New endowed scholarship at Centenary to support students studying biology
SHREVEPORT, LA — Dr. David M. King '97 and Centenary President David Rowe signed the formal agreement establishing the King Endowed Scholarship at a ceremony on Friday, February 19, in the Hardy Hall of Fame Room. Dr. Rowe remarked on the appropriateness of the setting.
"We talk a lot at Centenary about encircling the world with wise, caring, moral leaders," said Dr. Rowe. "I really like this particular room because we are surrounded by representatives of alumni who remind us of the values and the character traits and the capacities that were nurtured here and given life because of the role models that you were able to experience and the way that people were able to call that forth from you."
Rowe praised Dr. King for his generous act which will pass on to the next generation the opportunity to benefit from the nurturing, reflective experiences that compose a Centenary education.
A 2004 graduate of Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Center for Health Sciences, Dr. King currently works as a rural pediatrician in Guymon, OK. He is involved in teaching nursing, nurse practitioner, and medical students. He serves on the Advisory Board for Heartland Genetics Collaborative, a federally funded organization covering and coordinating genetic services in a seven state area, and as faculty for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
Dr. King was similarly active during his undergraduate career. While at Centenary, he was endorsed by the Centenary School of Church Careers and involved with the Student Government Association and Residence Life. He also served as a Justice of the Honor Court. In his comments, Dr. King remarked on the importance of mentorship.
"It was wonderful to have people who were mentors, who are still mentors, who I look up to still to this day. People whose opinions and concepts of life I take very seriously. I'm glad to be able to say that I was taught by some of the best professors at Centenary. And I became a better person because of that."
The King Endowed Scholarship is directed toward students studying biology, but Dr. King closed his remarks by expressing his hope that recipients of the scholarship will take advantage of the whole breadth of experiences available at Centenary.