Converse College Honors Betty Reynolds Oare of Warrenton with Distinguished Alumna Award

SPARTANBURG, SC (06/14/2013)(readMedia)-- Converse College honored Betty Reynolds Oare, an alumna from the Class of 1963, who was born in Tryon, NC, and is a current resident of Warrenton, VA, with the 2013 Distinguished Alumnae Award for her accomplishments in the equestrian field and her contributions to the college. The award was presented by Converse President Betsy Fleming and Converse Alumnae Association President Elisabeth Kinney McNeil during the college's reunion weekend.

Betty has become an accomplished professional Hunter/Jumper rider during her career and has been winning awards since 1958, such as the Junior Hunter Champion at the Washington International Horse Show and the Working Hunter Champion at Madison Square Gardens, twice.

She has also been named the Horsewoman of the Year by the Virginia Horseshow Association, the American Hunter Jumper Foundation Sportsmanship Trophy, has been inducted into the Washington International Horse Show Hall of Fame and the Virginia Horseshow Association Hall of Fame and, most recently, was given the Virginia Horseshow Association Sportsmanship Award.

In addition to consistently supporting the Converse Annual Fund since the year that she graduated, Betty has more recently contributed greatly to the reestablishment of the Converse College Equestrian Program. This popular program has enables students the ability to foster their passion for riding and serves as a legacy for both Betty's accomplishments and her deep interest in the growth of the Converse community. 

About Converse College

Founded in 1889 and located in Spartanburg, S.C., Converse College is a master's university dedicated to developing adaptable leaders equipped with the creativity, character, knowledge and perspective to effect positive change in the world. Converse was ranked 3rd in the nation for research, service and social mobility by Washington Monthy and is a Best Value in the South by U.S.News & World Report.

Converse offers a wide range of academic programs for undergraduate women and coed graduate students through the School of Humanities and Sciences, School of Education and Graduate Studies, and School of the Arts. The Converse learning community is differentiated by the Nisbet Honors Program, Petrie School of Music, award-winning independent and collaborative research, leading national debate teams, study abroad and internship programs, and a 10:1 student/faculty ratio.