Laughter, applause, and community pride filled the Amarillo Civic Center’s Heritage Room on Thursday evening, Oct. 16 as hundreds gathered to honor the winners of the 2025 Best of Amarillo Community’s Choice Awards.
Hosted by the Amarillo Globe-News in partnership with the USA TODAY Network’s Community’s Choice Awards, the annual event drew more than 400 guests representing businesses, nonprofits, and organizations across every corner of the city.
Tee Hicks, vice president of sales and market development with USA TODAY Network Ventures, served as master of ceremonies and set a lively tone for the night as attendees enjoyed dinner and conversation before the awards began.
“Good evening, everyone — I hope you’re enjoying yourselves,” Hicks said from the stage. “Tonight we celebrate Amarillo — the people, the businesses, and the shared spirit that keeps this community thriving.”
Hicks thanked the crowd for their role in shaping Amarillo’s economy, noting that nearly 102,000 votes were cast during this year’s competition.
“You are the ones who prepare our community and our economy for the future,” she said. “Your dedication and hard work move our city and state forward.”
She invited the audience to raise their glasses “to the businesses and the individuals whose dedication, passion and hard work have earned them this recognition. Congratulations to all honored tonight — your impact on our community this year has been extraordinary.”
Miss Texas joins the celebration
Helping to present awards was Sadie Schiermeyer, the reigning 2025 Miss Texas from Dallas, who took the stage to cheers and laughter. Schiermeyer shared her excitement about visiting Amarillo and her journey since being crowned in June.
“Since being crowned, I’ve had the chance to serve as an advocate for health and wellness through my community service initiative, Healthier Texas,” Schiermeyer said. “It’s an honor to be here tonight celebrating businesses that make this community vibrant and connected.”
She joked about balancing her “monster heels” on stage and congratulated winners as they came forward to collect their plaques. “It’s wonderful to see how proud Amarillo is of its people,” she said.
Winners showcase Amarillo pride
The 2025 winners reflected a mix of enduring local favorites and promising newcomers.
Amarillo National Bank was among the night’s most celebrated businesses, taking home multiple honors, including Best Bank, Best Customer Service, Best Mortgage Lending Company, Best Locally Owned Business, Best Philanthropic Business, Best Overall Leadership, and Best Place to Work.
BSA Health System earned Best Hospital and Best Medical Center, while Northwest Texas Healthcare System received recognition for Best Emergency Room and Best Urgent Care/Walk-In Clinic.
In dining, Tyler’s Barbeque continued its streak as a local favorite, winning both Best BBQ and Best Ribs. Girasol Café & Bakery captured Best Breakfast and Best Brunch, and Blue Sky Texas earned Best Burger and Best French Fries. Cellar 55 was named Best New Restaurant, and Jorge’s Mexican Bar & Grill took home multiple wins for Best Mexican Food, Best Lunch, Best Margarita, and Best Happy Hour.
Among newcomers, Awaken Medical Aesthetics swept three categories — Best Medical Spa, Best Spa, and Best Weight Loss Center — while Tortoise & The Hair Salon earned Best Hair Salon. Perfect Peach Body Waxing Studio received Best Brow and Lash Treatment honors.
Amarillo College was named Best College/University for its continued leadership in workforce education, and Cheer Texas took Best Gymnastics Studio.
Entertainment favorites Amarillo Little Theatre, Starlight Ranch Event Center, and Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm all received honors for their contributions to local culture and family recreation.
A lighthearted evening
The ceremony blended humor with heartfelt appreciation as Hicks kept the audience engaged with her charisma and quick wit. Guests waved flashlights in the air for a spirited call-and-response moment led by Hicks, who rallied the crowd to shout “Best of Amarillo!” as lights twinkled across the room.
“You’re the light of this community,” she told them. “Let’s keep it shining bright.”
The night ended with applause as Schiermeyer and Hicks thanked the crowd and encouraged winners to display their plaques proudly.
“Being among the top three in your category is a prestigious honor,” Hicks said in closing. “You represent the best of Amarillo. Let’s harness that recognition and keep building together.”
Honoring local excellence
The Best of Amarillo Awards recognize excellence across more than 200 categories, all determined by public nominations and votes. Organizers said the 2025 competition saw record participation, reflecting Amarillo’s growing business community and civic pride.
A complete list of winners appears in the October 2025 Best of Amarillo publication and online at YourChoiceAwards.com/Amarillo.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Community pride shines at 2025 Best of Amarillo Awards
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
