Established in 1975, the Bess Gentry Award is annually conferred as an all-university recognition of a senior woman who has demonstrated outstanding character, leadership, service, contribution and scholarship as a student Lamar University.
The recipient of the Bess Gentry Award is selected from the nominees for Seniors of Significance. Recipients of the Gentry Award also receive a $1,000 award. The recipient is announced at the annual Toast to Leadership Awards Banquet.
Congratulations to Chloe Smith, the 2023 recipient of the Gentry Award. Chloe is a speech and hearing science major from Beaumont and is the president of the Student Advisory Council for the College of Fine Arts and Communication, a Peer Health Educator, and a volunteer for the Beaumont ISD SOAR program.
The award was established in the name of Bess Gentry, dean of women (1944-1968) and head of the women’s health and physical education department (1944-1956). Mrs. Gentry was instrumental in establishing several student organizations on the LU campus.