Texas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences recognizes outstanding agents

The Texas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Awards Celebration was held July 30 in Amarillo, where outstanding Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service family and community health agents and specialists from across the state were recognized.

Professional Development Awards

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Micah Holcombe, Milam County, both at the state and national level. This award recognizes Extension educators for leadership, outstanding programs, and personal and professional growth. Holcombe, a 15-year agent, was recognized for her programming with Play Streets and the School Health Advisory Council.

Continued Excellence Award recipients, recognized on the state and national level, were Dianne Gertson, Fort Bend County, and Amy Ressler, Montgomery County. The award recognizes active involvement in professional improvement programs as well as promotion of professional development and leadership. Gertson’s efforts have focused on health and wellness, food safety and strengthening community partnerships. Ressler has demonstrated excellence in programming through Families Reading Every Day, Mobile Cooking Schools, Walk Across Texas and weekly radio shows.

The Extension Educator of the Year Award winner was Johanna Hicks, Hopkins County. This award recognizes an agent who is conducting outstanding educational programming that demonstrates an impact on families, and who has continued their professional development activities and involvement.

The Greenwood Frysinger Award provides an opportunity to expand the professional’s network and to recognize an outstanding mentor/mentee experience. This year’s recipients were Andrea Haubner, Williamson County, and Jackie McLaughlin, Bell County. The pair also placed second in the Southern Region.

State Program Award winners

(placings at the Southern Region and National levels are also included)

Community Partnership Award, 2nd Southern region – Childress County team – Dawn Dockter, Carol Freeman, Minnie Bradley, Janet Word, Sandy Koepke, Dee Derr, Sheabree Nix, Tracee Herbstritt, and South Plains Electric Cooperative. 3rd Southern region – North Region team – Wendy Hazzard, Amalia Mata, Chelsey Rash, Felice Acker, Jill Killian, Joan Gray-Soria, Kathy Carr, Kay Rogers, Kyle Howard, McKayla Centa, Miquela Smith, Tanya Holloway, Tina Hicks, Shree Veeramachaneni, Melissa Talley, Kendra Callahan.

Innovative Youth Development Programming Award – 2nd Nationals and Southern Region, Dawn Dockter, Childress County. 1st Nationals and Southern Region, Micah Holcombe. 

Early Childhood Child Care Training Award, 1st nationals and Southern Region – Lorrie Coop, Knox County; Jodi Nerren, Family and Community Health Unit; Dawn Dockter, Childress County; Lorie Stovall, Navarro County; Karen DeZarn, Lampasas County; Karen Lyssy, Calhoun County; Charla Bading, Guadalupe County, Kathy Smith, Parker County. 3rd Southern Region – Jodi Nerren, Abigail Pritchard, Karan Hefflefinger.

Excellence in Teamwork Award – Karen Jungman, Hill County; Colleen Foleen, McLennan County; Jackie McLaughlin, Bell County; Dana Tarter, Central Region.

Florence Hall Award, 3rd Nationals, 2nd Southern Region – Karen Jungman, Hill County; Colleen Foleen, McLennan County; Jackie McLaughlin, Bell County; Dana Tarter, Central Region. 

Family Health & Wellness Award – Wendy Hazzard, Wheeler County; Tina Hicks, Randall County; Kendra Callahan, Lamb County; McKayla Centa, Colorado State University Extension; Joan Gray-Soria, Gray County; Tanya Holloway, Hemphill County; Miquela Smith, Healthy Texas Unit. 

School Wellness Award, 3rd Southern Regional – Wendy Hazzard, Wheeler County; Tina Hicks, Randall County; Kendra Callahan, Lamb County; McKayla Centa, Colorado State University Extension; Joan Gray-Soria, Gray County; Tanya Holloway, Hemphill County; Miquela Smith, Healthy Texas Unit.

Innovation in Programming Award – Micah Holcombe, Milam County. 3rd Southern Region – Lorrie Coop, Jodi Nerren, Dawn Dockter, Lorie Stovall, Karen DeZarn, Karen Lyssy, Charla Bading, Kathy Smith.

Educational Curriculum Package Award, 3rd Nationals and Southern Region – Micah Holcombe, Milam County. 2nd Nationals and Southern Region – Amy Ressler, Montgomery County; Stephen Green, Ph.D., Helen White, Kelsey Siegmund, Mike McBride, Jenni Adams.

Human Development/Family Relationships Award, 3rd Southern Region – Michael Dale McBride, Amy Ressler and Jenni Adams, Montgomery County.

Mary W. Wells Memorial Diversity Award – Flora Williams, Brazos County; Alfredo Alberto, Harris County; Erika Bochat, Southeast Region; Cameron Peters, Brazoria County; Tonya Poncik, Lee County; TeAnna Reed, Harris County; Amy Ressler, Montgomery County; Clara Walker, Waller County.

State Communications Awards winners

Social Media Education Award, 2nd Nationals and 1st Southern Region – Jocelin Villarreal, Frio County; Druann Benavides, Atascosa County; Jessica E. Faubion, Bandera County; Nicole Demmer, Wilson County; June Ureste, Dimmit County.

Newsletters, 3rd Nationals, 2nd Southern Region – Jocelin Villarreal, Frio County; Druann Benavides, Atascosa County; Jessica E. Faubion, Bandera County; Nicole Demmer, Wilson County; June Ureste, Dimmit County.  

Radio or Podcast, 2nd Nationals and Southern Region – Jocelin Villarreal, Frio County; Druann Benavides, Atascosa County; Jessica E. Faubion, Bandera County; Nicole Demmer, Wilson County; June Ureste, Dimmit County.  

Television/Video – Amy Ressler, Montgomery County; Ashley Wright and Becky Smith, Webb County.

Educational Publications, 1st Nationals and Southern Region – Amy Ressler, Montgomery County.  

Written Media – Johanna Hicks, Hopkins County. 

State Level Awards

Healthy Texas (Non-Better Living for Texans) Award – Courtney Parrott, Brown County.

Innovation in Texas Programming Award and Multi-County Programming Award – Courtney Parrott, Brown County; Jacque Behrens, McCulloch County; Kailey Miller, San Saba County; London Jones, Burnet County; Janet Nelson, retired; Jason Johnson, agricultural economics, District 8.

Friend of Extension Award – Cook Children’s Community Health Outreach Department.

Specialist Award for Distinguished Achievement – Jodi Nerren, Ph.D., child development and early childhood, College Station.