September 13, 2021
Fresh Check Day, the signature program of the Jordan Porco Foundation, is an uplifting mental health promotion and suicide prevention event for colleges that includes interactive expo booths, peer-to-peer messaging, support of multiple campus departments and groups, free food, entertainment, and exciting prizes and giveaways. Fresh Check Day aims to create an approachable and hopeful atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health and helps to build a bridge between students and the mental health resources available on campus, in the community, and nationally. WT's Fresh Check Day is Tuesday, September 14th in JKB Legacy Hall from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Local Mental Health Resource
The Texas Panhandle Suicide Prevention Coalition works to reduce the incidence of suicide attempts through public education and awareness and aims to offer support to the families surviving suicide through community collaborations and education.
For additional information, to be added as a Coalition, or to be added to the resource directory, email panhandlesuicideprevention@gmail.com.
STEM students at Amarillo College conduct
groundbreaking gene expression research
Amarillo College graduate Crystal Moss, earned her Master of Science at West Texas A&M University, and served as a volunteer facilitator, for this project. The gene the AC team focused on is LHCb4.3, part of the LHC gene family. It is responsible for shutting down a plant’s productivity when exposed to the stresses of extreme light.
The effort was made possible by the wealth of resources housed in AC’s STEM Research Center, including a real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) detection system and a mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer identifies different chemicals and is widely used in forensics, environmental sciences and more. Fantastic research findings, buffs!
WT Meat Science attends
American Meat Science Association
Reciprocal Meat Conference
West Texas A&M University Meat Science students and faculty traveled across several states, and toured a lot of different places on their way to the Reciprocal Meat Conference in Reno, Nevada. Throughout the week, The West Texas A&M University meat science quiz bowl team competed in the Undergraduate Quiz Bowl Competition. The students and faculty attended numerous events both within the conference and in the surrounding community. WT students and faculty attended various presentations that ranged from Salmonella research to the effects of COVID-19 on the industry. Dr. Lawrence, Professor of Animal Science and Director of the BCRC, presented an impressive reciprocation session that was standing room only about WT’s PrimeOne project.
Well done, Meat Science buffs!
Club Spotlight
Pre-Healthcare Professionals Club!
Are you pursuing a career as a healthcare professional?

Join the Pre-Healthcare Club!

Remaining Fall 2021 Meeting Dates:

September 22nd
October 6th 
October 20th 
November 3rd
November 17th
At their most recent club meeting, the guest speaker was: Amarillo native, Taryn Bainum, Pharm. D., BCPS, BCCP, who discussed fields of pharmacy which are much more than just community pharmacy). Examples of specialized pharmacy include hospital, pediatrics, critical care and neurology, which include specialty training. “Doctorate of Pharmacy” is the official title received after four years of pharmacy school with an optional year of residency. Dr. Bainum went on to describe the basis of her work schedule and responsibilities. Join them for their next meeting with speaker Gabby Laredo, Office of Admissions for Dell Medical School!
2021 Buff Branding Winners!
This year at Buff Branding, new students were put to the test! They were given a Kahoot! quiz over the faculty in each respective department to try and win $50 Buff Cash on their Buffalo Gold Card! Here are the winners!
We asked each of them to share their favorite part about WT so far!
  “Black keys of the piano give good sounds
and the white keys give good sounds;
but the combination of the two gives the best melody.”
~Dr. James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey