CANYON, Texas — Regional small businesses and entrepreneurs can connect directly with potential interns at an upcoming event at West Texas A&M University.

WT’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, with America’s Small Business Development Center at WTAMU and the WT Enterprise Center, will host Recruit:Able at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18 in Legacy Hall inside the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on WT’s Canyon campus.

The round-robin event for Engler College of Business students will feature Amarillo-area small business owners and entrepreneurs who are hiring for internship positions. Students will have an opportunity to understand how small business entrepreneurs operate in our economy while also developing marketable skills to use in their career. Entrepreneurs will conduct short interviews with potential interns and those students should have a prepared resume ready to present. The event will be catered by Sharky’s Burrito Company for everyone who participates in the interview process.

“This is a great partnership with College of Business students and local business owners,” said Brian Enevoldsen, program manager for the WT Enterprise Center. “For students, this opportunity pairs the knowledge gained through their studies with real world application to provide them the experience necessary to be recruitable beyond graduation. Furthermore, it provides gainful employment with a focus on developing the student’s skills and abilities in the area of their studies.”

This new intern initiative will provide a win-win scenario for the students and business owners. Students can gain valuable experience and can apply their knowledge, while small business owners continue to create relationships that retain college students in the Texas Panhandle after graduation.

“One of the best things about an internship is when students are able to take their marketable skills and bring them into a workspace that can help local businesses succeed,” said Dr. Robert Allen King, associate dean of graduate business programs in the Engler College of Business. “By working together, both the student and the business are gaining benefits through each other’s skills and opportunities.”

Registration cost for business owners is $50 by Aug. 15 and $75 afterwards. Business owners and students can register at wtsbdc.com/recruitable. A video of the internship guidelines and benefits for students and entrepreneurs can be found on the site.

WT is committed to serving the region and well beyond with successful entrepreneurs and business leaders who are empowered to lead others. Partnering with community businesses to improve the quality of life in the Panhandle and beyond is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised about $110 million.

bout the WTAMU Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business

The Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business is accredited at both the undergraduate and graduate level by the AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which is the highest accrediting body for business colleges in the world. The Computer Information Systems (CIS) program in the Engler College of Business is accredited by ABET in the area of computing accreditation. Fewer than 40 business schools hold both AACSB and ABET accreditation. ABET accreditation is the highest standard for computing proof that a collegiate program has met standards essential to produce graduates ready to enter the critical fields of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. The COB has reached national accolades with programs ranked in the top 50 Best Online MBA by eight different national programs including U.S. News & World Report and Fortune. Recently the COB was recognized as No. 19 Best Online MBA Program by The Princeton Review and No. 24 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News & World Report. For information, visit wtamu.edu/cob or call 806-651-2530.

About American’s SBDC at WTAMU

America's SBDC in Amarillo is hosted by West Texas A&M University and has been supporting the small business in the Panhandle for 35 years. Established in 1987, they have been providing no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing businesses. Small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can seek assistance for face-to-face business consulting and at-cost training on a variety of topics through a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration and funded in part through the State of Texas. For information, visit WTSBDC.com, or contact info@wtsbdc.com or 806-651-5151.

About WT Enterprise Center

Since 2001, the WT Enterprise Center has been providing local entrepreneurs with access to certified business coaches, industry expert specialists, top-notch facilities, and high-level programs. Business owners gain the support system, knowledge, ideas, and even resources needed to take their business to the next level. As an Entrepreneur Support Organization in the Texas Panhandle, helping business owners build strong, profitable companies that contribute to a thriving economic community is a primary focus. For information, visit wtenterprisecenter.com or contact info@wtenterprisecenter.com or 806-374-9777.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.