Area Small Businesses Sought to Participate in WT’s Buff Business Summit

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

CANYON, Texas — Applications are now open for small businesses to take part in West Texas A&M University’s Buff Business Summit and Competition.

Now in its third year, the summit is the signature event of WT’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business for high school students.

About 600 students from Amarillo and Canyon independent school districts are expected to gather over three days in December in Legacy Hall in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center for fast-paced, experiential learning sessions with faculty members from the Engler College.

“The Buff Business Summit & Competition has provided outstanding local high school students the opportunity to experience business first-hand and learn the problem-solving skills necessary to be successful,” said Dr. Amjad Abdullat, dean of the Engler College of Business. “By including these students in the WT community and introducing them to local business owners, their chances of becoming successful business owners in our region are increased.”

Twelve Texas Panhandle businesses will be selected to take part in the sessions. Business owners will present a challenge to the students, whose solutions will be pitched to a panel of judges.

Business owners may apply through Nov. 3 at wtsbdc.com/BuffBusiness.

Students on the winning team each will receive $500 scholarships; a total of $24,000 was awarded during the spring summit.

“These summits not only have provided education for exceptional local high school students, but they also have provided them with real-world experience in problem solving for local small businesses,” said Gina Woodward, WT Enterprise Center executive director. “These business owners leave with actionable solutions to their challenges, and the students leave with newfound confidence and skills they can put to work in the workforce or their own business.”

The summit—which will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 1, 5 and 8—is cohosted by the WT Enterprise Center and America’s Small Business Development Center at WT.

Participating schools are expected to include Canyon High School, Randall High School and West Plains High School from Canyon ISD, and AmTech Career Academy and Caprock High School from Amarillo ISD.

The summit helps build undergraduate academic excellence by recruiting talented students to attend WT, as 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 has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M 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. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT 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. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is 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 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—