The Texarkana Texas Independent School District has announced their selections of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni. Texarkana Independent School District will honor two    of their own, Dr. Karen D. Bradshaw (Texas High School Class of 1972) and         Billy C. Burnett (Dunbar High School Class of 1964), as the 2014 Distinguished Alumni during events which will be held on Wednesday, April 30.

A Student Leadership Breakfast will be held from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. at the Dan Haskins Student Center at Texas High School, 2112 Kennedy Lane.  This event will offer leadership students from Texas Middle School and Texas High School the opportunity to hear from the honorees to learn first-hand how the example that you set for others and for yourself begins at an early age to build a strong foundation for personal and professional growth.

From 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., a Distinguished Alumni Luncheon will be held at the Texarkana Country Club, #1 Country Club Drive, where the two individuals will be presented and awarded the honor of 2014 Distinguished Alumni.

Limited seating is available for the Distinguished Alumni Luncheon.  Reservations can be made via email at tvg@txkisd.net

Following graduation from Texas High School in 1972, Dr. Karen Bradshaw continued her education at Texas A&M University receiving a Bachelor of Science in Zoology in 1977 and her Doctor of Medicine from University of Texas Health Science Center Southwestern Medical School in 1981.  Her internship and residency was in Obstetrics & Gynecology with UT Southwestern at Parkland Memorial Hospital.  Bradshaw completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at UT Southwestern and received her Master of Science in Medical Management from The Alliance for Medical Management Education at University of Texas at Dallas School of Management in 2002.

She is board certified with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and with the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.  Bradshaw’s hospital affiliations in Dallas include

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Children’s Medical Center, Zale/Lipshy University Hospital, St. Paul University Hospital and Parkland Memorial Hospital.  Her academic appointments have been as Assistant Professor of Gynecology with Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts and as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Surgery, Director of IVF Program and Professor with Tenure at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX.

Throughout her career, Bradshaw has participated in an estimated 28 committees within various hospital affiliations and medical organizations.  From serving as a committee member to chairman to Chief of Staff, her efforts have helped to guide admissions, laparoscopic procedures, continuing education, curriculum, resident education, clinical research and much more.

Bradshaw has served on the Board of Directors for Zale Lipshy Hospital, American Society of Reproductive Medicine and Dallas County Medical Society.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Society of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility and Southwest Gynecologic Assembly and is an Advisory Board member for Wyeth-Ayerst International.

Because of her talents within the field of medicine, Bradshaw has received many honors and awards:  Top Doctor in Dallas by Dallas Magazine; Outstanding Teacher at UT Southwestern; Best Doctor in America by D Magazine; Best Doctor in Dallas since 2000 and recipient of the AMA/Glaxo-Wellcome Emerging Leaders Development Program.  She has written and lectured widely on the subjects of preventative women’s health care and minimally invasive surgery for women.

Bradshaw currently serves as the Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Surgery at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.  She holds the Helen J. and Robert S. Strauss and Diana K. and Richard C. Strauss Chair in Women’s Health and is the Medical Director of UT Southwestern Women’s Center.  Bradshaw is married to Fred Shapiro, Chief Executive Officer for         SBB Management Company and they have one daughter, Melinda.

Billy Burnett is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Joni and Friends International Disability Center which serves as the administrative hub for an array of programs that provide outreach to thousands of families affected by disability around the globe.  These include two radio programs, an award-winning television series, the Wheels for the World international wheelchair distribution ministry, Family Retreats which provide respite for those with disabilities and their families, Field Services to provide church training along with educational and inspirational resources at a local level, and the Christian Institute on Disability to establish a firm biblical worldview on disability-related issues.

Under Burnett’s supervision, Joni and Friends has been ranked as the number one “Best Christian Workplace” in organizations having less than 120 staff and in the top six percent of fiscally managed non-profits in the country.

Burnett received a Bachelor of Science from California State University, Certificate of Ministry from Palos Verdes Bible Institute and a Master in Business Administration from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University.  Additionally, he holds a credentialed designation in      non-profit leadership.

Burnett began his career in the aerospace industry holding significant engineering and management positions and contributing to a number of military and commercial programs such as the NASA Skylab and Space Shuttles,                 B-1 Strategic Bomber, Apache helicopters, F-15 Eagle Tactical Fighter Plane and numerous commercial aircraft.

After 35 years in the aerospace field, Burnett’s personal path led him to Joni and Friends.  His passion for ministry and service has taken him to many places around the globe – Mexico, the United Kingdom, Israel, Egypt, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ghana West Africa – all in an effort to demonstrate to people affected by disability that God has not abandoned them but is with them, providing love, hope and eternal salvation.

Burnett was the subject of a television show – No Room for Hate – and of a book – Ordinary People, Extraordinary Faith.  He was featured in Christian Leadership Alliance on equipping leaders and is the recipient of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Economic and Education Foundation Award.

He is married to Shirley Hood Burnett and they have two children – Sonja Burnett-Busum and Byron Burnett – and three wonderful grandsons – Aaron Taylor, Brayden James Burnett and Kyeden William Burnett.

Since 1992, TISD has sponsored a Distinguished Alumni Awards program to recognize the outstanding personal and professional achievements of their alumni.  These outstanding former Texas High School and Dunbar High School graduates are models to current and future alumni in terms of their professional, leadership and ethical standards.  Past award recipients have been: Truman Arnold, Dr. Lenox Dial Baker, Miller Barber, Melvin Bradley, Ned Burns, Dr. William Dorland, Lt. Col. Norman “Ken” Dyson, Theron Goynes, Dan Haskins, Ethel Pauley Jones, David Kusin, Gary Kusin, Prudence Mackintosh, Donald Ray McNeal, George McWilliams, Rick Minter, Jerry “Boo” Mitchell, Jr., Lt. Col. Daniel Oosterhous, H. Ross Perot, Dan Petty, Col. Willie Pollard, Jr., Collin Raye, Bill Rogers, Marjorie Scardino, Vicki Schultz, Robert Wickliffe “Wick” Temple, Dr. David Tilson, III, Sheilah Walker and Dr. Steve Woodle.

 

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