By Hazel Scott/ASU
When it came time for ASU graduate Judge Shanta Owens’s husband to find a 45th birthday present for her, he wanted something that would recognize and honor her love of education.
He gave her a $20,000 check made out to her alma mater, Alabama State University, to establish an endowed scholarship in her name, the Judge Shanta Owens Academic Scholarship.
“He knew how much I love Alabama State University. He told me to do what I always wanted to do and that was to create an endowed scholarship at ASU. ….We had been talking about our legacy and…this was the perfect gift to do that,” Owens said.
Owens noted that the scholarship will provide assistance with college expenses for in-need graduating juniors or seniors in the College of Business. “I wanted it to be a student with enough skin in the game to want to finish their degree at ASU.”
Owens, a 1999 graduate, credits the late Dr. Percy J. Vaughn, the founding dean of the College of Business Administration, for her and her twin sister selecting ASU.
“The College of Business (Administration) is so near and dear to my heart, specifically because of Dean Vaughn. He was an amazing man. He means a lot to me. On the day I toured ASU, he took a meeting with me, my twin sister and my mom...When we left his office, I remember my mom saying ‘this is the place where I can send my girls.’ My twin and I agreed.”
Owens pointed out that when she decided to run for district judge in Jefferson County in 2028, Dean Vaughn encouraged other ASU business professors to donate to her campaign.
A loyal supporter of ASU, Owens has given back to the University over the years and encourages others to give back to O' Mother Dear.
“The training I obtained at Alabama State University and the degree that I earned set me on a path to go out in the world and truly believe I can conquer anything,” Owens added.
To make a tax-deductible donation to Alabama State University visit www.alasu.edu/giving, or to establish an endowed scholarship, contact Audrey Parks, director of Development at aparks@alasu.edu or 334-229-5620.