Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi (NHCCC) announced its 2017 Sailors of the Year (SOY), Nov. 1.

This year 16 candidates demonstrated their commitment to excellence during the highly competitive board.

The panel of senior enlisted leaders selected the top three: Senior Sailor of the Year Hospital Corpsman 1st (HM1) Class Michael G. Bundeson, Corpus Christi Patient Administration Department; Junior Sailor of the Year Hospital Corpsman 2nd (HM2) Class Kevin Thomas Stearns, Det. San Antonio; and Blue Jacket of the Year Hospital Corpsman Seaman (HN) Roberto Carlos Cano, Corpus Christi Dental Department.

Individual selection criteria for the awards were based upon exemplary performance of tasks; contributions that enhanced organization accomplishment of command objectives, mission, teamwork or public image; and one's professional attitude toward self and others.

HM1 Michael G. Bundeson, Corpus Christi Patient Administration Department; HM1 Ronal P. Ferrer, Corpus Christi Radiology Department; HM1 Kyle Joseph McIntosh, Naval Branch Health Clinic Fort Worth; HM1 DarnellPatrick Cabigas Sales, Naval Branch Health Clinic Kingsville; and HM1 Daniel E. Truelove, San Antonio Det., competed for senior Sailor.

HM2 Eugene R. Smith III, Corpus Christi Medical Home Port; HM2 Andrew Adam Dodendorf, Corpus Christi Preventive Medicine Department; HM2 Wilbert J. Kindle, Naval Branch Health Clinic Kingsville; HM2 Christopher Michael Courtney, Corpus Christi Human Resources Department; HM2 Kevin Thomas Stearns, Det. San Antonio; HM2 Adam Lee Sanchez, Corpus Christi Radiology Department; and HM2 Shayne T. Stanley, Naval Branch Health Clinic Fort Worth, vied for junior Sailor.

Blue Jacket Sailor contenders were HN Roberto Carlos Cano, Corpus Christi Dental Department; HN Gregory S. Kotov, Corpus Christi Pharmacy Department; HN Dwight A. Smith Jr., Naval Branch Health Clinic Fort Worth; and HN Trevor D. Waters, Naval Branch Health Clinic Kingsville.

Each of the winners and candidates serving at this command embrace the core values of honor, courage and commitment.

Bundeson's package will now be considered for Navy Medicine East Sailor of the Year.

The Sailor of the Year program was established in 1972 by then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and then-Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet to recognize an individual Sailor who best represented the ever-growing group of dedicated professional Sailors at each command and ultimately the Navy. When the program began, only the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Sailors were recognized. Within 10 years, the Sailor of the Year Program was expanded to include the shore establishment and Navy Reserve Sailors.

Each year, every Navy ship, station and command around the world chooses its Sailor of the Year based on leadership, professionalism, dedication, and superior performance. These selectees compete against recipients from other commands, eventually competing at higher echelons until the Navy's four finest are chosen. Only one is selected as the Navy Shore SOY.

NHCCC and its naval branch health clinics located in Kingsville and Fort Worth provide ambulatory care services to approximately 13,155 enrolled patients comprised of military active duty, their family members, retirees and their family members in South Texas and Dallas/Fort Worth. In addition, the command's San Antonio detachment provides primary care services to Navy students at the Medical Education and Training Campus, Fort Sam Houston, and case management services and medical board management to Navy and Marine Corps wounded, ill and injured warriors at San Antonio Military Medical Center.

Stay connected with NHCCC, visit http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nhccc/ or follow NHCCC on social media at http://www.facebook.com/nhccc.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi, visit http://www.navy.mil/.