2025-26 Rogers LEAD WT Cohort Announced

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

CANYON, Texas — The 2025-2026 cohort of a prestigious West Texas A&M University student program has been announced.

The Dyke and Terry Rogers Leadership Education and Development Program, or Rogers LEAD WT, was created in 2012 to challenge high-achieving students to further develop their leadership potential.

“This year’s recruiting class was the largest in the history of the program with more than 70 applicants across multiple disciplines,” said Kimberly Cornelsen, Rogers LEAD WT executive director. “This was in part to our tremendous faculty nominating outstanding student leaders within their respective colleges. It was extremely difficult to narrow it down to 25, but we are confident this cohort will be an outstanding representation of WT.” 

Up to 25 students annually are accepted as LEAD WT scholars following an extensive application and interview process. The program is completed in two years, with students taking leadership theory courses, working as a team on service projects, and completing internship experiences and taking part in other real-world activities including networking events and public speaking opportunities.

Students named to the 2025-2026 cohort of Rogers LEAD WT scholars include Bradley Allcorn, a junior business management major from Amarillo; Diana Arriola, a junior speech and hearing sciences major from Olton; Ella Barkley, a junior social work major from Canyon; Julie-Ann Bownds, a junior criminal justice major from Littlefield; Madilynn Campbell, a junior pre-vet major from Vinita, Oklahoma; Diego Flores, a senior mechanical engineering major from San Antonio; Danna Gonzalez, a junior business administration major from Amarillo; Allee Hamilton, a senior speech and hearing sciences major from Spur; Benjamin Hodge, a sophomore from Lubbock; Jerry Ince, a junior animal science / pre-vet major from Hico; Mary Vivian Ivey, a junior agriculture media and communication major from Fort Smith, Arkansas; Audrey Anne Jones, a junior sports and exercise sciences major from Wellington; Jisiah Lara, a sophomore mathematics education major from Lockney; and Braylen Lusby, a junior health sciences major from Wink.

Also, Izzy Mariconda, a junior animal science / pre-vet major from Edmond, Oklahoma; Hazel McCormick, a junior agriculture media and communication major from Canyon; Kamryn Meiwes, a senior animal science / pre-vet from Muleshoe; Elina Njimbere, a junior general business major from Amarillo; Chrislin Roden, a junior business management major from Canyon; Ribbin Saisasong, a junior computer information systems major from Amarillo; Ashley Seymour, a junior nursing major from Amarillo; Kyla Snyder, a junior chemistry major from Lubbock; Ridley Strackbein, a senior animal science major from Fredericksburg; Christopher Villa, a senior mechanical engineering major from East Lansing, Michigan; Charli Wells, a junior animal science / pre-vet major from Holdrege, Nebraska; Evilyn Wilcox, a junior graphic design major from Canyon; Abbigail Yott, a junior finance major from Amarillo; and Lauren Zuniga, a senior general business major from Amarillo.

Students in this cohort represent all six of WT’s Colleges.

Offering students intellectually challenging, critically reflective and regionally responsive academic programs is part of the mission laid out in 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: The 2025-2026 Rogers LEAD WT cohort includes, front from second from left, Ridley Strackbein, Chrislin Roden, Mary Vivian Ivey, Ashley Seymour, Diego Flores, Izzy Mariconda, Ribbin Saisasong and Ella Barkley; middle from left, Abbigai Yott, Allee Hamilton, McKenzie McCormick, Kyla Snyder, Kamryn Meiwes, Evi Wilcox, Benjamin Hodge, Elina Njimbere and Diana Arriola; and, back from left, Landen Ince, Bradley Allcorn, Christopher Villa, Danna Gonzalez, Lauren Zuniga, Audrey Anne Jones, Jisiah Lara and Julie-Ann Bownds. Also pictured are, front left, Terry B. Rogers and, middle right, Dyke Rogers.

—WT—