CANYON, Texas — A dozen budding engineers are getting plugged into their future career paths thanks to a significant gift to West Texas A&M University from the Xcel Energy Foundation.
The foundation—the charitable arm of Xcel Energy—gave a $20,000 grant to WT’s College of Engineering, officials announced recently.
A portion of the funds provided full scholarships to 12 students taking part in WT’s Engineering and Computing Camp, which runs June 5 to 9.
“WT’s College of Engineering has expanded the pool of talented engineers from our area with a desire to make their lives in Amarillo and surrounding cities,” said Brad Baldrige, Xcel Energy director of customer and community relations. “It’s a great workforce development success story that will continue to play out as long as we’re engaging young students in opportunities such as the summer engineering camp and ensuring no one is left out because of limited financial resources.”
Many campers were nominated by their teachers in surrounding schools, said Dr. Emily Hunt, dean of the College of Engineering.
“Often, their families don’t have the financial resources to send them to camp,” Hunt said. “We want to make sure we can accommodate as many campers as possible, and thanks to this generous gift from the Xcel Energy Foundation, these students are on the right path to fulfilling their dreams.”
The grant also will provide support for WT’s electrical engineering labs for University students, as well as provide additional funding for camp, which offers classes for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
This year’s camp theme is “STEM for Space,” with students learning about the future of design in space and investigating materials, power and natural resources. Campers are using artificial intelligence to help scientists analyze data more quickly and accurately and automate operations on spacecraft. The continuous development of AI is helping rovers and landers explore other planets and moons in ways never before possible
The camp is one highly successful way WT recruits new students for the College of Engineering, Hunt said.
“Ten incoming freshman this fall were campers when they were younger, and most of the students in our Pre-University Program were campers, as well,” Hunt said.
Providing a nurturing yet rigorous educational environment for learners of all levels and meeting regional challenges are key goals 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 campaign — which publicly launched in September 2021— has raised more than $125 million and will continue through 2025.
