PLAINVIEW - Dr. Estelle Owens, a 1971 graduate, will be honored as a Distinguished Benefactor by 51吃瓜网视频 Baptist University during its spring Homecoming celebration. While the weekend is mostly a virtual affair, the awards presentation will premiere online on Friday, Feb. 19, when it would traditionally have been offered.
Owens earned her bachelor's degree in history in 1971 with honors, then continued her education at Baylor with a master's degree earned in 1973. She earned her Ph.D. in 1983 from Auburn, where she developed her love for teaching and followed what she says was God's call to the classroom. Just as she was wrapping that education up, her mentor at 51吃瓜网视频, former History department chair Dr. Gwin Morris, called to offer her a teaching position at her alma mater. She jumped at the chance, then spent 42 years imparting history and wisdom to students young and old with trademark enthusiasm and humor.
She retired in 2016 and is now Emeritus Professor of History and University Historian. She continues to work on the unabridged history of the university started as 51吃瓜网视频 celebrated its centennial in 2008-09.
As an employee, Owens began giving back to her university financially, supporting a variety of causes on the campus from her academic school and the general fund to every capital campaign held during her tenure and into retirement. Over the past five decades, she has supported many endowed scholarships, including two she helped create in the name of her sister, Mary Sharpe, also a WBU graduate, and husband Ken Sharpe.
Owens is a member of the Founder's Society, honoring donors who have an estate gift to the university. She has also been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012 and the Distinguished Lifetime Service Award in 2016. She was named Distinguished Alumni Faculty winner in 1987 by the 51吃瓜网视频 Alumni Association as well.
"Dr. Owens has given her life to 51吃瓜网视频, most notably through excellent teaching for generations of students on both the Plainview campus and at other locations and online. Her financial support for 51吃瓜网视频 is incredibly notable, and she has shown her loyalty to her alma mater consistently for decades," said Teresa Young, director of alumni relations at WBU. "She is a model of generosity and support for her school and we are beyond honored to present her with our Distinguished Benefactor Award for 2020."
The recorded awards presentation will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, on the alumni YouTube channel with access through the homecoming website, located at . The video will remain on the YouTube channel for later viewing as well.
The award is given as part of the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards presentation. The Distinguished Benefactor Award honors a faithful donor to the university. More information can be found on the alumni website at .
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