Brandii Price, a nurse extern at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center and a student at Mountain View College, was named this week as the 2018 recipient of the DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) Foundation’s Rex McRae Scholarship.

The annual award honors a student pursuing a healthcare career in nursing or allied health professions in North Texas. Price was chosen from a list of six nominees from hospitals across North Texas. Judging for 2018 conducted in March by the board of the Dallas-Fort Worth Healthcare Human Resources Association.

“We are thrilled to present this award each year to a deserving student and employee at a hospital in North Texas,” said Kristin Jenkins, president of the DFWHC Foundation. “For two decades, we have attempted to support the promising students who are the future of healthcare in our region. Brandii’s dedication and commitment make her a deserving recipient of this scholarship.”

Price decided to pursue a nursing career after her son was born prematurely. Weighing only 5 pounds, 7.2 ounces, Landen’s struggle for life combined with the amazing care of the intensive care unit nurses influenced her career choice. A nursing student in her final year at Mountain View College in Dallas, Price has a 3.6 GPA.

The Rex McRae Scholarship was created in 1998 by the DFWHC Board. Named in memory of Rex McRae, former chief executive officer of Arlington Memorial Hospital for 28 years and a DFWHC Board Chair in 1987, the endowment is funded by donations from DFWHC members.

Nominees this year included Elizabeth Hendrickson of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano; Nancy Moreles of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney; Diana Ruiz of Baylor University Medical Center; Andrea Montes of Methodist Dallas Medical Center; Mirtha Calderon of Parkland Health & Hospital System; and Allison Norwood of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance.

Price will receive her award in one week on April 25 during the DFWHC Foundation’s 22nd Annual Employee of the Year Luncheon at the Hurst Conference Center. The luncheon serves as a salute to the North Texas hospital workforce making a difference in the health of our residents.

In the fashion of an awards show, recipients will be announced and come to the stage to receive their honor. This year, 16 recipients will be awarded from a pool of more than 130 nominees in such categories as Physician of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Preceptor of the Year and Employee of the Year. The Rex McRae Scholarship is the only award announced in advance of the event.

This year’s luncheon is themed “Caregivers Matter: A Survivor’s Story,” with Rebekah Gregory, a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, serving as guest speaker.

Tables and tickets are still available, with the deadline this Friday at 5:00 p.m. For questions, please contact Sally Williams at workforce@dfwhcfoundation.org or Chris Wilson at chrisw@dfwhc.org.