Chirag B. Patel

Texas –– The National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) will award Chirag B. Patel of Houston, TX, the Lewis Hine Award in New York City on Jan. 31. According to a release, Patel, an M.D./Ph.D. student at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, is being honored for his determination and commitment toward helping young people in a broad variety of ways.

Patel, 25, is one of 10 people selected from across the nation to receive the award. Each recipient is scheduled to receive $1,000 as prize money and a free trip to the awards ceremony in New York. Named after photographer Lewis Wickes Hine who documented child labor conditions with the help of his camera, this award recognizes efforts taken to protect the rights of children in the workplace.

Patel’s volunteer efforts includes organizing and supervising a day of service for 235 volunteers at nine Texas Medical Center member institutions. He serves on the board of directors for Innovative Alternatives, Inc., a Gulf Coast United Way affiliated nonprofit agency. He has promoted service learning and been a coordinator of volunteer projects in several occasions.