West Texas A&M University Names ‘Alligator Wrangler’ Audrey Adkison intern of the Year
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West Texas A&M University (WT) recently recognized junior wildlife biology major Audrey Adkison as itS Intern of the year, honoring her impactful work at the Fort Worth Nature center and Refuge. Adkison, a student from Mansfield, Texas, received the award at a Nov. 3 reception on the canyon campus and will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship, as well as nomination for the national Cooperative Education & Internship Association Academic Intern of the Year award.
A Passion for Wildlife Takes Center Stage
adkison expressed hope that the award would bring greater visibility to the university’s wildlife biology program. “I feel like people don’t really notice the wildlife majors as much, but I hope this brings recognition to us because I think we’re pretty awesome,” she said. “This is what we love what we do and we have a passion for it, so I’m really glad that I can use the passion that I have to show everybody else what we do.”
A Rising Star in Wildlife Biology
Beyond her internship, Adkison is an active member of the WT community. She is an Attebury honors student and currently serves as president of the university’s student chapter of The Wildlife Society. Faculty members have also lauded her dedication and potential. “Audrey exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated,engaged and self-motivated student,” noted Dr. Joshua Brown, assistant professor of biology. “During her recent internship, Audrey cultivated an impressive variety of field-based skills… that clearly reflect her eagerness to learn.”
jared Hall, natural resource supervisor at the refuge, echoed this sentiment, stating that Adkison was “a highly motivated and reliable team member” who made significant contributions to invasive species management, wildlife research, and projects like wild hog eradication and white-tailed deer surveys.
Recognizing Outstanding Interns Across Disciplines
Adkison was selected from a pool of 12 outstanding WT students nominated for the Intern of the Year award, including:
- Caitlynne Budd, agriculture major
- Montana Goodman, agribusiness major
- Tori Harris, electrical engineering major
- Kassadee Lym, agricultural media and dialog major
- Alair Posard, general studies major
- Isaiah Rocha, civil engineering major
- Stacy Saenz, animal science major
- Lacey Schmidt, agribusiness major
- Ryan Stricker, animal science / pre-vet major
- Alison Sweeney, political science major
- Spencer Walahoski, animal science major
Investing in Student Success
WT’s dedication to student achievement is a cornerstone of its long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World. This ambitious plan is being fueled by the ongoing One West fundraising campaign, which has already surpassed its initial $125 million goal, raising over $175 million since its launch in September 2021.
West Texas A&M University, a Regional Research University and Hispanic serving Institution, continues to redefine excellence with over 9,000 students and a thorough range of academic programs. Established in 1910 and part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990, WT also boasts the panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and a thriving athletics program.
