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. If you would like to support the Dona S. Gower Endowment please click on the link below alumni.udallas.edu/gower.
Gower Scholarship Recipients
2015-16 Ann Kuehl
2016-17 Mary Shannon McFall
"Poetry is civically important for a healthy and happy society," said three-time UD alumnus Matt Mehan, BA '00 MA '09 PhD '14. "In other words, a healthy politics requires a healthy poetics."
+ Read MoreKimberly Diwa, BA '22, first heard of the University of Dallas during a Bible study at her church. She decided to visit campus and immediately was struck by UD's friendly character, not to mention its impressive record of preparing pre-med students for medical school.
+ Read MoreDuring the course of the 2018-19 academic year, the university will sponsor a series of lectures, art exhibits, panel discussions and other activities centered around All the Light We Cannot See, the first chosen book for this new community reading initiative, culminating in author Anthony Doerr's visit to campus as the 2019 Eugene McDermott lecturer.
+ Read More
