OJR presents service, alumni awards
SOUTH COVENTRY » Two Owen J. Roberts alumni received service awards for their contributions to the community.
On Thursday, Dec. 21, the Owen J. Roberts Education Foundation presented the annual Distinguished Alumni and Community Service Awards.
The Distinguished Alumni was awarded to Richard G. Wells (Class of 1954) and Elizabeth J. Wells (Class of 1956). Richard and Elizabeth Wells combined nearly 80 years as educators before retiring. Through the years, Mr. and Mrs. Wells influenced scores of students to aspire for excellence. Residing in the Owen J. Roberts community, they remain committed to supporting students in various educational programs. Richard and Elizabeth Wells created the Instrumental Music Scholarship Fund awarded during the annual commencement exercises at Owen J. Roberts High School.
The 2017 Owen J. Roberts Community Service Award was presented to Holly and Ron Miller. Holly and Ron are co-founders of In Ian’s Boots Inc., a non-profit organization that provides shoes and boots to those in need. They have taken a tragic event in their lives, the loss of their only child who was killed in a sledding accident, and found a way to turn that dark day into an amazing bright spot for the Owen J. Roberts community and beyond. To date, they have donated shoes to 3,242 individuals in the tri-county area and over 150,000 pairs of shoes to 32 countries around the globe.
The Owen J. Roberts Education Foundation encourages excellence among students and faculty by providing funding for activities that are innovative in nature and compliment the basic classroom educational experience.