The presentation of awards to individuals whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the field of deafblindness and/or who have contributed to improving the lives of Texans with deafblindness is one of the highlights of the Texas Symposium on Deafblind Education.
With our theme of "Convergence: Embracing New Beginnings with Presence and Connections” in mind, individuals were asked to nominate family members, paraprofessionals, and professionals who demonstrate excellence in deafblind education as well as support and advocacy for individuals who are deafblind and their families.
Please take time to congratulate our 2025 award recipients.
This award is given to a family member(s) who has, through their advocacy or efforts on behalf of their family member with deafblindness, blazed a trail that has made it easier for other families who follow.
This year’s recipient is Christine Givens.
Christine Givens lives in Spring, Texas, with her husband, George, and is a mother of 3 girls, Skye-27, Leili-20 (adopted from China), and Rachel-17 (adopted from China - profoundly deaf). She has been a member of The Deaf-Blind Multihandicapped Association of Texas (DBMAT) for 20+ years! Currently, she serves as a board member for the DBMAT. She advocated for Skye her entire life, starting in NICU through 22 school years with Klein ISD, Texas Workforce Commission, and most recently Medically Fragile Option under Star+Waiver. She is a graduate of TSBVI’s Family Leadership Training and TSBVI’s Systems Leadership Training. She volunteered as a parent participant on the Governmental Affairs Committee with the Arc of Texas in Austin, Texas. She is a current board member of the Society for the Advancement of Floral Design.
This award is given to an intervener who has demonstrated excellence in their role of support at home or in the community to a child or adult who is deafblind, and whose efforts have contributed to the success of the intervener model in Texas.
This year’s recipient is Mary Collins.
Hello! My name is Mary Collins, and I am a Deafblind intervener and interpreter. I have worked in an ISD for twelve years. Seven years ago, I met a student who was DeafBlind, and I knew nothing of DeafBlindness. I just knew they needed extra patience and a different way to approach things. As I was seeking out resources and help, I learned about interveners and became one. That has been my focus for the last seven years. I enjoy volunteering for camps while learning new perspectives and techniques to use in the future. My family is my life. I love hanging out with them, playing board games, going on adventures, making connections, and just being silly.
This award is to an intervener who has demonstrated excellence in their role of support in educational settings to a child who is deafblind, and whose efforts have contributed to the success of the intervener model in Texas.
This year’s recipient is Rhonda Cole.
Rhonda Cole is a Deafblind Intervener at Mesquite ISD, currently in her third year with her student. She attended West Texas State University (now affiliated with A & M University) and she holds a Deafblind Intervener Certificate from Central Michigan University. She has over 25 years of experience in Deaf Education. Previously, Rhonda worked as a Communication Facilitator and Interpreter in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and Wheeling, West Virginia, from 1999 to 2014. She returned to her home state of Texas, and in 2015, joined the Mesquite Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, where she continues to work.
Marty Murrell Excellence in Education Award
This award is given to a professional in education who has made a long-term commitment to excellence in education for Texas students who are deafblind.
This year’s award is given to Jennifer Wilson.
Jennifer Wilson has been a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments for the majority of her 20 years as an educator. In 2018, she recognized that the unique needs of her students who were Deafblind were not being properly addressed so she completed the graduate certificate program in DB to learn how to better serve these students. Through her work with these students, she was lucky enough to meet the staff at the Mesquite Regional Day School Program for the Deaf where she now has the privilege of serving as the TDB. In this role her favorite part is helping others recognize the amazing personalities and abilities of these students as they bloom and come out of their shells to connect with the people and environment around them!
This award is given to an individual who has made an extraordinary commitment to improving the lives of individuals who are deafblind in Texas.
This year’s award is presented to Kelly Torrey.
Kelly Torrey currently serves as a Test Development Specialist with the Texas Education Agency’s Educator Standards and Testing team. Kelly’s work at the agency centers on special education-related standards development and certification exams, as well as related rulemaking. Prior to joining the agency Kelly was a special education teacher and administrator in the Austin area for 9 years. She lives in Round Rock with her husband and 5-year-old son, Arthur.