Panhandle PBS Earns National Awards for Local Film & Community Outreach

Panhandle PBS has earned national recognition for both its powerful local storytelling and innovative community engagement, receiving honors at the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Public Media Awards, which celebrate excellence in public broadcasting across more than 300 stations nationwide. 

The locally produced documentary The West Texas Boys, directed by Adan Peña, won the Content Award in the Cultural Feature, Division II category. The film shares the moving story of the Peña family of Dimmitt, Texas — musicians whose love, resilience, and faith carried them from hardship as migrant laborers to performing success. Judges praised the project’s emotional depth and its authentic portrayal of family, perseverance, and identity in the Texas Panhandle.

“I knew the film was for our community, but it was exciting to see it resonate nationally, ”Peña said. “It’s not often that Tejano music stories receive this kind of spotlight outside the genre, and to share a family story from West Texas on a national stage is incredibly meaningful.”

Panhandle PBS was also recognized as an Honoree in the Engagement – National Project category for its wide-ranging community engagement inspired by the national documentary Leonardo da Vinci, produced by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon. Supported by a Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association (WETA) engagement grant, the station and its partners brought da Vinci’s genius to life for audiences across Amarillo through hands-on learning, art, and exploration.

The Leonardo da Vinci engagement initiative spanned several months in 2024 and united numerous community partners — including Amarillo College, Amarillo Museum of Art, Amarillo Public Library, Discovery Center Collective, and Arts in the Sunset — in a celebration of art, science, and imagination. Events ranged from nature walks and art workshops to public screenings, student panels, a 3-D printing workshop, and a curated exhibition at the Amarillo Museum of Art titled Leonardo da Vinci: Experiments and Expressions. The ArtSpace exhibit featured works from the museum’s permanent collection and interactive activities highlighting science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).

Cullen Lutz, who led the engagement project, said the recognition is a reflection of teamwork and collaboration across the college and the community.

“It’s a testament to our incredible team at Panhandle PBS and Amarillo College, as well as our amazing community partners,” Lutz said. “These events made da Vinci’s curiosity and creativity come alive right here in our region. Together, we showed that learning and imagination can thrive both inside and outside the classroom.”

Julie Grimes, general manager of Panhandle PBS, said the awards demonstrate the station’s growing national reputation for quality and creativity.

“These honors show that our local work can stand shoulder to shoulder with major PBS stations across the country,” Grimes said. “We’re proud to tell the stories of our region and engage our community through learning, creativity, and collaboration.”

In addition to these award-winning projects, Panhandle PBS continues to connect the community with high-quality storytelling and educational content through national partnerships and local innovation. The station’s ongoing collaboration with WETA and the PBS LearningMedia has supported engagement projects tied to other Ken Burns documentaries, including The American Buffalo (2023) and The American Revolution (2025-2026).

Looking ahead, Panhandle PBS will build on the success of The West Texas Boys with a new digital anthology series called Panhandle Voices, launching in 2026.The series will spotlight extraordinary stories of everyday people across the Texas Panhandle, continuing the station’s mission to celebrate local lives and inspire understanding.

Viewers can stream The West Texas Boys and Leonardo da Vinci — along with hundreds of other PBS programs — by becoming a Panhandle PBS Passport Member at video.panhandlepbs.org.

Community members can also support Panhandle PBS and its educational mission through The Panhandle Gives campaign by donating at panhandlepbs.org/ThePanhandleGives.

Panhandle PBS is a proud member of the NETA, a professional organization that connects and strengthens public television stations nationwide through collaboration, resources, and recognition of excellence.