Brazos Valley Educators Awards founders announce new additions
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – The countdown is on to one of the biggest nights in education.
The Brazos Valley Educators’ Awards is June 7, and the founders, Natalyn Samuels and Que Samuels, have announced some new additions.
One is an award honoring the late Tonja Mooring. She worked at Sam Rayburn Intermediate School for five years and unexpectedly passed away in 2023.
“Anybody who knew Tonja, they know she supported everybody,” Natalyn Samuels said. “She supported, especially, education. She’s always been one of our biggest supporters.”
The founders said she left a lasting legacy in Bryan ISD, so the Tonja Mooring Community Outreach Award is a fitting tribute.
“It was unfortunate that last year she passed but being the fact that she left such an impact on everyone, we said hey, we have to keep giving this award out,” Que Samuels said.
In addition, awards for collegiate staff members along with auxiliary, maintenance and transportation staff members have been added.
“From the maintenance man who fixes the AC, all the way up to the superintendent who puts down the guidelines and everything, everybody’s important,” Que Samuels said.
Another addition is the Brazos Valley Educators’ Society.
The Samuels founded the nonprofit to support educators and students with scholarships and other resources.
“We want to bring in more people, and we know that this will open up more doors for us and it’s just gonna continue to grow and grow,” Natalyn Samuels said.
Initiatives like this remain a must, according to Natatlyn Samuels.
“Who else to do it other than educators,” Natalyn Samuels said. “This is for educators by educators.”
For more information on the nonprofit and the Brazos Valley Educators Awards, click here.
