Howdy! My name is Ayla, and I am your current AWBC Secretary! I am running for President for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. I am a rising senior Biomedical Sciences major from Fort Worth, Texas, and an AWBC member for 2 years. During my time as your Secretary, I have worked closely with the President, allowing me to see what duties I will need to manage, and a glimpse into how to manage that effectively. I am also very passionate about both what the message of this club represents and the close knit community that we have built through AWBC. I am well acquainted with our regular members, and see pieces of their personality and humor shine through in their responses to my (admittedly silly) questions I pose to them in the attendance forms. In order to continue interacting with everyone and making them smile, I am motivated to keep AWBC a rewarding and fun club to be a part of as President. Outside of AWBC I am applying to veterinary school this year (wish me luck!) and currently volunteer at both the Winnie Carter Wildlife Center and Schubot Center for Avian Health. I also play the violin, crochet, and keep fish in my free time! Thank you for reading my not so short paragraph, and thank you for considering me for AWBC President!

I am Natalie Woolums a freshman animal science major. I am from Rowlett which is a suburb in Dallas. I always knew I wanted to work with animals and got involved in high school with the FFA. I showed rabbits, sheep, and goat for three years. I didn’t show senior year because I started working at a veterinary clinic. I got my CVA certification junior year and used it senior year to start my career. I work at Banfield Pet Hospital in Mesquite as a veterinary assistant. Sophomore year until senior year I was a leader of my tennis team for my high school. I initially started as team captain and would lead in stretches and drills. Soon I became manager/coach and taught my team how to improve their skills with frequent training. My coach trusted me enough to work alone with the team and let me stand charge for practice and events we went to. I joined AWBC because I wanted to experience animal care in not only the healthcare area but also in the educational route. I wanted to be able to inform others of animal welfare and behavior and I wanted to volunteer more for animals.

​Howdy, my name is Tayci Weaver, and I am a sophomore Animal Science major, from a small town called De Leon, Texas. I currently serve as a Financial Committee Officer and would love the opportunity to further expand my role within this organization. I truly value the people in this club, and they are a big part of what makes serving as an officer such a rewarding experience. I am running for either the Vice President or Treasurer position. I believe I would be a strong candidate for both roles because I am already familiar with the responsibilities each entails. As a candidate for Vice President, I have experience working closely with the current officer team and would excel at collaborating and supporting the president in any way needed. I also am familiar with the responsibilities of reaching out to business in order to plan different events. For the Treasurer position, I am well-acquainted with the responsibilities, as I have worked closely with the current treasurer and have already shared many of the associated duties including, handling money from our member, running the fly wire account, and working with the SOFC for all our organization accounts. Overall, I believe I would be a strong candidate for either position because of my dedication, reliability, and genuine commitment to serving and improving this organization to the best of my ability.

My name is J’Vyonne Turner, and I am from Houston, TX. My major is Animal Science, and I have 7 years of animal experience from raising pigs and rabbits, and also working at my high school’s vet clinic for 4 years. I have also served as an FFA officer for 2 years as the Parliamentarian, following parliamentary procedure and keeping proceedings orderly. I joined AWBC because I wanted to get hands-on experience with animals, but also because I wanted to meet new people and learn more about animal welfare and why animals are treated poorly. I am running for the finance committee and public relations chairs, and I think I am qualified for these positions because I am a hardworking, trustworthy, caring, and dedicated person who strives to leave no one behind, help my fellow team members, and interact more with the community.

​My name is Liset Martinez, and I am from Dimmitt, Texas, currently majoring in Animal Science on the pre-veterinary track. I am running for an AWBC officer position because I am passionate about animal welfare and want to help expand education and engagement within the organization. I have gained extensive animal experience through working in a veterinary clinic for over five years, where I have worked with a variety of species and developed strong practical skills. I have also gained leadership experience as a Terry Scholar mentor, where I support and guide first-year students, and as Vice President of Volunteers Around the World, where I help lead students in veterinary outreach efforts, including trips to Peru. I originally became interested in animal welfare through the welfare judging team and have since developed a deeper understanding of the importance of ethical animal care. I believe my leadership experience and commitment to animal welfare make me a strong candidate for this position.

Howdy animal welfare! I am Leila perez, a sophomore animal science major and I’m running for secretary and financial committee! 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. So much so that now I am running as officer in hopes of creating even better opportunities for others to experience! Not only am I very organized, but also detail oriented. 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 which will come in the financial committee. Whether it's maintaining accurate documentation, managing emails, managing budgets or ensuring the smooth coordination for events, I am dedicated to helping the club grow and create a positive experience for all members.

Hello, my name is Destiny Torres and I am an Animal Science major here at Texas A&M. I managed to work with both small and large animals at my hometown veterinary clinic, which let me go as far as letting me vaccinate dogs under veterinary supervision. The only leadership positions I've gotten were from working in group projects and substituting classes at church every once in a while, which I'd argue I pulled off really well. I am running for a position in the finance committee, as I feel that that is the position I am best suited for. I am excellent at managing my own finances and am always willing to reach out to people when necessary as well as being easily accessible for communication. My main priority is everyone's comfort and peace of mind, and I will do my best to accomplish that for the team.

My name is Stephanie Esparza from Houston, I’m a freshman animal science major with biomedical sciences minor. I’m running for financial committee, secretary and vice president. I believe I’m qualified for these positions as I’m a fast learner and willing to try new things. I’ve also have past experience with being secretary and tally point for members on a online document like excel. I have worked with small animals like cats and dogs. I joined the animal welfare club as I felt it was a very welcoming place for everyone no matter what animal experience you had as long as you believe in welfare of animals you belong here.

Howdy! I am Alyssa Carvajal and I am an Animal Science major with a minor in Business. I am from Refugio, Texas, a small, close-knit town. My animal experience consists of volunteering at a local animal shelter and the Paws and Claws Rehabilitation Center. I was also a puppy sitter for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and I am a current dog sitter. During the summer break, I plan on shadowing a veterinary clinic and continuing volunteering at local animal shelters. My hope is to one day attend veterinary school for small animal or mixed animal practice. For the 2026-2027 academic school year, I am running for Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair, and Public Relations Chair. I believe that I am qualified for the Public Relations Chair position because I have experience with creating content through Canva. In high school, I would make flyers pertaining to school events like spirit week or volunteering activities. I also have experience with managing social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I believe that I qualified for the Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair positions because I have some foundational knowledge in finance. With a business minor, I have developed an understanding of record keeping, budgeting, accounting, and financial planning. I am also Excel certified, which enables me to manage spreadsheets and organize financial data. Thank you for your time and consideration!

My name is Jenifer Cuajicalco and I am applying for the finance committee and secretary positions. I am a sophomore Wildlife Management major, wanting to pursue a career as a wildlife biologist. I am from College Station, TX and have lived here my whole life! As for animal experience, I am apart Dr.Yorzinski’s peafowl lab working with animal behavior experiments. I also have completed an internship in Peru, participating in animal clinic events for locals. I am big animal lover and would say I am a friendly individual! I believe I am qualified to serve as an officer because I have experience serving as part of the finance committee for AWBC 2025-2026 and believe I have the right knowledge to continue as an officer for either role. As a finance committee officer and observing the secretary I am aware of the responsibilities needed and time commitment that must be put into the organization to continue creating a growing and welcoming environment for students.

Hi, my name is Sofia Trevizo, and I’m an Animal Science major at Texas A&M on the pre-veterinary track. I’m running for the Public Relations officer position because I’m passionate about promoting animal welfare and helping others stay engaged and informed. I’ve gained hands-on experience through volunteering at Crossroads Animal Clinic, a veterinary clinic in my hometown, the Bryan Animal Center, and working with wildlife at Paws and Claws. These experiences have strengthened my communication skills and deepened my understanding of animal care and behavior. I hope to use this role to help create a more connected and involved AWBC community.

Howdy! My name is Madison Gross and I am a freshman animal science major from Coppell, Tx. I am running for the positions of financial committee and public relations. I joined the AWBC as I wanted to learn more about how animal welfare is incorporated into the animal science industry as well as everyday practices. I hope to take all I have learned and apply it to my future careers and endeavors. In the past, I was a part of the public relations team for my high school’s HOSA chapter (Health Occupation Students of America) where I would create weekly media posts about current events, people, or general information. I have been employed as a kennel technician at my town's local animal hospital for two years where I get the opportunity to assist the veterinary staff, walk dogs, apply medications, and look after the overall well-being of the animals housed at our facility. Additionally, I work ticket sales for baseball tournaments in the DFW area during the summer months where I deal with monetary exchanges and ticket related inquiries. Furthermore, I was co-captain and a founding member of the first female power lifting team at my high school. I have been awarded various leadership awards in powerlifting, track and field, and summer sports camps due to my competitive attitude, coaching ability, and willingness to help others. My main goal to reach from being a part of the AWBC officer team is to apply my skillset to a position and team greater than myself and gain new experiences while learning to be the best role model I can be.

​Howdy, my name is Kayla Harris, and I am a freshman at Texas A&M University majoring in Animal Science. I am running for the Secretary and Financial Committee positions for AWBC. I am applying for these positions because I have enjoyed my time in Animal Welfare this past year and would like to be more involved. I believe that I would be a good candidate for these positions because in high school I was a part of the FFA chapter and got the opportunity to serve as the President. During my presidency I got to oversee multiple parts of the club such as attendance and helping with the financial aspect. I have had many years of experience caring for animals. In high school, I raised rabbits and pigs. My senior year of high school, I worked at a small animal vet clinic. Then in college, I got the opportunity to intern at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, intern at a horse ranch, and work at the Gross Anatomy Lab at the vet school. I have also grown up with dogs in my home. I joined AWBC in the fall of 2025, and I joined because I wanted to learn more about what I could be doing to improve my animals' lives. Please consider me when voting for Secretary or the Financial Committee. Gig 'Em Kayla Harris, Class of 2029

​Howdy! My name is Aly Livingston. I am a sophomore Animal Science major from Cypress, Texas pursuing a career in mixed animal medicine, and I am running for Public Relations Chair! I have 1,500+ hours of experience with various animal species in clinics, farms, shelters, rehab centers, and the VMTH lab, so I have become a huge advocate for animals’ well-being and caring for them ethically. I have served over 200 hours on the leadership team for my hometown church where I strengthened my PR skills by managing social media, welcoming hundreds of members each week, and promoting socials/events. I also love to create digital content in Canva, customize Aggie game day buttons, and paint banners for events! I would be honored to represent the AWBC image and mission as one of your Public Relations officers!

Howdy! My name is Estrella Farias, and I am junior Animal Science Major from Tomball, Texas. I am a current member of the Animal Welfare and Behavior Club, and I am currently running for the position of Vice President for the 2026-2027 year. As a dairy lover, I have been exposed to animal welfare within the dairy industry through the UDETC and Dairy Challenge. From being exposed to dairy animal welfare, I first joined AWBC in order to expand my knowledge of animal welfare and gained insight of other types of industries and places. Through this club, I have understood the importance of animal welfare and would love to bring awareness with my fellow members to other students around campus and encourage them to join this wonderful organization.

​My name is Kenneth Flores from Irving, Texas, and I'm running for Public Relations and Vice President. As someone passionate about animal welfare and a firm believer in the club's mission, I'm eager to contribute my leadership skills and experience to further the message. I am a former Fall 2024, as well as this most recent Fall 2025 Distinguished Member. My background includes currently being a Language Chair for VAW the Texas A&M Outreach Chapter as well as a former member of SLOPE, a slo here in Texas A&M. I'm confident that my dedication, combined with my commitment to promoting responsible animal care, makes me a strong candidate to take a step further into acting on this message the club, and I, stand by.

My name is Kat Gay, I grew up in San Antonio and my major is Animal science. I have experience raising rabbits and sheep for livestock shows as well as caring for lizards, ducks, dogs, cats, rabbits, salamanders, frogs and birds as companion animals. I helped co-lead my girl scout troop under my father for five years as well as was the treasurer for my High School's National Honor Society chapter. I joined animal welfare and behavior club because I deeply care about the wellbeing of animal's physical and mental state in captivity and I want to help spread awareness of the importance of animal's welfare. I am running for Public Relations. I believe I'm qualified for this position because I am a skilled editor from my time in theater in High School and because I am extremely creative as well as detailed orientated with a passion for media.