Rather than focus on just one student in our Spotlight series, this time we will showcase the four students who recently went on the BuffTreks adventure to Albuquerque. It was during this long weekend that they and their two faculty leaders all got to know one another much better. And that is precisely the type of engagement the Engler College of Business seeks to promote.
Maylee Wertz is a Senior from Balko, Oklahoma, majoring in Marketing and minoring in Finance. She works in the Undergraduate Business Programs Office.
“I chose WT because it’s close to home, affordable, and offers the community and opportunities I wanted in college. I enjoy the small-town feel of Canyon while still having access to the opportunities in nearby Amarillo,” she said. In her free time, she likes to paint, do crafts, go for walks, and play basketball.
She also loves the personalized attention she is able to get in our classes, particularly those held on-campus. With most classes held in rooms with fewer than 40 seats, this ensures that students and professors get to know one another. Among the many courses she has taken, her favorites have been Emerging Media in Advertising (MKT 4343) with Dr. Brooks, and Real Estate Finance (FIN 3311) with Dr. Macy. After graduation she wishes to work for an advertising firm.
The BuffTreks trip to Albuquerque allowed her to experience a very different culture only four hours away. She came away with many insights and new knowledge. “One idea that really stuck with me came from a local business owner who said, ‘Money is like water, you just have to figure out where to place your bucket.’ He was talking about his own venture, opening a T-shirt shop above a café that appeared in Breaking Bad,” she continued. “Throughout the trip, I noticed this theme everywhere. Route 66 is a perfect example. Towns developed and thrived because of the steady flow of travelers the highway brought.”
Gizelle Borunda is from Sunray, Texas, and is a Senior majoring in Finance and Accounting. “I have hopes of doing investing and wealth management in the future,” a career path that is as evergreen as they come.
“I chose WT because it was close to home, was very economical, and seemed to be a place I would be able to fit in,” she mentioned. This is a recurring theme among many of our students. Her favorite class has been Principles of Finance, with Dr. Anne Macy. Outside of class, “I love to spend time with friends and family, and I like to edit photos and videos in my free time.”
“I learned quite a few things on the BuffTreks tour. I learned how tourism affects a place like Albuquerque economically, as well as the movie industry,” she reflected on the recent trip.
Josue Banda was born in Los Angeles, and currently lives in El Paso. He is enrolled in the fully online Master of Science in Finance and Economics program in the Engler College of Business. He is currently employed as a Financial Literacy teacher at Socorro High School in his current home town. Banda earned his undergraduate degree at UC Santa Barbara.
“I chose West Texas A&M’s MSFE program because it is nationally ranked, placing it among the most elite finance and economics programs in the country. Also, because its format is designed for working professionals, including high school educators like me, who need to balance teaching with graduate study,” he explained. He one day hopes to be a college professor or a financial advisor, and maintains a high interest in international economic development.
He fills his spare time with family, reading, watching Netflix, sports, working out at the gym, and playing video games.
“BuffTreks gave me a deeper appreciation for the cultural and historical significance of Route 66, especially how it shaped travel, commerce, and identity across the American Southwest. Exploring Albuquerque alongside professors and fellow students made the experience both educational and personal,” he stated. Without having stated the implicit purpose of BuffTreks, he picked up on it immediately.
“We weren’t just learning facts, we were walking through living history. I came away with a stronger sense of connection to the region, a better understanding of how infrastructure influences economic development, and some great memories of discovery and conversation,” he continued. “Most of all, I made new friends, both students and professors, whose perspectives enriched the journey and made it even more meaningful.”
Tory Trahern is also from Sunray, Texas, and is a Senior majoring in Finance and Accounting. She serves the WT campus as Community Advisor at Shirley Hall, and will start as a Procurement Associate at Bell Flight next summer in Amarillo.
Her older brother, WT Engler College of Business alum Trent Trahern, was influential in her choice to attend WT. “My brother always spoke highly of WT’s College of Business and the professors there. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do so I decided to take his advice and try it out,” she explained. “I have never regretted my decision, and the professors and people have truly changed my life.” Her favorite courses at WT have been Intermediate Macro Economic Theory with Dr. Hoffman, Real Estate Finance with Dr. Macy, and Business Ethics and Society with Dr. Clark.
In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with friends as well as reading. “My favorite book series (for the moment) is The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.”
“After BuffTreks, I realized that there are rich cultures and great opportunities. I really enjoyed being able to see the effects of Route 66 and Breaking Bad on the local economy and culture,” Tory concluded. “I had never really thought of Albuquerque as a cool place to go!”