West Texas A&M University has experienced great growth in many key areas under the leadership of President Dr. Walter Wendler. The growth can be capsuled under three headings. They are fundraising, enrollment, and facilities.
Money drives any vibrant university. When Dr. Wendler came to WT nearly eight years ago, he hit the ground running laying the groundwork with a fundraising program. WT is currently in the One West campaign intending to raise $125,000,000 by the end of 2025. The campaign has raised $120,000,000 plus currently. This is the Panhandle’s most ambitious goal ever, and the campaign has raised the most money ever in the Panhandle.
Students are the driving force behind WT. During Dr. Wendler’s tenure, the enrollment hit 10,000 students for the first time during the COVID epidemic and at a time when enrollment was declining in universities across that nation. One big reason for the enrollment growth, Dr. Wendler visited, from the largest to the smallest, every high school in the Panhandle twice and the South Plains once. What university president has ever done that?
Dr. Wendler has overseen the construction of the football stadium and the agriculture facilities. The football stadium is ranked as the number one facility in NCAA Division Two in the nation. The agriculture complex houses the fastest-growing school of the University and is becoming one of the best schools of agriculture in Texas which puts WT right at the top of the nation. Dr. Wendler’s architectural skills have left an everlasting imprint on the campus. The renovation has been and is continuing of several existing buildings.
Our growth in resources, enrollment, and facilities put WT right at the top of the list of regional universities in the nation. Much of that is the result of leadership from Dr. Walter V. Wendler
Jim and Peggy Pollard
