Donor Makes $1.5 Million Gift to WT Softball, Names Endowment for Former Player

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

CANYON, Texas — A $1.5 million donation to support West Texas A&M University’s softball team has established an endowment named in honor of an alumna of the program, the University announced at a Nov. 19 press conference.

The anonymous donation, made by a resident of the region who has formed close ties with the team over many years, will support softball recruiting and player development.

“But more than that, it will ensure every young woman who puts on that WT jersey is part of something enduring—a team, a family and a university that believes in her potential,” WT President Walter V. Wendler said in prepared remarks.

The Alyssa Lemos Kirsch Softball Program Endowment, when fully funded, will provide perpetual support for the softball team.

“Moments like this remind us that a team is never just the group of athletes on the field; it is a family made up of supporters, alumni, fans and community members who believe in what we’re building,” said Michael Mook, softball coach. “(The donor’s) generosity doesn’t simply add resources to our program; it creates opportunities, elevates expectations and strengthens the foundation for our future.”

The anonymous donor is sending a “powerful message,” said outfielder Emily Liskai, a junior political science major from Waterville, Ohio.

“Your generosity will impact more lives than you realize,” Liskai said in prepared remarks. “You’re investing in young women who work hard, compete with grit and care deeply about representing this university with pride.”

The donor and his late wife met Lemos Kirsch 15 years ago, while she and her teammates were providing concessions for season-ticket holders at football games in the old Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, said Lesly Bosch Annen, assistant vice president for development and leadership gifts.

“The couple stayed in touch with her long after her time playing softball at WT,” Bosch Annen said. “So, it was not surprising when working with this donor and his professional advisers about his estate plans that he wanted to find a way to honor her through his support of the WT softball program.”

Lemos Kirsch, who was part of WT’s first national champion softball team in 2014, said in a video played at the press conference that she is “honored” to be recognized through the endowment.

“Playing softball at WT not only opened a ton of doors of opportunity but began life-long friendships with the boosters who support our athletic programs,” said Lemos Kirsch, who now works as an OB-GYN in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “Without donations like this our team could not continue to expand and continue to be a powerhouse in Division II softball.”

The investment in the softball program “builds on our championship legacy, which will allow us to continue to attract top-tier talent and cultivate an elite environment for our student athletes,” said Doug Lipinski, vice president for athletics.

In 2025, the Lady Buffs finished the season with a 56-8 record, advancing to the South Central Super Regional round.

The team has won two NCAA Division II national championships in 2014 and 2021 and has made 13 NCAA postseason appearances, with three trips to the Division II College World Series.

The Lady Buffs have won six Lone Star Conference regular-season championships and five LSC tournament championships.

With this gift, WT’s historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign has topped $183 million.

The campaign, which fuels the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World, reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. It surpassed $175 million in September 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.

Photo: Members and coaches of the West Texas A&M University softball team celebrate with WT President Walter V. Wendler before the announcement of a $1.5 million gift to the softball program by an anonymous donor.

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