Date:
5/9/2002
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Donna Gutierrez
ROSWELL – For her dedication to public service and to the betterment of life in New Mexico, Jane Batson, Division of Health Chair at ENMU-Roswell, has been selected to receive one of the 2002 New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Awards.
Governor Gary Johnson will present Batson with the award at the 33rd Annual Distinguished Public Service Awards Banquet on Friday, May 31 at the Crowne Plaza Pyramid Hotel in Albuquerque. About 600 people are expected to attend. Batson is also invited to attend a private reception with the governor.
Dr. Judy Armstrong, ENMU-Roswell Provost, nominated Batson for the award.
"Jane is truly dedicated to public service. She is passionate about helping others and improving the lives of those who are less fortunate," she said. "Jane has devoted her life to solving the problems that plague our society - children with cavities, teens with no parental guidance, seniors with inadequate health care, drug and alcohol abuse, and domestic violence. Deeply concerned about our college and our community, Jane tackles tough issues -- both on campus and throughout the county -- head-on, with compassion, energy, and determination. Whether it's third-party billing or collaborating with a multitude of entities to establish a dental program to serve the needy children of Chaves County, Jane gives her all," said Armstrong.
Since its inception in 1969, more than 300 New Mexico citizens have been publicly recognized for their outstanding contribution to public service. The New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Awards (NMDPSA) program is nonpartisan. Elected officials are not allowed to receive the award while holding elective office. Individuals are nominated by their employers or by private citizens who have knowledge of the exceptional contribution to public service. Nominations are reviewed for qualifications by screening committees of the NMDPSA Council. A final selection committee, consisting of representatives from federal, state, tribal and local agencies and participating private organizations, selects the award winners from the screening committee recommendations.
Nominees fall into four categories-federal agencies and national laboratories; state agencies and universities; local and Indian governments; and business and civic organizations. Winners of the awards are honored at the annual dinner. The governor presents a distinctive award to each recipient. Each winner's exceptional contributions to improve public service are briefly described during the ceremony.
Batson was honored last month by ENMU as a recipient of the 2002 Chester Haughwaut Exemplary Human Relations Award. Before joining the staff at ENMU-Roswell as Health Division chair in 1999, she worked in numerous administrative health care positions in and around Roswell including Roosevelt General Hospital, St. Mary's Regional Health Center, OUR Corporation, Chaves County Home Health Services, the Roswell Independent School District, the Public Health Division District IV, and La Casa de Buena Salud.
Batson previously worked at ENMU-Roswell as nursing instructor from 1975 to 1983 and as the director of the Vocational Training Program for the Developmentally Disabled from 1988 to 1989. She served as the director of Nursing at ENMU-R from 1989 to 1990.
Batson currently serves on a number of community boards and committees, and has received awards for her efforts from ENMU-Roswell, the United Way, and Esperanza House. In 2001, she received a Caring Citizen Award from the Chaves County Commission. She received the Sertoma Local and District Service to Mankind Award in 1994 and was named an Outstanding Woman of New Mexico in 1997. Batson has a Diploma in Nursing from the Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing, a bachelor's degree in chemistry from ENMU and a master's degree in counseling and guidance from ENMU.
Jane Batson of ENMU-Roswell will receive a 2002 New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award. (photo by Wendel Sloan)