CSC graduate earns national award

Owens grew up in Keya Paha County in north central Nebraska. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from Chadron State in 1962 and a Master of Science in Education degree from the college in 1965 while he was teaching in O’Neill.     

He received his doctorate from the University of Nebraska.

Owens spent more than 20 years teaching in K-12 schools in Nebraska and Iowa, eight years supporting K-12 schools as an administrator for Western Hills Area Education Agency in Iowa and about 20 years as a professor at Morningside College in Sioux City.

After retiring from teaching, Owens worked part-time at Morningside as the Education Department’s professional development coordinator and is now the college’s director of special projects.

In 2007, Owens received the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award for his work to ensure appropriate education and services for persons with learning disabilities.

The Educator of the Year Award was presented to Owens at the LDA’s convention in Chicago. Samuel Kirk, for whom the award is named, was a psychologist and a pioneer in the field of learning disabilities.

Owens’ wife, the former Verlee Peterson, a graduate of Plainview High School, also earned her bachelor’s degree from Chadron State and was a high school teacher before retiring.

—Con Marshall