University of North Texas 
Faculty, staff and students of the UNT College of Health & Public Service Department of Rehabilitation & Health Services took top nods at the annual Texas Rehabilitation Association Conference held September 4-6.
Lucy Gafford, director of UNT WISE, received the 2024 Professional of the Year award for her work on innovative programming that has helped facilitate an increase in vocational rehabilitation opportunities for individuals with disabilities across Texas.
"I'm very honored to have been nominated for and to receive this award," Gafford said. "But, any good Rehab counselor knows that it takes a team to be successful - and I've been incredibly blessed to have the best teams around me. So, I have to give credit to them. A big thanks to all of those who have and continue to support me in the work we do!"
Anita Oommen, a UNT Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling student, received the Student of the Year award for her excellence in the field of rehabilitation. Oommen is an officer with Chi Sigma Iota, the national counseling honor society, and also earned a national award in ethics essay writing by CACREP, the accreditation agency for counseling and related educational programs. She is the only master’s level student to ever be selected for this honor.
Rachita Sharma, chair of the department, received the Texas Rehabilitation Association’s
Marilyn Padget Extra Mile award for her service to the organization. She’s been a
board member for nine years and served as the association’s president in 2019.
"It was my honor and great surprise to be awarded the Marilyn Padget Extra Mile award by the Texas Rehabilitation Association at this year’s conference," Sharma said. "The decade that I have spent in various roles within this organization has allowed me the good fortune of meeting wonderful rehabilitation counselors from across Texas who spend every work day making the lives of Texans with disabilities better in their own way. Add to this the joy of the friendships that I have made along the way: Going the extra mile has never seemed like a chore, instead always a pleasure."
The university was well represented at the conference, with many faculty, staff, students and alumni taking part in workshops, presentations and other activities.