Three members of the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business received awards from the Texas Tech Parents Association (TTPA): Alfie Chawonza, a senior finance major; Fallon Contreras , director of student engagement and recruitment; and Alanna Hirshman , assistant professor of management .
Chawonza received the Student Academics & Leadership Award. Chawonza, a member of Texas Tech's men's track and field team, sees this honor as validation of his hard work in and out of the classroom.
"Receiving this award means everything to me," said Chawonza. "I left home in Zimbabwe at a tender age to come here in search of better educational opportunities. Winning this award means there is hope. It means all the hard work I have put in on the track, classes, and Red Raider community hasn't gone unnoticed."
Contreras received the inaugural TTPA Distinguished Staff Award.
As the director of student engagement and recruitment, Contreras often interacts with students and families before they enroll at Texas Tech. The nomination holds significant meaning to Contreras because it came from a family she met on the recruiting trail.
"My nomination came from a family I met while recruiting in San Antonio," said Contreras. "Knowing that this student chose to commit to Texas Tech and Rawls College based on our interaction is incredibly rewarding. The award shows the influence my work has in shaping students' decisions and solidifies my commitment to making a positive difference within the Rawls community."
Hirshman received The Hemphill-Wells New Professor Excellence in Teaching Award. For Hirshman, this award is a small representation of one of her life's goals.
"I wholeheartedly believe that one of my purposes in life is to encourage and support each student to discover, pursue, and achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals," said Hirshman. "While I still have a long way to go and hopefully many more students to teach, receiving this award helps me feel that I am making progress towards that purpose. If I can impact even one student the way my teachers have impacted me, I will feel so very fulfilled."
Chawonza, Contreras, and Hirshman were celebrated at the TTPA Faculty Staff & Student Awards Breakfast on April 6.
About Texas Tech Parents Association
Founded in 1956, the Texas Tech Parents Association (TTPA) provides a network for parents, student scholarships and achievement awards, faculty awards, and various programs and services to help make a family's experience at Texas Tech memorable. Read more about TTPA and learn how to get involved.