Texas Woman’s University celebrates founding, gives awards

by Minnie Payne

DENTON — Texas Woman’s University, at its annual TWU Founders’ Day Award Scholarship Luncheon held April 3 in Hubbard Hall on TWU’s Denton campus, commemorated its April 6, 1901 founding and gave awards to Patsy and Fred Patterson and Denton LULAC Council 4366 for their exceptional service to the community and TWU.

Dr. Ann Stuart, Chancellor/President of TWU, said that the Pattersons have been ardent supporters of TWU, contributing to university athletics, the construction of the new Redbud Theater Complex and the TWU Redbud Revitalization Campaign.

Dr. Stuart also paid tribute to LULAC, saying that for more than five years, the Denton LULAC Council 4366 has partnered with TWU to award scholarships to deserving Hispanic students. Since 2002, the organization has awarded scholarships to 13 Hispanic TWU students.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Stuart stated that TWU is the largest primarily for women institution in the nation and has grown 53 percent since fall 2001, with 91 percent of the students being women.

“We lead Texas in educating nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dieticians, teachers, librarians, and so forth,” she said. “We perform an important mission for the students who learn here and for the workforce needs of Texas.”

Proceeds from the luncheon benefit the TWU Chancellor’s Endowed Scholarships, the most prestigious scholarships awarded by the university. Established by Chancellor Stuart and other donors in 2000, the scholarships are the largest awarded by TWU and according to Financial Aid Administrator Kimberly Adams, are the only academic scholarships that offer a book stipend to recipients in addition to paying fall and spring tuition fees. The scholarships are awarded to TWU students on the basis of outstanding academic achievement, leadership and service in school and community activities, and recipients go through the TWU scholarship application process.

Shirley Cothran Barret, Ph.D., Miss America 1975 and a TWU alumna, was the keynote speaker. In her speech, Barret emphasized that an education gives one the freedom of opening doors and prepares for the unexpected.

“An education has made me a little bit savvier about life, and I’m thankful that my education has given me options,” Barret said. “An education helps all of us define who we are, and I’m thankful and proud to be part of the alumni of this university.”

Barret earned a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education and Family Counseling from TWU in 1979.