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 Morgan Luke, the 2024 recipient of the Gentry Award. Morgan is a biochemistry major from Nederland and is the president of the American Medical Student Association and Helping Hands, an Honors Student Association peer mentor, and the recipient of the Mamie McFaddin Ward Memorial Scholarship in Health Sciences.