CANYON, Texas—The West Texas A&M University Department of Communication celebrated 22 outstanding students during the department’s end-of-year ceremony.

Faculty and students shared stories about students’ work and achievements during the April 25 ceremony, held in the Legends Room inside the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on WT’s Canyon campus.

The annual event also recognized graduating seniors and master’s degree students from the department.

Dr. Carolyn Baum, assistant professor of communication studies and director of the Attebury Honors Program, helped coordinate the event along with her Lambda Pi Eta communication honor society students.

“Our students work diligently all year to grow their knowledge of the field and prepare for their future goals, so it’s important to take time to celebrate their growth and dedication,” Baum said.

Outstanding undergraduate students were Kara Villarreal, a senior digital communication and media major from El Paso; and JoLina Lopez, a junior digital communication and media major from Abernathy.

Outstanding graduate student was Jorge Ottati Reperger, a master’s student from Miami, Fla.

Other winners included:

• Bateman Team Outstanding Writer: Deborah Hromas, a junior public relations, advertising, applied communication major from Muleshoe;
• Bateman Team Outstanding Connection: Brooke Richards, a junior public relations, advertising, applied communication major from Manistee, Michigan;
• Bateman Team Outstanding Editor: Villarreal;
• Bateman Team Outstanding Performance: Alea Wittler, a junior digital communication and media major from Vilas, Colorado;
• Bateman Team Outstanding Outreach: Johnny Lawhon, a senior public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Amarillo;
• Bateman Team Outstanding Designer: Lopez;
• Eternal Flame Excellence in Editing: Jordan Conde, a junior digital communication and media major from Dumas;
• Eternal Flame Ideal Investigator: Tinlee Roland, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Snyder;
• Eternal Flame Admirable Asset: Michael Kidd, a junior digital communication and media major from Valley Mills;
• Excellence in Leadership: Villarreal;
• Public Relations Student Society of America Chapter Award: Elizabeth Waters, a senior public relations, advertising, applied communication major from Amarillo;
• 1910 PR Commitment Award: Villarreal;
• 1910 PR Creativity Award: Lopez;
• 1910 PR Rising Star Award: Debany Arciniega-Saenz, a junior public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Lovington, New Mexico;
• Panhandle Storytelling Guild: Nijimbere Irene, a junior communication studies—organizational communication and leadership major from Abilene;
• KWTS Best Special Show: Brae Foust, an Amarillo native pursuing his second bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism;
• KWTS Best Podcast: Colin Fields, a junior digital communication and media major from Amarillo;
• KWTS Best On-Air Personality: Myka Bailey, a sophomore public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Abernathy;
• KWTS Staff Excellence: Ekatarina Fuentes, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Bushland;
• Randy and Anita Ray “Dig In” Scholarship: Veronica Torres, a junior digital communication and media major from Littlefield;
• A.J. Swope Legacy Award: Jayden Moss, a senior digital communication and media major from Archer City;
• Leigh Browning Digital Media Student of the Year: Maurice Holderman, a junior digital communication and media major from Amarillo;
• Rising Star: Ruben Denson, a freshman communication studies—strategic communication major from Upland, California;
• Top Portfolio: Villarreal; and
• Outstanding Engagement: Tearanee’ Lockhart, senior public relations, advertising and applied communication major from Amarillo.

The Department of Communication is housed in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities.

Strength in core programs and distinctive competencies is a key mission of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched in September 2021 — has raised more than $120 million.