:

• John Ward Public Administration Scholarship: Kelsi Baczek, a senior emergency management administration major from San Antonio; Aaron Bertolino, a senior emergency management administration major from Houston; Joey Clement, a junior emergency management administration major from Amarillo; Brandon Martinez, a senior emergency management administration major from Harlingen; David I. Ramirez, a senior emergency management administration major from San Antonio; Ryland Ruffner, a senior emergency management administration major from Pittsburg; Brian Sayles, a senior emergency management administration major from Corpus Christi; Michelle Schwake, a junior emergency management administration major from Milano; and Benjamin Smith, a senior emergency management administration major from Lubbock;
• Jesse and Grace Osborn Endowment Fund: Tayler Marie Guerra, a senior criminal justice major from Pampa; David I. Ramirez, a senior emergency management administration major from San Antonio; and Michelle Schwake, a junior emergency management administration major from Milano.
• Judge Marvin Jones Scholarship: Alfredo Aleman, a graduate student in public administration from El Paso; Elijah Anderson, a junior political science major from Amarillo; Garicyn Bigham, a sophomore political science major from Amherst; Lucero Curampa, a freshman political science major from Canyon; Jennifer Ellis, a sophomore political science major from Amarillo; Benjamin Kogo, a junior political science major from Amarillo; Micala Lusk, a junior political science major from Dumas; and Michael Ondrunch, a graduate student in public administration from Sealy;
• Travis McBride Political Science Scholarship: Everett Anderson, a junior political science major from Amarillo; Michael Burden, a graduate student in public administration from Abilene; Ubaldo Campa, a senior political science major from Amarillo; Chelsey Cline, a graduate student in public administration from Lubbock; Andy Kraus, a graduate student in public administration from Amarillo; Nicholas Shaffer, a sophomore political science major from Amarillo; Grace Shelton, a graduate student in public administration from San Angelo; Alison Sweeney, a senior political science major from Houston; and Natalee Vidana, a sophomore political science major from Muleshoe;
• Max & Gene Alice Sherman Public Affairs Scholarship: Everett Anderson, a junior political science major from Amarillo; and Marly Kate Fortner, a senior criminal justice major from Lubbock;
• Debra McCartt Public Service and Administration Scholarship: Emily Liskal, a junior political science major from Toledo, Ohio;
• Lasater/Looney Political Science Scholarship: Emily Liskal, a junior political science major from Toledo, Ohio;
• Walter L. Shelly Political Science Scholarship: Kaizer Mahaffee, a senior political science major from Amarillo;
• Claudia D. Stravato Women in Government Scholarship Fund: Alison Sweeney, a senior political science major from Houston;
• Brent T. Lynch Criminal Justice Scholarship: Kay Trent-Pierce, a senior criminal justice major from Austin;
• Captain Ed Foster Law Enforcement Scholarship: Tayler Marie Guerra, a senior criminal justice major from Pampa;
• Criminal Justice Master’s Program Scholarship: Kameshia Jewell Johnson, a graduate student in criminal justice from Amarillo;
• Dr. Harry and Maryann Hueston Scholarship: Marly Kate Fortner, a senior criminal justice major from Lubbock;
• Jerry Neal Scholarship: Iris Baldwin, a junior criminal justice major from Ingram;
• John B. and Mary O. Coleman Scholarship: Nahy Castrejon, a junior criminal justice major from Dumas; Natasha Netter, a senior criminal justice major from Munich, Germany; and Havana L. Todd, a senior criminal justice major from Lubbock;
• Rita Benford Sampson Memorial Scholarship: Chipper Jade Holtzclaw, a senior criminal justice major from Amarillo;
• Sgt. Mike Dunn Memorial Scholarship: Samuel Konnor Fraser, a senior criminal justice major from Temecula, California; Shyanne Nikole Jones, a senior criminal justice major from Farwell; Megan Irene Littlejohn, a junior criminal justice major from Clovis, New Mexico; and Noah T. Wolff, a sophomore criminal justice major from Pampa;
• Criminal Justice Intern of the Year Scholarship: Shyanne Nikole Jones, a senior criminal justice major from Farwell;
• Dr. James V. Calvi Scholarship: Alan Alcantar, a junior criminal justice major from Sunray;
• Retired Professors Scholarship: Gillian M. Burris, a junior criminal justice major from Amarillo; and Avery Tereese Wilkins, a junior criminal justice major from Amarillo.

The Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice is part of WT’s Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences.

Recruiting and rewarding outstanding 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: Among the top students honored by the West Texas A&M University Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice are, from left, Havana Todd, outstanding criminal justice student; Andy Kraus, outstanding master of public administration student; and Casen Lucas, outstanding political science student.

—WT—