Each year state agencies from the upper 26 counties in the Texas Panhandle are invited to select an employee or team of employees to receive a Texans Caring for Texans award. The award program, created in 1996 by former State Representative David Swinford, recognizes these state employees for the effort they put forth to positively impact their communities.
The 2021 Texans Caring for Texans recipients were recognized Aug. 5 in a ceremony at West Texas A&M University in Canyon. This is the 25th year for the recognition.
The TTUHSC School of Medicine honored its Texas Tech Physicians Pediatric Hematology-Oncology team made up of Smita Bhaskaran, M.D., Samer Zaid Kaylani, M.D., and Brenda Chandler, BSN, RN. These health care professionals provide around-the-clock care to the children of the High Plains who have difficult diagnoses. They also plan fun extracurricular activities for their patients to foster a sense of community for their patients and their families.
The TTUHSC-Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy recognized its admissions and recruitment team for their exceptional work recruiting students during the challenges of COVID-19. Members include Brailey Strain, Jenni Williams, M.Ed, and Natalie Auci.
Other state agencies recognized included: Amarillo College, Clarendon College, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (Clements and Dalhart units), Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Department of Transportation (Amarillo and Childress districts), Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Workforce Solutions and West Texas A&M University.