Howdy! My name is Tayci Weaver and I running to be one of your next public relations or finance committee officers. I am a freshman animal science major. Some things I enjoy are arts and crafts, running, and most importantly spending time with the people I love. Coming from a small town, A&M was a super big place. Joining AWBC has helped me get aquatinted with college life by providing a smaller group with some amazing people who have the same interests as me. The reason I wanted to become an officer is because I think it will be a great way to connect with all the members. I also want to be able to give back to the AWBC by providing my service to continue growing and improving the club. I chose public relations because I have quick a bit of background in the role. As a member of my hometown chamber of commerce, I am very familiar and comfortable reaching out to people and businesses for fundraising and event planning. I’ve also held several officer positions in high school where I was in charge of advertising and documenting club event on our social media pages. Thank you everyone for considering me as one of your next public relations officer!

Hi! My name is Jenifer Cuajicalco. I am from College Station, TX and have lived here for my entire life. I am currently a second semester freshman majoring in Animal Science with the hopes of pursuing a career in research. As for animal experience, I have a big interest in wildlife and have been volunteering at Paws and Claws Rehabilitation since June of 2023. I really enjoy seeing so many different species of animals come in and my favorite part about it is getting to see animals come in injured, rehabilitated back to health, and then released back into the wild. I have done two internships at two different clinics one of them being a small and exotic animal clinic. Additionally, this summer I will be going on a two week pre-vet internship to Peru! I joined the AWBC because I was simply curious about what it had to offer and I am glad I did! AWBC has been great to me and I have had the opportunity to meet new people and become exposed to new opportunities within the organization. During high school I held a position as president of my environmental club where I was responsible for planning meetings, preparing slides for meetings, getting in contact with the local recycling company, and keeping track of every members attendance. I am running for any of the positions available (except president and vice president) because I would love to have the opportunity to aid in any sort of decision making for this club while also creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere for all students to be apart of.

Howdy! My name is Romina Herbsommer! I am a junior animal science major (+ minors in psychology and biomedical sciences) from Allen, TX. I worked at a vet clinic for two years with my certification in vet assistance, and have since found myself volunteering at various local shelters and rescue organizations. I am also an active participant in weekly academic labs throughout the many livestock centers of our campus. All of this diverse animal experience has only further deepened my passion for animal welfare and ethical care. I am proud to say that I have honed my leadership skills through my treasured position as one of the two public relations officers for our very own Animal Welfare and Behavior club during the 2024-2025 academic year. Not to mention my job at the visitor center of our beloved university where I give tours in Spanish and English to visitors just getting to know Texas A&M. I am proficient in public speaking, member recruitment and retention, problem solving, communication, etc. I joined this club because I’m passionate about understanding and improving the lives of animals, and I wanted to connect with like-minded people who care about ethical treatment, behavior, and advocacy. This club gives me the opportunity to learn from experts, gain hands-on experience, and contribute to meaningful discussions and initiatives that promote animal well-being. Plus, being surrounded by others who share my love for animals makes it even more rewarding! I would be honored to be re-elected as the public relations officer for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Howdy! My name is Gracie Wen Allen, I have lived in Katy, Texas for almost 15 years, and am currently a BIMS major. I’m running for Public Relations Officer! I haven’t had a ton of animals experience, but I volunteer at Paws and Claws pretty often, so lots of wildlife experience, and I’ve had some small and large animal experience as well. I worked at Chick-fil-A for a year and a half, a swim school for four months, and volunteered in student ministry/worship for 6+ years (so working with a team and leading others has been huge in my life). I also own a small crochet business, so media and communication is my jam!

Howdy! My name is Ayla, and I’m running for both secretary and treasurer in AWBC. I believe I am qualified for these positions due in large part to my familiarity and certifications in the Microsoft suite (including word, excel, and powerpoint.) These technical skills would allow me to automate and organize important club information, such as our monetary balance, membership and points roster, and upcoming calendar events. Beyond the technical skills I have though, I am very passionate about this club, and I am dedicated to running the “behind the scenes” activities efficiently so that club members can enjoy the club to the fullest, like I have throughout my time in this club. Lastly, a little but about myself: I am a sophomore biology major hoping to eventually apply for veterinary school. I am from Fort Worth, TX, and frequently volunteer for the local humane society there. I have also been in the animal keeping hobby for many years, including rodent rescuing and the aquarium hobby. I joined AWBC because I am always in pursuit of ways to better care for and communicate with animals. Furthermore, I loved how close-knit the club was, and how easy it was to meet people through the club.

Howdy my name is Mayela Alvarado, I am a Junior animal science major from Houston, TX. A-A-A-WHOOP! I am currently the public relations officer for Animal welfare, and I would love to be able to serve as the public relations officer once again! I loved getting to know every single one of you and trying to learn everyone's names. I love being able to bring the organization closer together so that we can all share our common love for animal welfare! I love working with small and exotic animals, and I hope y'all loved the HERPS presentation that I brought out for you guys! I believe I am qualified as I have been keeping track of our Instagram, making sure that the members get reminded of following events, and I keep record of our pet of the meetings! I feel as I have brought lots of new ideas to this organization such as speakers and socials and I would love to continue in growing this organization! Thank you guys!

Howdy! My name is Kylee Taylor and I'm from Laredo, Texas. I'm a junior Animal Science major in the pre-veterinary route. During the Summer and Winter break, I work as a small animal/exotic veterinary technician at my local veterinary clinic. My other animal experience consists of briefly working at a wildlife safari, volunteering with livestock, exotics, and wildlife through TAMU organizations, and having pets. As for leadership experience, I am one of the officers on the finance committee for AWBC and was my student council's treasurer in high school. The reason I joined this club during the spring semester of my freshman year of college was to join a close-knit group of individuals who shared the same passion for animals as me while having the opportunity to gain hands-on animal experience and knowledge. Since this is my second time applying for an officer position, I want to venture out and apply for different positions than what I hold already. So, I am applying for the positions of vice president, treasurer, secretary, finance committee, and public relations. I am qualified for these positions because I am an outgoing, responsible, hardworking, and enthusiastic candidate. With my animal and officer experience, I can confidently say that I am capable of performing well in these positions. I appreciate you for taking the time to read this and for your consideration in voting for me. Thanks, and gig 'em!

Howdy! My name is Valeria Acuna and I am from Irving, Texas. Currently I am a junior Animal Science major with a double minor in Business and Japanese. I am excited to announce my candidacy for the President position within the Animal Welfare and Behavior Club for the 2025-2026 term. I am ready to leverage my skills and experience to enhance our organization. I'll ensure our goals are exceeded through strategic leadership and collaboration. I'll prioritize effective communication and organization to drive success. With your support, I aim to make a meaningful impact for our members.

My name is Marcos Almanza, I am from Houston, currently finishing my major in Environmental Studies, I have some experience with animals, if you count dogs, but besides that, its the only animal I have taken care of. I have some experience from my internship last summer with doing surveys, such as managing data, communicating with my teammates and suggesting what our plan(s) should be, and I feel I can implement these skills into the officer roles I am applying too. The main reason why I joined AWBC is because while I may not be focusing on any sort of animal related major, I love seeing them, and I feel my major can play a big part in this, such as making sure companies and organizations follow rules and regulations, as well as not abusing the environment that surrounded them, and lasty I just love seeing different animals, it's such a cool experience being able to see them in person compared to just watching in on any sort of media.

Howdy! My name is Alyssa Carvajal, and I’m from Refugio, Texas. I’m currently a sophomore majoring in Animal Science with a minor in Business. My dream is to pursue veterinary medicine and become a mixed animal veterinarian. Back home, I have a dog named Nova and two cats named Honey and Luna. I’m also a puppy sitter for the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization, which gives me the opportunity to work hands-on with dogs of all ages. This summer, I plan to work at a small animal clinic to gain even more experience in the field. I joined AWBC to connect with others who share my passion for animal care and to explore the many career paths that involve working with animals. I’m running for the Secretary and Public Relations positions because I want to contribute more to the organization that has already given me so much. I believe I’m well-qualified for the Secretary position thanks to my previous leadership roles as class president, NHS vice president, and student council officer. In those roles, I used tools like Google Forms, Sheets, and Word to organize meetings, create agendas, and plan upcoming events. I also communicated regularly with students and faculty via email. As for the Public Relations position, I have experience creating flyers, posters, and promoting events—something I enjoyed doing as a student council officer. Thank you for considering me! I’d be honored to help represent AWBC and continue supporting its mission!

Howdy! I’m Leila Perez, a proud Houstonian majoring in animal science and minoring in poultry science. Over the past three years, I’ve raised chickens and bunnies and had the privilege of showing broilers at the Houston Rodeo. In high school, I was very involved in FFA, serving as treasurer for my chapter, which gave me valuable leadership experience and an appreciation for organized teamwork. I joined AWBC to connect with a community that shares my passion for animals, and it’s been an amazing experience filled with wonderful memories and friendships. I would like to create opportunities for others to experience the same sense of community and passion that I have as a member of AWBC by serving as the club’s secretary. As an organized person and detail-oriented tendencies, I believe I am well-suited for this role. Whether it's maintaining accurate documentation, managing emails, or ensuring smooth coordination for events, I am dedicated to helping the club grow and create a positive experience for all members.

My name is Destiny, and I am an animal science major. I have volunteered at a vet clinic for nearly an entire year before coming to Texas A&M, and am in charge of taking care of the animals at my house. I am running for either secretary or finance committee, and believe I have the qualities necessary to be in either position. I am fairly good at remembering dates and times, and am very organized with information and paper work. I am also very good at keeping track of money, considering that I am living on a budget it has helped develop this skill. I will let both officers and members know about any necessary information so that everyone can be on track.