WT’s 2026 McNair Graduates Honored Ahead of Commencement

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

CANYON, Texas — A dozen of West Texas A&M University’s brightest student researchers were honored May 14 at a special pre-commencement event.

The McNair Scholars Legacy Gala celebrated 12 graduates from the McNair Scholars Program ahead of May 15 and 16 commencement ceremonies.

“This program provides a rigorous experience in undergraduate research and seminars that detail graduate school studies and skills,” said Dr. Victoria Salas, director. “We are empowering these first-generation undergraduates to fulfill their potential and successfully move to the next level of higher education.”

The graduates, all seniors, include:

• Fernando Anguiano, a mechanical engineering major from Spearman
• Luis Alfredo Avila, a nursing major from Hereford
• Jocelyn Baca, a speech and hearings sciences major from Amarillo
• Miriam Camargo, a biology major from Amarillo
• Erick Garcia, a health sciences major from Perryton
• Alex Holguin, a psychology major from Amarillo
• Luis Abraham Martinez Jr., a general business major from Pampa
• Eliz Miranda, a wildlife biology major from El Paso
• Julian Rivero, a finance major from Perryton
• Riven Robinson, a psychology major from Levelland
• Romie Rubio, an accounting and finance major from Amarillo
• and Lizett Silva, a Spanish major from Pampa

Students represent all six of WT’s 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.

Ten of the honorees will begin pursuing graduate degrees in the fall.

In 2022, the program won a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, providing $275,000 in annual funding for five years.

The program has been offered at WT since 1999. In that time 300 McNair Scholars have earned their bachelor’s degrees, and another 169 have earned graduate or professional degrees.

WT’s McNair Scholars program now serves 30 students per year, who receive the guidance of a mentor overseeing the research project; seminars on graduate school admission process, research methods and financial aid; a $2,800 research stipend; a $300 research supply allowance; tutoring, academic counseling and intense GRE preparation; admission and financial aid assistance; preparation for research conference preparations; fee waivers for graduate applications; and paid conference travel.

McNair was one of six crewmembers who died Jan. 28, 1986, when the Challenger exploded shortly after launching at Cape Canaveral, Fla.

After his death, Congress named a research program in his honor — the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, or the McNair Scholars Program. It is designed to prepare income-eligible and first-generation undergraduate students for doctoral study through research and other scholarly activities.

McNair — who, in addition to his work as a physicist, also was a talented musician and decorated martial arts champion and instructor — was the second African American to fly in space.

McNair Scholars are an important component in WT’s goal of becoming a regional research university, as outlined in the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million dollars, the largest such campaign in Texas Panhandle history.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University 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 multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 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: McNair Scholars graduating in spring 2026 commencement ceremonies included, from left, Luis Alfredo Avila, Riven Robinson, Miriam Camargo, Romie Rubio, Alexis Holguin, Jocelyn Baca, Lizett Silva, Eliz Miranda, Julian Rivero, Fernando Anguiano, Luis Abraham Martinez Jr. and Erick Garcia.

—WT—