Impact Beyond Campus!

Dr. Brock Blaser Receives NACTA Judging and Student Service Award

Dr. Brock Blaser, assistant dean of academic programs, professor of plant science, and the V.H. Harman, Jr. Endowed Distinguished Professorship in Agriculture, received the NACTA Judging and Student Service Award, a national honor recognizing faculty who demonstrate exceptional commitment to student success through teaching, mentorship, advising, and leadership in competitive judging programs.

The award recognizes educators who have provided outstanding service to students, with special emphasis on coaching competitive judging teams while also excelling in teaching, student mentorship, professional development, and service to their institution and profession. Nominees are evaluated through peer, administrator, and student reviews, as well as their philosophy of student service and long-term impact on student success.

Dr. Blaser has coached WT's Crops Judging Team for more than 15 years and has led teams to national NACTA competitions since 2010. He also served as the overall coordinator for the 2025 NACTA Judging Conference hosted by WT, which welcomed nearly 800 students competing in 18 contests, making it one of the largest conferences in the organization's history. Beyond coaching, he had advised more than 550 undergraduate students, chaired or co-chaired 31 graduate committees, and helped develop study abroad opportunities that provide students with hands-on learning experiences around the world.

In his nomination, Dr. Blaser shared that the greatest lessons students gain often happen outside the classroom. "As we engage our students in external experiences such as judging teams, they learn to bridge the classroom knowledge to the real-world while also developing the life skills... that not only set them up for success in a career, but help them to develop into leaders," said Dr. Blaser.

He added that those experiences are what continue to inspire his work as an educator. "I believe it is those external settings serving as a coach that I can make a small difference in a few students' lives and provide them experiences beyond the classroom that will ultimately prepare them to be leaders for life."

Dr. Lance Kieth, associate dean of external relations and recruiting, praised Dr. Blaser's lasting influence on students in his nomination letter. Dr. Kieth stated, "His unwavering support, mentorship, and guidance have helped countless students reach their goals and pursue successful careers in agriculture." Dr. Kieth added that Blaser's "student-centered approach to educating and training students for careers in the agricultural industry" makes him a deserving recipient of the national honor.

Dr. Blaser's selection for the NACTA Judging and Student Service Award underscores the lasting impact of his dedication to student success, recognizing a career spent preparing future agricultural professionals to lead with knowledge, confidence, and purpose.

WT Hosts Reciprocal Meat Conference, Celebrates 100 Years of Meat Judging

WT recently hosted the 79th Annual Reciprocal Meat Conference, welcoming meat scientists, educators, students, and industry leaders from across the country to Amarillo and Canyon.

The conference, the flagship annual meeting of the American Meat Science Association (AMSA), serves as one of the premier gatherings for advancing research, education, and innovation within the meat industry.

A major highlight of the conference was the 100 Years of Intercollegiate Meat Judging Celebration, which brought together students, alumni, coaches, and industry professionals to recognize the legacy and impact of collegiate meat judging. Reunion events, competition activities, and special recognitions highlighted a century of preparing students for careers throughout the meat and food industries.

The celebration included a legacy judging competition held at WT's Caviness Meat Science and Innovation Center, as well as a meat judgers' reunion that welcomed generations of former competitors and coaches.

Conference attendees also participated in educational sessions, networking opportunities, and industry discussions. Among the featured events was the keynote panel, "Water and Resilience: What the Panhandle Teaches Us All," which explored sustainability, resource management, and the future of animal agriculture.

Hosting the conference showcased WT's leadership in meat science education and research while highlighting the university's location in one of the world's most important livestock-producing regions. The event also reflected the university's commitment to industry engagement, student success, and agricultural innovation.

Graduate Students Earn External Grants for Wildlife Research

Two graduate students in the Department of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences have been awarded Scientific Research Grants from SnakeDays 2026 to support their thesis research projects focused on reptile conservation and disease ecology.

Grace Laskey received funding for her project, "Diet of a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the State of Texas, the Western Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus tergeminus)." Her research aims to improve understanding of the ecology of the Western Massasauga, a species identified as a conservation priority in Texas.

Spencer Mode was awarded a grant for his project, "A Community-wide Assessment of Snake Fungal Disease in the Central Rolling Plains of Texas." His work focuses on understanding the prevalence and impacts of snake fungal disease, and emerging wildlife health concerns affecting snake populations across North America.

Both students conduct their research under the mentorship of Dr. Dylan Maag, whose lab focuses on herpetology, wildlife ecology, and conservation.

The external funding recognizes the quality of graduate research taking place within the Department of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences and supports efforts to better understand and conserve reptile populations in Texas.

Agriculture and Natural Sciences Researchers Receive Record Internal Grant Support

Faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students from the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences were among the recipients of a record $221,000 in internal research grants awarded by West Texas A&M University during the 2025-2026 academic year.

The funding supports innovative research projects spanning animal science, biology, chemistry, agriculture, and environmental sciences.

Faculty Research Grants

Faculty members receiving internal research grants included:

Dr. Kayla Alward, animal science - Predicting Pregnancy Loss in Dairy Cattle Utilizing Serum Melatonin Concentrations
Dr. JP Andrade, animal science - Improving Bovine Embryo Production Through Stress Mitigation with Appeasing Pheromone
Dr. Emilie Baker, animal science - Using DNA Methylation to Predict Bovine Respiratory Disease Risk
Dr. Joshua Brown, biology - Developing UAV-Based Methods for Detecting GPS Transmitters in Wildlife Telemetry
Dr. Fernando Diaz-Gonzalez, biology - The Role of Epigenetics in the Regulation of Gene Expression
Dr. Juganta Roy, chemistry - Mechanistic Understanding of E/Z-Tosylhydrazone Formation
Dr. Tolulope Saliu, biology - Glucocorticoid-Mediated Cell Cycle Dysregulation Mechanisms Driving Diabetic Myopathy
Dr. Sushil Thapa, plant and soil science - Improving Water Use Efficiency in Grain Sorghum Using Soil Amendments
Dr. Bailey Young and Dr. Qi Kang, agricultural business and economics - Cattle Market Effects of Livestock Import Bans Due to Screwworm

Graduate Student Research Grants

Graduate student recipients included:

Caitlin Crenshaw, biology - Genomics of Ring-necked Pheasants in the Texas Panhandle
Kylie Diaz, agricultural sciences - Integrating Biophilic Learning Environments to Support Student Success
Hallie Dugosh, animal science - Evaluating Follicular Dynamics in Boer Does under TAI Protocol
Megan Eckhardt, agriculture - Effect of Abscess Severity and Cattle-Type Upon Beef Metabolomics
Austin George, animal science - Optimizing Resynchronization Protocol for Embryo Transfer in Lactating Dairy Cattle
David Hardin, chemistry, biology and psychology - Spatial Characterization of Rev-erbA mRNA Expression in Murine Platelets
Ciera Heinrich, biology - Seasonal Species Variation and Night-Time Activity of Bridge-Roosting Bats in Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Bailey Lamb, animal science - Effects of Wool Judging on Professional and Interpersonal Skills
Rylee Mckinney, animal science - Comparative Assessment of Post-Culture Viability of Caprine Demi-Embryos
Christie Miller, animal science - Unexplored Role of Follicular Fluid Melatonin in Dairy Fertility
Samuel Narvaez Sanchez, animal science - New vs. Used CIDRs in Beef Cattle
Audrey Rangel, animal science - Comparison of Estrus Synchronization Protocols in Heifers
Tanner Sargent, biology - Aoudad Use of Cultural and Vegetative Resources at Hueco Tanks State Park

Undergraduate Research Grants

Undergraduate Recipients included:

Avelyn Barrera, biology
Cayden Beatty, animal science
Tucker Beekmann, physics
Graceson Carthel, biochemistry
Chamberlaigne Elliott, wildlife biology
Taylen Graham, wildlife biology
Kade Lawrence, animal science
Karley Thomas, biology
Clover Watson, environmental sciences
Madeline Wright, environmental sciences
Avel Zermeno, animal science

The record-setting investment reflects the university's commitment to expanding research opportunities and supporting discoveries that address challenges in agriculture, animal health, natural resources, chemistry, and environmental science.

Science Faculty Inspire Discovery at PPHM's Night with a Glow

Faculty members from West Texas A&M University's science programs recently participated in Night at PPHM with a Glow, a family-friendly event hosted by the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

The event featured interactive experiences, educational activities, food trucks, and hands-on opportunities designed to engage visitors of all ages while supporting the museum's mission of serving the community.

Representing WT were Dr. Olivia Villanueva, Dr. Carla Eichler, Dr. Dylan Maag, and Dr. Sara-Louise Newcomer, who helped create memorable science-focused experiences for attendees throughout the evening.

Their participation highlights the ongoing commitment of WT faculty to community outreach, science education, and public engagement beyond the classroom.

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