WT’s Top Student Employees for 2025-2026 Honored

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

CANYON, Texas — An undergraduate who has made crucial contributions to campus safety and a graduate assistant who seamlessly took the reins when her boss fell ill were honored April 6 as West Texas A&M University’s top student workers.

Landrey Posey, a senior psychology major from Amarillo, was recognized as undergraduate student employee of the year, and Jessica Kenedy, a graduate student in communication from Hereford, was honored as graduate assistant of the year.

Posey, Kenedy and about 60 other nominated student workers were celebrated during a 3 p.m. April 6 event in the Fairly Club at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.

Posey also won the Critical Thinking award, and five other students were recognized with special awards:

• Career and Self-Development: Kaslyn Moczygemba, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Karnes City, in the Department of Agricultural Sciences ;

• Communication: Bella Bailey, a senior musical theatre major from Little Elm, in the Department of Student Financial Services ;

• Innovation and Technology: Muyunda Mufana, a senior graphic design major from Dallas, in the Office of Student Affairs ;

• Leadership: Caleb Spear, a junior animal science major from Roswell, New Mexico, in the Department of Agricultural Sciences ; and

• Teamwork: Madi Rodriguez, a senior general studies major from Canyon, in the Department of Orientation and Academic Success .

Photo: Special award winners at the celebration of West Texas A&M University student employees of the year were, from left, Caleb Spear, leadership; Kaslyn Moczgemba, career and self-development; Landry Posey, critical thinking; Bella Bailey, communication and undergraduate student employee of the year; Madi Rodriguez, teamwork; Muyunda Mufana, innovation and technology; and Jessica Kenedy, graduate assistant of the year.

The nominated student workers set a strong example for their classmates and all WT faculty and staff, WT President Walter V. Wendler said.

“Your work, alongside staff and faculty, is essential to fulfilling the mission of WT,” Wendler said in prepared remarks. “You are an essential part of not only the classroom, through your studies, but also the business of WT through your student employment. … Each student nominated for today’s awards embody the value of rugged individualism—the drive and determination to make your own way forward by working while you get your education.”

Posey is a student assistant in the University Police Department whose supervisor called “a shining example of WT’s student employment program.”

“She has blossomed into a confident, resilient and highly capable professional who approaches every task with maturity and poise,” Krystal Czesnowski, UPD Clery compliance officer, wrote in Posey’s nomination.

A key part of Posey’s responsibilities is compiling and submitting the campus safety survey to the U.S. Department of Education, and Posey also developed new Violence Against Women Act and hazing-prevention training videos being used campuswide.

“These high-stakes responsibilities demand exceptional attention to detail, deep understanding of regulatory requirements, sound judgment under strict deadlines, and the ability to anticipate issues, qualities Landrey has demonstrated flawlessly,” Czesnowski wrote.

Posey said the award helps her realize that all her “hard work is paying off.”

“I can only keep growing from here,” Posey said. “I feel like I was able to help people (with this project) and make sure they know what to look out for.”

Kenedy is the graduate assistant for the Rogers LEAD WT program and filled in for Kimberly Cornelsen, the program’s executive director, when the latter was hospitalized for a medical emergency.

“While many would be hesitant, Jessica approached the transition with a calm, can-do authority,” Cornelsen wrote in Kenedy’s nomination. “Whether she was navigating the high stakes of the 2028 cohort interview process or speaking to University donors, she carried herself with a poise that signaled to everyone—scholars and stakeholders alike—that the program was in capable hands.”

Kenedy’s confidence was “contagious,” Cornelsen continued. “When scholars see Jessica unfazed by a heavy workload, it gives them the courage to tackle their own challenges.”

Kenedy said “even jut to be nominated is a huge blessing” and that she thought Cornelsen prepared her well to step in.

“I knew it wasn’t an option,” Kenedy said. “I wasn’t going to let this program down. Rogers LEAD WT students make a big impact on our campus, so I just jumped in with both feet.”

About 1,100 student employees work across nearly every division, department and College at WT.

“Quite simply, we are a stronger and better institution because of them,” said Pam Young, assistant vice president for human resources.

Nominated students represented each of WT’s six Colleges: the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, the Paul & Virginia Engler College of Business, the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, the College of Engineering, the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, plus the Graduate School.

Other nominees included Yasmin Akter, a graduate student in finance and economics from Canyon; Audrey Alexander, a senior marketing major from Lovington, New Mexico; Cody Paige Audrain, a sophomore agribusiness major from Stratford; Camryn Barton, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Amarillo; Sam Bencomo, a senior electrical engineering major from Hereford; Jesus Bernal, a junior computer information systems major from Pampa; Kinslea Blau, a senior music education major from Odessa; Jolie Bond, a graduate student in agricultural media and communication from Rocky Ford, Colorado; Jordan Byrd, a senior agriculture media and communication major from Kingwood; Alexis Camara, a graduate student in agriculture from Pukalani, Hawaii; Chloe Carroll, a senior nursing major from Childress; Jalynn Castro, a senior general business major from Houston; Xavier Champion, a junior digital communication and media major from Littlefield; Joshua Copas, a graduate student in history from San Antonio; Taylor Crenshaw, a senior animal science major from Ferris; Cassidy Cross, a graduate student in psychology from Amarillo; Hallie Dugosh, a graduate student in animal science from Pearsall; Daniela Estrada, an MBA student from Bogata, Colombia; Raegan Hill, a senior agribusiness major from Frederick, Oklahoma; Anna Holcomb, a graduate student in psychology from Amarillo; Sophia Johnson, a junior engineering technology major from Richmond; Jack Kendall, a senior sports and exercise science major from Amarillo; Brooklynn King, a senior music major from Pearland; Victoria Kuehn, a graduate student in speech and hearing sciences from Canyon; Hunter Lane, a senior computer science major from Amarillo; Macy Lawrence, a graduate student in animal science from Canyon; Katelyn Lechwar, a senior sports and exercise science major from Tulia; Rose Lewis, a senior history major from Amarillo; and Shelton Luedke, a graduate student in animal science from Hondo.

Also, Marie Meissenburg, a junior nursing major from Amarillo; Peyton Metz, a senior agricultural business and economics major from Monte Vista, Colorado; Olivia Myers, a sophomore wildlife biology major from Montgomery; Paityn Nicholson, a senior agricultural media and communication from Melrose, New Mexico; Francis Njoku, a graduate student in computer information systems from Nigeria; Kevin Olivas, a junior digital communication and media major from Amarillo; Raven Olney, a senior computer science major from Pampa; Madison Peters, a senior communication studies major from Denver City; Charlie Pointer, a senior sports and exercise science major from Turkey; Madie Ray, a junior digital communication and media from Claude; Sadie Ray, a senior English major from Claude; Natalee Romero, a senior education major from Floydada; Romie Rubio, a senior finance major from Amarillo; Noa Sorrell, a senior musical theatre major from Fort Worth; Anthony Sotelo, a senior computer information systems major from Hartley; Camden Sperry, a senior accounting major from Happy; Kyle Thrift, a junior animal science major from Gainesville, Florida; Briana Vigil, a senior management major from Spearman; Destany Walters, a junior management major from Canyon; Maylee Wertz, a senior marketing major from Balko, Oklahoma; Kenedy Wheeler, a graduate student in studio art from Lewisville; Mark Wiegand, a senior general business major from Canyon; and Graham Wristers, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Spring.

Recruiting, retaining and rewarding the best students is a key principle 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, which is now winding down, has raised more than $175 million.

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. 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 Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University President Walter V. Wendler, left, and Pamp Young, right, assistant vice president for human resources, celebrate the WT student employees of the year: Landry Posey, second from left, undergraduate student employee of the year, and Jessica Kenedy, second from right, graduate assistant of the year.

—WT—