Business Seen: Amarillo area business news and developments for Aug. 28, 2022
WT researchers earn FEMA grant to study refugees’ disaster preparedness
CANYON — Two West Texas A&M University professors received federal funding for their efforts to better understand refugees’ needs and obstacles faced during emergencies in Texas. Once the study is complete, the researchers hope to propose solutions to help refugees better prepare for disasters.
Leading the study are Dr. Ming Xie, assistant professor of emergency management administration in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice in the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, and Dr. Li Chen, associate professor of media communication in the Department of Communication in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. Their successful grant application will fund “Turning Every Disaster into an Opportunity: An Exploratory Study on Refugees Perceived Emergency Management Capacity and Disaster Resilience.”
The FEMA grant allocates more than $7,800 in funding toward the two professors’ research, which will run from Sept. 6 to July 31, 2023. The professors plan to hold workshops and table talks at local organizations to address topics such as emergency planning and building emergency kits for refugees in the area.
For more information on the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences on the college, visit wtamu.edu/academics/college-education-social-sciences/about_coess/.
WTAMU dining announces new fall additions
CANYON – Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, the company that operates West Texas A&M University’s Dining, will greet students with a new chef, an allergy-friendly food station, and a revamped 1910 Grill menu as the fall semester opens.
Mike Berry, who has served for the last six years as Aramark’s retail manager at WT, has been named chef at the WT University Dining Hall, commonly known as “The Caf.” Berry graduated from the Art Institute of Houston culinary school in 2009 and has had the opportunity to learn under renowned chefs from all over the globe. His experience includes work in five-star restaurants, country clubs and casual dining. Among his successes with Aramark are the opening of the remodeled food court in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center and the 1910 Grill in the Agricultural Sciences Complex.
“I am very excited for this new role to overlook the culinary experience at West Texas A&M University,” Berry said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with students on the retail side of the business, but this new role allows me to help showcase a welcoming student-centered facility in The Caf.”
His duties include overseeing production of the cafeteria, caterings and culinary operations. As Berry steps into his new leadership position, students will see the addition of a new food station accommodating guests with food allergies and gluten intolerances. The menu for the True Balance Allergen Solutions Station has been carefully designed to create options for all guests to enjoy and will eliminate the top eight food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and wheat.
"This station is a direct response to the growing number of students with special dietary needs,” said Michael Ives, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality food service director for WT. “We want to ensure our dining offerings meet the needs of all diners, regardless of their specific menu- or ingredient-needs and requests.”
On the east side of campus, new items are being added to the 1910 Grill, which exclusively uses meat sourced from the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. Items include chargrilled cheeseburgers, green chile queso burger, grab-n-go wraps and an all-day breakfast.
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world with food, facilities, and uniform services. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
WGU Texas celebrates students returning to school with Back to School Scholarship
To help adult learners further their education by earning a high-demand degree conveniently and affordably, online, nonprofit university WGU Texas has announced the Back to School Scholarship. Valued at up to $2500, the scholarship is open to new students in any of the bachelor's and master's degree programs offered at WGU Texas. It will be credited to students’ accounts in payments of $625 per term, renewable up to four terms.
The deadline to apply is Dec. 31, 2022, and more information is available online at https://www.wgu.edu/financial-aid-tuition/scholarships/general/back-to-school.html.
The scholarship can help those interested in upskilling or reskilling to ease their way into a degree program in business, education, healthcare, or information technology. One of the best aspects of WGU Texas is that students can continue to work while they earn their degrees. In fact, 74 percent of WGU Texas students work while enrolled in school full-time.
WGU Texas is a fully accredited, nonprofit online university offering more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in healthcare, IT, business, and K-12 education. More than 13,800 students are enrolled statewide.
For more information on WGU Texas, visit texas.wgu.edu and wgu.edu/back2school or follow the university on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Warren CAT delivers $5,000 gift to Amarillo College Diesel Program
The Kritser Diesel Technology program at Amarillo College is the recipient of a $5,000 gift from Warren Cat, one of the largest Caterpillar dealerships in North America. Representatives of Warren CAT presented the gift Aug. 3 at AC.
“We’re trying to give something back while forming relationships with the technical training centers in the communities we serve,” said Aaron Welch, regional talent development manager for Warren CAT. “Amarillo College is definitely an educational center we want to support.”
Thanks to the $5,000 gift, AC now qualifies to apply for matching funds from Caterpiller Inc. For more, see https://www.warrencat.com/ .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news and developments for Aug. 28, 2022
