Great 25: Nurses recognized for all the past, present, and future care they provide to the Texas Panhandle
On Thursday, nurses, peers, and their families gathered at the Embassy Suites in downtown Amarillo to recognize the great work and dedication these nurses have for the community.
The 6th Annual Panhandle Great 25 Nurses recognition event was held in collaboration with the Texas Nurses Association-District 2 and the Panhandle Organization of Nurse Executives. The Panhandle Great 25 Nurses Review Committee selected the recipients through a blind process, meaning the committee bases the winners solely off the nomination that was submitted.
More:6th annual Panhandle Great 25 Nurses recognition ceremony set for Thursday
There are several marks the recipient had to hit. The individual had to show great leadership qualities, service to the community, they had to be a compassionate caregiver and have significant contributions to the profession of nursing.
“This is so humbling. As a nurse, there are times where you do your job because that’s what you’re meant to do, but being appreciated and recognized for the challenging work is just so amazing,” said Melissa Smith, BSN, RN, school nurse for Carver Academy and Immunization Coordinator for Heal the City.
Dr. Valerie Kiper attended a similar event in Dallas, and upon returning to Amarillo collaborated with her colleagues to bring an event like that to the Texas Panhandle. “We have focused on ensuring that the rural communities are a part of this as well,” said Kiper, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC and Regional Dean-Amarillo/Associate Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Nursing.
More than 4,000 nurses practice in the Texas Panhandle to provide patients with the care they need. This event was put into place to raise awareness and celebrate the sacrifices they make in their line of work.
“We are celebrating compassionate service, hard work, and contributions to the community of the Texas Panhandle. Through the generous sponsorships, we are awarding 12 $2,000 scholarships and one $2,500. This helps our nursing students further their education,” said Dr. Richard Pullen, Ed.D., MSN, R.N., from the TTUHSC School of Nursing.
Along with the scholarships and the Great Nurses recognized, Dr. Michael Evans, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, was awarded the Legacy Award. Evans serves as the Dean of the School of Nursing at TTUHSC in Lubbock. His career began in 1973. According to reports, this award was established in 2019 to recognize registered nurses who have made substantial contributions to the nursing profession for 25 years or longer in the Texas Panhandle.
The recipients of awards and scholarships were:
1. Suzanne Anderson RN, Cardiovascular Unit Charge Nurse, Northwest Texas Healthcare System
2. Mayra Barber RN, Clinical RN, STD Clinic, Department of Public Health, Amarillo
3. Rhonda Billington RN, Clinical RN, Cath/EP Pre-Post Recovery, BSA Health System
4. Ashley Biskup BSN, RN, Clinical RN, Freestanding Emergency Department, Northwest Texas Healthcare System
5. Julia Burkhard BSN, RN, Critical Care Nurse Manager, BSA Health System
6. Alice Conner BSN, RN, Pediatrics Shift Supervisor, BSA Health System
7. Andrea DeLoach MSN, BCEN, CPHQ , Free-Standing Emergency Department Director, Northwest Texas Healthcare System
8. Aaron Gann MSN, RN, SMSRN, CNE, Vocational Nursing Program Director, Amarillo College
9. Priscilla Gann MPAS, BSN, RN, PA-C, CNOR, CNAMB, CCRN, Clinical Nurse Educator, Amarillo VA Healthcare System
10. Silvia Garbalena-Esparza CNM, APRN, MSN, RNC-NIC, Certified Nurse Midwife, Beyond Birth Midwifery/Birth Haven Center
11. Ricardo Granados RN, Clinical RN, Emergency Department, Amarillo VA Healthcare System
12. Jill Haynes BSN, RN, Pediatrics Charge Nurse, Northwest Texas Healthcare System
13. Allison Henry BSN, RN, Infection Preventionist, Amarillo VA Healthcare System
14. Mary Irwin BSN, RN, Clinical RN, Amarillo Regional Pediatric Specialty Clinic/Cook Children’s Healthcare System
15. Holly Jeffreys DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Nursing Department Head, West Texas A&M University; Owner, Family Care Clinics in Panhandle, Claude, Bushland, Boys Ranch
16. Polly Johnson RN, Nursing Supervisor, Family Medicine Center/CareXpress of Canyon
17. Lexi McAnally BSN, RN, Charge Nurse, Hansford County Hospital District, Spearman
18. Teresa McClain BSN, RN, Risk Management and Compliance Office Director, Northwest Texas Healthcare System
19. Jamie Milton BSN, RNC-NIC, Neonatal ICU Nurse Manager, BSA Health System
20. Teresa Moore RN, Surgical ICU Shift Supervisor, BSA Health System
21. Sheryl Mueller MSEd, MSN, RN, Retired, Director of Associate Degree Nursing Program, Amarillo College
22. Ashley Paetzold RN, Relief Charge Nurse, BSA Health System
23. Jacinda Perez RN, Clinical RN, BSA Health System
24. Hazel Plexico RN, Clinical Educator, BSA Health System
25. Melissa Smith BSN, RN, School Nurse, Carver Elementary Schools, Amarillo ISD
Scholarship recipients
LVN to RN
Rylee McKay: Amarillo College
Isaac Pacheco: Amarillo College
Associate Degree
Kyla Dodgin: Amarillo College
Samantha Irvin: Amarillo College
Ashley Palser: Amarillo College
Traditional BSN
Vanessa Bolz: West Texas A&M University
Marlee Brown: West Texas A&M University
Alyssa Davis: West Texas A&M University
RN to BSN
Tawney Palmer: University of Texas at Arlington
BSN 2 DEGREE
Amanda Atchley: Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Nursing
MSN MAJOR in NURSING
Melissa Shanks: West Texas A&M University
DOCTORAL DEGREE MAJOR IN NURSING
Kiany Casillas: Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Nursing
Dr. Valerie Kiper LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
Gloria Lewis: Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Nursing
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Great 25 Nurses honored for their hard work in Texas Panhandle
