BELTON, Texas—The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) is excited to announce the Julie O’Rear Endowed Scholarship. A generous donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, gave $1 million to UMHB from a donor-advised fund held at HighGround Advisors to endow this scholarship in honor of Julie O’Rear and her contributions to UMHB through her service as the first lady. This endowment will allow future college students with financial need to experience excellence in Christian higher education at UMHB.
“I am overwhelmed and humbled by this gift. I don’t feel worthy of something like this, but it’s really cool to think about the students it’s going to help,” explained Julie O’Rear, UMHB’s first lady. “In the same way I received scholarship assistance when I came to UMHB, this endowment is going to provide financial blessings to UMHB students now and into the future. I am most excited because, for years to come, this endowment will help students afford to have the same UMHB experience I had - even long after I’m gone.”
Julie grew up in Athens, TX, and came to UMHB in August 1986 to play volleyball and study nursing. She knew she wanted to be a nurse long before college, and she attributes finding UMHB to God’s guidance in her life. She met her husband, Dr. Randy O’Rear, UMHB president, at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting on campus that August when they were both college students, and they got married two years later. She then graduated in May 1990 and went on to have a fulfilling career as a clinical research nurse at Scott & White Hospital in Temple.
After they both graduated, Randy and Julie stayed at UMHB and served the university in many different capacities, including assistant baseball coach and residence hall director, respectively. Randy served 20 years in many capacities at the university before he was elected president and chief executive officer in 2009. Once Randy stepped into that role, Julie left Scott & White to focus exclusively on her new role as UMHB’s first lady.
“God continues to bless UMHB, and we’re incredibly grateful for how this endowment will provide scholarships for students in our undergraduate programs,” said Dr. Randy O’Rear. “The size of this endowment gift and the spirit in which it was given to honor Julie makes this even more special.”
The O’Rears have three children, two of whom are UMHB graduates, and three grandchildren. They are long-time members of First Baptist Belton and spend most of their free time cheering on the Crusaders at UMHB sporting events or on the campus pickleball courts with students and friends.
“Randy and I are just doing what God called us to do, and we love it,” added Julie. “Looking back now, this has been God’s plan all along. He weaved all the pieces together to bring us where we are today. We are so blessed and grateful to be at UMHB!”
To learn more about this scholarship or to give to UMHB, visit umhb.edu/giving or call 254-295-5451.
