The Dr. Dona S. Gower Memorial Endowed Scholarship

The Dr. Dona S. Gower Memorial Endowed Scholarship

The University of Dallas English Department Dona S. Gower Memorial Endowed Scholarship is made possible by a generous donation from the Athena Foundation, which Dr. Gower founded.  

Dona (Spawn) Gower, who graduated from UD with an English Major in 1964, went on to receive a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.  She was a passionate and inspiring teacher of literature at the college and high school levels, and in the last three decades of her life worked with non-profit foundations in Dallas dedicated to educating teachers.  She created the Athena Foundation solely with this mission--to allow the renewal and enlargement of purpose for teachers through a communal experience of classic texts of literature. 

Here is an essay Dr. Gower wrote and presented to the Athena Foundation.

The education Dr. Gower received at the University of Dallas was the foundation for her love of classic literature and the basis for her passionate belief in the power of literature to transform the lives of those who study it.  Rising senior English majors may submit an application for the scholarship, including a brief essay reflecting on the importance of the role of the teacher.  

For more information regarding the endowment application please contact the English Department.

Support the Dr. Dona S. Gower Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Gower Scholarship Recipients

2015-16  Ann (Kuehl) Artz

2016-17 Mary Shannon McFall

2017-18 Anne Elfelt

2019-20  Adrianna Schell