Rowlett Chamber Honors Hometown Heroes at Awards Banquet

Rowlett Chamber Honors Hometown Heroes at Awards Banquet

(ROWLETT, TX — May 6, 2019) The Hometown Heroes Awards Banquet hosted by the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce Friday, May 3, 2019 was a huge success. Nearly 200 people came together to celebrate the extraordinary in Rowlett. Guests included representation from local, state and federal government, school district leadership and medical professionals and many others!

The nominees were truly the “cream of the crop” and the winners were the very essence of what it is to be a Hometown Hero!

The winners in each category are:

Police Officer of the Year – Sergeant Vedran Nosic
Sponsored by the Rowlett Firefighters Association

Student Resource Officer (SRO) of the Year – Officer Jeff Freeman
Sponsored by the Rowlett Firefighters Association

Teacher of the Year – Tanika Haggan, Rowlett HS
Sponsored by Hallmark Bodies

Principal of the Year – Teresa McCutcheon, Back Elementary
Sponsored by My Computer Guy

Public Works Employee of the Year – Randy Furguson
Sponsored by FCC Environmental Services

Firefighter of the Year – Cole Hobbs
Sponsored by Atmos Energy

Nurse of the Year – Casey Lott
Sponsored by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe

Health Professional of the Year – Dr. Steven Arze
Sponsored by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe

Veteran of the Year – Brian Wilburn
Sponsored by the Veteran’s Resource & Outreach Center

Vernon Schrade Heritage Hall of Fame Award – Carol Prano
Sponsored by the Schrade Family

Big “R” Award – Barry Dana-Bashian
Sponsored by Housewarmers of Rowlett

The guest speaker of the event was Samantha Horwitz, a former Secret Service Agent who was in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Everyone in attendance received an autographed copy of Sam’s book. Samantha gave an inspirational and insightful talk about service and all that these heroes do each and every day.

“It was a joy to honor those among us who do so much but who never ask for recognition,” said Michael Gallops, the chamber’s President/CEO. “I only wish we could do more for them to recognize the sacrifices they make.”

Congressman Colin Allred sent certificates which were presented to each of the winners and State Senator Bob Hall provided a certificate to the winner of the Vernon Schrade Heritage Hall of Fame and a 9/11 Flag to Samantha Horwitz. Videos were played honoring each of the award winners with words from a friend or coworker. Those videos will be available on the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce Facebook page and website.

Submitted press release by the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce.

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