Recognitions and Awards

2022 Exemplary Five Star Service Award

In December 2022, the Hidalgo County Clerk's Office Vitals Department received the 2022 Exemplary Five Star Service Award for Excellence in Vital Registration. The 5 Star Award acknowledges Vitals Statistics Partners who understand the importance of vital statistics and its impact on the citizens of Texas. This award honors Partners who go above and beyond the duties of birth and death registration by attending trainings & staying up to date with the latest legislation and trends. 

2022 Vital Staff: Maria Ana De Leon, Rita Gonzalez, Monette Jasso, Debbie Keller, Sandra Rivera, and Official Records Manager, Velma Ybarra.

2021 GCAT Collector of the Year

Collections Enforcement Officer, Ernest Gonzalez, was awarded the title of 2021 Collector of the Year by the Governmental Collectors Association of Texas. This recognition is awarded to an individual in the State of Texas who was known for having the greatest impact on collections by developing innovative techniques in the past year. Ernest is a committed and dedicated employee who was honored to accept this award not only for the staff of the Collections Department but for the Hidalgo County Clerk's Office. 


2019 Exemplary Five Star Service Award

In December 2019, the Hidalgo County Clerk's Office Vitals Department received the 2019 Exemplary Five Star Service Award for Excellence in Vital Registration. The 5 Star Award acknowledges Vitals Statistics Partners who understand the importance of vital statistics and its impact on the citizens of Texas.  This award honors Partners who go above and beyond the duties of birth and death registration by attending trainings & staying up to date with the latest legislation and trends. 


2018 GCAT Collector of the Year

Collections Enforcement Officer Ernest Gonzalez was recognized as Collector of the Year at the 19th Annual GCAT Conference.  The Governmental Collectors Association of Texas (GCAT) promotes the collection of revenue for governmental entities and recognizes individuals' excellence.  Gonzalez was acknowledged for having the greatest impact on collections for Hidalgo County in 2018.


2013 Winner of the GCAT Collector of the Year Award


Hidalgo County Commissioners Court recognized Collections Enforcement Officer Sylvia L. Reyes, for being named the "2013 Collector of the Year" by the Governmental Collectors Association of Texas. The award is given to the employee who has had the greatest impact on collections. This is the second year in a row Reyes has been given the prestigious recognition."I had no idea that I would make it a second time, but maybe I will make it a third," said Reyes, upon receiving a County resolution in her honor. Reyes has been employed with the Hidalgo County Clerk's Office since 2007 and is responsible for collection and compliance in all courts. In 2013, she was ranked as the top collector in Hidalgo County, collecting more than $631,133. County Clerk Arturo Guajardo, Jr., presented the resolution that states, in part, that Reyes is being recognized for her outstanding work and dedication to the citizens of Hidalgo County. 



2012 Winners of the Most Innovative Program – Hidalgo County Clerk Collections Department


In 2012, the Hidalgo County Clerk Collections Department became the first of its kind in the State of Texas to implement a fully automated system to interact with the Texas Failure to Appear Program (Omnibase Services of Texas). Working in conjunction with I-Plow Inc, they developed a system that would send qualifying cases to DPS and release satisfied cases automatically. The process allowed substantially more Drivers License holds to be placed on qualifying defendants in a shorter amount of time with far fewer man hours and with less of a chance of human error. Since the process began, Hidalgo County has collected over $360,000 in cases that had a Drivers License hold.


2012 Winner of the GCAT Collector of the Year Award

"Sylvia L. Reyes is everything a great collector and team player should be. Sylvia Reyes is responsible for the collections and compliance of all courts. In 2011, Reyes alone brought in $536,659. She was ranked 1st in collections for this office in 2011. Again in 2012 when she exceeded her 2011 collections, collecting $591,181.


2012 National Best Practice Award


The National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Clerks (NACRC) recently awarded the Hidalgo County Clerk’s office with a "Best Practice" Award for outstanding Records Management. The honor was announced by the NACRC on July 13th, 2012 at their annual conference, and Hidalgo County Clerk Arturo Guajardo, Jr. and his staff were recognized at the Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court on 8/7/2012 for their achievement.


 2012 Receives Statewide Award

Hidalgo County Clerk Arturo Guajardo, Jr. returned from Austin, TX with the esteemed honor of receiving a 2012 TAC County Best Practices Award for Innovation, awarded by the Texas Association of Counties on May 3, 2012.


2009 Excellence in Service Award

The Hidalgo County Clerk’s Collections Department was the recipient of the 2009 Excellence in Service Award, presented by the Governmental Collectors Association of Texas. This award is given to an individual or program that unselfishly provides assistance while embodying the elements of dedication, commitment, and service to the association and its membership.


2009 Collector of the Year for the State of Texas

Collections Specialist, Ana De Luna, received the 2009 Collector of the Year Award from the Governmental Collectors Association of Texas for having the greatest impact on the collections effort in her county.


2008 Collector of the Year for the State of Texas


Collections Specialist, Arcilia Morales, was named the 2008 Collector of the Year by the Governmental Collectors Association of Texas.


2005 Top Collections Department in the State of Texas


The Governmental Collectors Association of Texas recognized the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Collections Department as the Best in Texas for 2005.


2004 County Clerk of the Year for State of Texas

The Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office was selected as the top County Clerk’s Office in the entire state for 2004. This award had never before been presented to Hidalgo County since the creation of The County and District Clerk’s Association of Texas in 1893.