Griselda Escobar of Hardin-Simmons University Awarded Prestigious Addie Davis Award

ABILENE, TX (06/10/2011)(readMedia)-- Griselda Escobar, of Tyler, TX, received the prestigious Addie Davis Award for Pastoral Leadership presented by the national Baptist Women in Ministry organization. Escobar and her husband, Allan, have a 5-year-old son, Elijah. Allan will finish his master of arts in family ministry at Hardin-Simmons University during the summer.

"This is the first time that a Logsdon seminary student has received the award," said Dr. Robert Ellis, associate dean for Logsdon School of Theology.

He said Escobar received a certificate, a cash award and national recognition for the honor.

"Griselda is a conscientious student, very compassionate and concerned for others," Ellis said. "She is good at building relations with others. Griselda was an ideal seminary student."

Dr. Dan R. Stiver, Cook-Derrick Professor of Theology at HSU, had Escobar in several of his classes.

"Griselda brought a fresh perspective to the other students in class," he said. "She was raised in a quite conservative tradition but has been able to move to an affirmation of women in ministry in a way that does not depreciate her past or her cultural background."

Immediately after graduation, Escobar returned to Tyler where she is engaged in clinical pastoral education at a hospital and plans to become a hospital chaplain.

In addition to her work in the hospital, she often assists with preaching and teaching at the church where her family attends.