Alumni

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor awarded to a former student of Pine Tree ISD. The award, sponsored by The Pine Tree Education Foundation recognizes former students who have made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments and careers have brought honor and distinction to Pine Tree ISD. 

2024 Distinguished Alumni

Rossman

Colonel Michael Rossman M.D., Class of 1986

The Pine Tree Education Foundation is honored to posthumously recognize through his selfless military and medical careers, Colonel Michael Rossman M.D., Class of 1986 as the 2024 Distinguished Alumni. Upon graduation from Pine Tree, Dr. Rossman earned a BA in Biology from Baylor University in 1990 and an MD from Texas A&M College of Medicine in 1994. After graduation, Dr. Rossman served in the US Army for 21 years, stationed with his family in Washington, Kansas, Washington D.C., and Germany. Excelling as a physician, he held numerous leadership roles in military medicine. After completing residency in Internal Medicine, he served for 16 years as Internal Medicine physician, later Flight Surgeon, Brigade Surgeon and Chief of Primary Care and Internal Medicine. In 2008, Dr. Rossman completed a fellowship in Rheumatology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, then returned to Germany as Chief of Rheumatology Services. He later was appointed Deputy Commander of Clinical Services in Afghanistan, and served additional deployments to Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq.

Retiring from the US Army in 2015 and moving to College Station, he was a Rheumatologist at Baylor Scott & White and Chief of Rheumatology and Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine, where his medical training began.

Dr. Rossman was known amongst his colleagues, patients and students for his compassion, his deep faith and love for his family. He was a loving husband to his wife of 29 years, Lucia, a devoted father to his children, Rachel, Rebekah and Richard, who all survive him. He is also survived by his mother Barbara Bedair Rossman, his brothers Roy B. "Dair" Rossman and John G. Rossman and wife Heather; in-laws Richard Herschler and wife Gayla. He is preceded in death by his father, Roy Rossman,

The Colonel Michael G. Rossman, MD '94 Endowed Scholarship has been established at Texas A&M School of Medicine to enable aspiring physicians to follow his legacy of lifelong service to faith, country and community. He was posthumously awarded the Texas A&M School of Medicine Distinguished Alumni award in April 2024. At the time of his passing, Dr. Rossman was Chief of Rheumatology, Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine and Division Director of Medicine at Baylor Scott & White in College Station, Texas.

Previous Distinguished Alumni Honorees

The Pine Tree Education Foundation is currently accepting nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Alumni. Nomination forms are due by Thursday, May 23, 2024.  Distinguished Alumni will be honored at Pine Tree Homecoming. This form may be submitted electronically with scanned copies of supporting materials to dpruitt@ptisd.org or this form and accompanying materials may be mailed to: 

Pine Tree Education Foundation P. O. Box 5878, Longview, TX 75608