Catholic Student Center Honored by West Texas A&M University

Canyon—The Catholic Student Center at West Texas A&M University has been named the Outstanding Student Organization not-funded for 2012-2013. The announcement was made April 26 during the annual Honors Banquet.

According to a press release from West Texas A&M University, each year the University recognizes one outstanding not-funded organization and one funded organization. Catholic Student Services was selected for the 2012-2013 honor out of all the not-funded groups on campus, which include Greek and service organizations.

There were three finalists in the not-funded category: Phi Delta Theta (Greek), Students Assisting ‘N’ Good Endeavors (S.A.G.E.) (service) and Catholic Student Services. Selection is through nomination, which goes through the University’s CORE office and then to the Honors Committee for the final selection.

The Catholic Student Center was a finalist for the honor in 2011-2012.
“I couldn’t be more happier or excited, not only for our students but for our organization,” said Father Daniel Dreher, CSC Chaplain and Executive Director.

“I feel as if we have come so far and proven ourselves as a world-class top notch group. Who would have ever thought that the Catholic Student Center would be setting the bar at a secular school? This year has been a year of focus and a year of re-establishing purpose and focus, letting the old ties go and the new vision and focus flourish, WE Are Number 1!

“This award obviously isn’t possible without the hard work of students and my leadership team at the student center, but my staff is fantastic with their devotion and dedication to the students. Betty Aragon has been so committed and guiding the students while maintain the underbelly of an organization, as Devon Kemp, my intern, has emerged on the national level to bring focus to our program and support for Campus Ministry to an all-time high on the national level. She is the changing face of Campus Ministry and how it changes one’s life.”

“Winning Best Organization at West Texas A&M University says a lot for the Catholic Student Center,” said Aragon, Assistant to Father Dreher. “I am proud to work side-by-side with Father Daniel and Devon Kemp each day to make the Student Center what it is today. The students at WT and the Catholic Student Center are an amazing group of kids.”

“Becoming the Organization of the Year is a huge affirmation for me,” said Kemp. “It proves not only to me, but to everyone else that the CSC is doing some great things for the young Catholics of the Church. I really could not have asked for a better first year as the intern at the CSC, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this amazing organization. I absolutely can’t wait to see where God takes us from here, because we are only going to get better!
Several students active at the Catholic Student Center shared their thoughts on the honor:
Amanda Kramer, the 2012-2013 Woman of the Year at West Texas A&M University, said being named Outstanding Student Organization, “was a real honor.”

Caleb Hubbard, named Outstanding Member for Pulse Peer Educators, said, “it was a honor to receive this award and be able to show college students that everything is an honor that you receive and everything that you do represents yourself, your organizations and who you are as a person.”

The origins of the Catholic Student Center at West Texas A&M University go back to the fall of 1947, when a group of interested students met to discuss plans to organize. On March 10, 1948, the group conducted its meeting, with more than a dozen students in attendance.
A house at 2614 Fourth Avenue was purchased in 1958, which served as a Newman Club center. In 1986, under then-executive director Sister Hilary Decker, O.S.B., a Catholic Student Center board was formed, primarily to discuss the construction of a new Catholic Student Center. The old house which had served as the Catholic Student Center was sold and moved in the spring of 1991 and ground was broken on the new Center in June 1991, with the building formally dedicated on Sept. 27, 1992.