April 29, 2005

DALLAS PHILANTHROPIST KAREN SHUFORD
RECEIVES 2005 MAURA AWARD FROM SMU APRIL 28

Karen Shuford (center) with SMU President R. Gerald Turner and 2005 Maura Awards chair Tegwin Dyer Pulley (click image for high-resolution version).

DALLAS (SMU) -- Karen Shuford, a civic leader who has opened doors to greater diversity in education, engineering and voluntarism, was honored with a 2005 Maura Award, presented by Southern Methodist University April 28 at the Pavilion at the Belo Mansion in Dallas.

Shuford has been committed to creating opportunities for girls in the fields of science, math and technology since graduating from SMU with a degree in electrical engineering. As an alumna and teacher at Ursuline Academy and as vice chair of the Executive Board of SMU's School of Engineering, Shuford has committed time and resources to building projects, scholarship endeavors and the recruitment of students interested in math and science careers. In the community, she has been a strong advocate for Girls Inc., and as President of the Junior League of Dallas she took significant steps to increase membership diversity and combat cultural and racial stereotypes.

Established in 1978 by the Women's Center of Dallas, the annual Maura Awards recognize "those who have made extraordinary contributions to the success and wellbeing of women and children in the Dallas community."

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Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas with more than 10,000 students and offering degree programs through seven schools. More information about SMU is available at www.smu.edu.