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A West Texas A&M University nursing instructor and more than a dozen WT alumni will be recognized as some of the best nurses in the Panhandle at an event this week.
Dr. Angela Phillips and 15 WT alumni will be honored at the fifth-annual Panhandle Great 25 Nurses recognition ceremony at 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at Polk Street United Methodist Church, 1401 S. Polk St.
Phillips works at WT as an associate professor of nursing, family nurse practitioner program director and graduate nursing coordinator.
The list was chosen by a committee in collaboration with Texas Nurses Association District 2 and the Panhandle Organization of Nurse Executives. Criteria include leadership qualities, service to the community, compassionate caregiving and significant contributions to the profession of nursing.
“It’s an honor to be mentioned alongside my peers in nursing, especially knowing that WT helped produce so many of the nurses who have committed their lives to serving the Panhandle,” Phillips said. “It’s especially meaningful this year after we all have seen firsthand just how vital good nurses are.”
In addition, Sharol Finley, who earned both her BSN and her MSN at WT, was named to the Texas Nurses Association District 2 Hall of Fame, and Dr. Valerie Kiper, who earned a BSN in 1983 and an MSN in 1986 at WT, will receive the Legacy Award.
Panhandle Great 25 Nurses also will give $2,000 scholarships to 11 students, including four WT BSN students: Autumn Martinez, a White Deer native pursuing her second bachelor’s degree; Kandice Royale Cole, a junior from Canyon; Dylan Ross Maya, a junior from Canyon; and David Anthony Olmos, a junior from Amarillo.
Established in 1974, WT’s Department of Nursing in its College of Nursing and Health Sciences currently provides about 70 percent of nurses employed throughout the Texas Panhandle.
WT nursing graduates, over the past five years, have averaged a 97 percent score on the National Council Licensure Examination, required by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to test the competency of nursing school graduates in the United States and Canada. Nationally, the average is 85 percent; in Texas, it’s 87 percent.
WT alumni also on this year’s Great 25 Nurses list include:
Sharon Brewer, who earned a bachelor of science in nursing in 1986 and a master of science in nursing — family nurse practitioner in 1997, is an assistant professor and retention counselor at Texas Tech University Health Science Center;
Brenda Chandler, who earned a BSN in 1993, is a pediatric oncology nurse at TTUHSC;
Ronda Crow, who earned a BSN in 1991, is chief nursing officer for Moore County Hospital District in Dumas;
Kristin De Los Santos, who earned a BSN in 2012, is clinical documentation specialist for Deaf Smith County Hospital District in Hereford;
Elizabeth Favela, who earned a BSN in 2008, is the family partnership nurse supervisor for Coalition of Health Services;
Brenda Graham, who earned a BSN in 1980, is a recall nurse for BSA Harrington Breast Center;
Cami Meason, who earned a BSN in 2002, is nurse manager for BSA Women’s Health Center;
Jennifer Peters, who earned a BSN in 2019, is maternal program coordinator and educator for BSA;
Mandy Richardson, who earned a BSN in 1999, is ICU shift supervisor for BSA;
Sandy Richardson, who earned a BSN in 1988, is neonatal ICU shift supervisor for BSA;
John Schnatz, who earned an MSN-FNP in 1997, is surgical services family nurse practitioner for Panhandle Surgical Group;
Shelly Seth, who earned an MSN-FNP in 2002, is a family nurse practitioner assistant professor for TTUHSC; and
Sally Swan, who earned a BSN in 1996, is school nurse for Spearman Independent School District.
Also recognized in this year’s list are Jessica Albracht, Eric Bose, Devin Carpenter, Dana Brookwalter, Treiva Daniels, Glenda Harris, Hong Hong, Theresa King, Patricia Miranda, Kiki Ralston and Erika Soria.
For information on this event, contact Dr. Richard Pullen at richard.pullen@ttuhsc.edu or Dr. Valerie Kiper at valerie.kiper@ttuhsc.edu.
Meeting regional needs, particularly in healthcare, is a vital component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World. That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign.
-West Texas A&M University