The Texas Medical Association recognized four science educators with its 2026 Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching during a ceremony in Austin on June 26, honoring instructors whose classrooms help spark students’ interest in medicine.
According to a June 26 TMA news release, the winners were Peter Nguyen of Houston, Dustin Perez of Porter, Jude Xerxes Herbolario of Houston and Meylis Atayev of San Antonio, with one honoree drawn from each of the elementary, middle and high school levels plus a grand prize recipient. For more than 35 years, TMA has used the program to spotlight teachers who encourage students to consider careers in medicine, the association said.
Nguyen, the grand prize winner, teaches physics at Alief Early College High School and builds a classroom rooted in hands-on labs and a teaching philosophy that emphasizes learning from mistakes, the release said. Perez, a distinguished award honoree, teaches fifth-grade science at Crippen Elementary School in the New Caney Independent School District and hosts monthly Science Discovery Nights, after-school science clubs and the school’s science fair. Herbolario, who teaches eighth-grade science at Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan, draws on his background as a biotech professional and has connected students with a partner school in the Philippines. Atayev teaches physics and aerospace engineering at SST San Antonio College Prep High School, where engineering-based projects helped the school earn its first medal in the Air Trajectory event at a Rice University regional competition.
“Your dedication, passion, and steadfast commitment to excellence in teaching science will significantly influence the future, including inspiring a new generation to pursue medical professions that enhance the health and well-being of all Texans,” TMA President Bradford W. Holland, MD, told the honorees, according to the release. TMA Foundation President Clifford Moy, MD, said the program highlights “the vital role educators play in helping future generations appreciate and understand the many ways science impacts our daily lives.”
Each honoree receives a cash award of up to $20,000 and a resource grant for his or her school, the association said. The awards are funded through an endowment established at the TMA Foundation in 1998 by Austin benefactors Dr. Ernest and Mrs. Sarah Butler. TMA said nominations for the 2027 awards, open to the public, are now being accepted.