The Texas Department of State Health Services named the City of Bryan a "five-star" award winning local registrar.

The local registrar is responsible for receiving, certifying and issuing certified birth and death records, issuing funeral related permits, filing amendments to birth and death records, and assisting families with affidavits of paternity.

City Secretary Mary Lynne Stratta is the official registrar for the City of Bryan. City employees Latisha Albarado, Emilee Thomason and Cindy Vargas work in the department’s vital statistics area.

The honor is bestowed on offices that excel in the following areas: timeliness of filing vital records; innovation through use of technology; implementation of security practices; training; collaboration; and customer service.

The City of Bryan’s Registrar’s Office has been honored by the Department of State Health Services in 13 of the last 14 years.

The awards will be handed out at the 57th Annual Texas Vital Statistics Conference on December 7-9 in Austin, Texas.