• Alumni
  • Parents
  • News
  • Event Calendar
  • Library
  • Business Office
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Quick Links
Austin College Logo

Sherman, Texas

Visit

Apply

Scholarships

Get Info

MENU
  • About
    • Fast Facts about Austin College
      • Mission
      • History
      • Kangaroo Mascot
      • Austin College Page Plaid
    • Major Grant Projects
    • Office of the President
      • About President O’Day
      • Contact the President
      • Essays & Speeches
      • Past Presidents
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Action Timeline | 2016 to the Present
    • Administration
    • Board of Trustees
      • Trustee Profiles
    • Institutional Marketing & Communications
      • Media Kit
      • IMC Professional Internship Program
    • News & Events
      • College News
      • College Calendar
      • Signature Events
        • Adams Observatory Star Parties
        • Lessons & Carols
        • MLK Day Celebration 2023
        • Posey Leadership Award
        • TEDxAustinCollege
      • ‘Roos in the News
      • Media Kit
      • Campus Photo Gallery
      • Confronting Racial Violence and Resistance Convening
    • Campus & Visitor Information
      • North Texas Area
  • Admission & Aid
    • Scholarships and Financial Aid
      • Scholarships for New Students
      • Scholarships for Current Students
      • Applying for Aid
      • Work Study
      • Loans
      • Federal Verification of FAFSA Data
      • Forms & Documents
      • Policies
      • Tuition & Payments
      • VA Education Benefits
      • Financial Aid Staff
      • Net Price Calculator
      • Financial Aid FAQ’s
      • Financial Wellness
    • Apply Now
      • Freshmen Students
      • International Students
      • Transfer Students
        • BSC to AC
      • Application Dates & Deadlines
    • International Students
      • Requirements
      • Scholarships & Financial Assistance
      • Admitted International Students
    • Transfer Students
      • How to Apply
      • Transfer Scholarships
      • Transfer Student Orientation
    • Visit Campus
    • Meet Your Counselor
      • Meet the ‘Roo Navigators
    • Why Choose Austin College?
      • College Planning for 11th Grade Students
      • Making the Most of Summer
    • Austin College en Español
      • Solicitud
      • Apoyo Financiero
    • Admitted Students
      • Discover Austin College
      • Key Contacts on Campus
      • New Student Information
        • Links of Interest
        • Language Placement Exams
    • Austin College Advantage
    • The Word on AC
    • The Finish in Four Guarantee
    • After AC
    • Refer A Student
  • Academics
    • Majors, Minors & Programs
      • Social Justice and Community Engagement Program
    • Applied Learning
    • Centers & Programs
      • Center for Career & Professional Development
        • Handshake
        • Career Exploration
        • Internships
        • Job/Internship Search
        • Employer Services
        • Graduate/Professional School
        • Graduate Outcomes
        • Online Resources
        • Career Center Events
        • Career Alumni Connections
        • Contact Us
      • Center for Community & Regional Development
      • Center for Environmental Studies
      • Center for Southwestern & Mexican Studies
      • Faculty Development
        • Sabbatical Series
        • Thursday Lunch Topics
        • Reading Groups
        • Johnson Center Activities
        • Additional Resources
      • First-Year Experience
        • Mission Statement
        • First-Year Seminar
        • Peer Mentors
        • First-Year Information (FYI)
      • Office of International Programs
        • International Education Week 2021
        • Global Living Learning Community (GLLC)
        • Support Services for International Students
      • Posey Leadership Institute
      • Student Research
        • ENSURE Program
        • Sciences Summer Research Program
        • Student Research Dissemination Awards
        • ACUMEN
        • Responsible Conduct of Research
        • Student Scholars Conference
        • Scarbrough Summer Research
      • Writing Center
    • Faculty
    • Center for Student Success and Access Services
      • Tutoring Services
        • Resources and Links
        • Review Sessions & Workshops
        • Meet Our Tutors
        • Become a Peer Tutor
      • Student Success
        • First-Generation Students
      • Access Services
    • Fellowships & Scholarships
      • Honors Convocation
        • Homer P. Rainey Award
      • Departmental Honors Program
        • Honors Program Nomination Procedures
        • Honors Program Requirements
        • Honors Thesis Formatting
      • Phi Beta Kappa
        • Membership Archive
        • Membership Criteria
      • Fulbright Grants
      • Peace Corps Prep Program
        • How to Apply
        • PCPP Benefits
        • PCPP Curriculum
        • PCPP Campus Committee
        • Peace Corps Alumni
    • Academic Affairs
    • Registrar’s Office
    • Grad School Opportunities
      • Physician Assistant (PA) Program
      • Health Science Programs
        • Texas Tech Early Decision Program
        • Health Professions Advising Guides
        • Health Sciences Scholarships
        • FAQ’s About Health Sciences
        • Health Sciences Advising
        • Resources
      • Law
      • Engineering Pathways
      • Ministry
      • TTU Grad Program
      • Gateways to Grad School
        • Partner Programs
        • Partner Universities
        • Texas Tech Health Sciences Programs
    • Graduate Teacher Program
      • About the ATP
      • Teaching/Course Certification Requirements
      • ATP Advising Forms & Documents
      • ATP Advisors
      • Noyce STEM Program
        • Noyce STEM Summer Internships
        • Noyce STEM Scholarships
      • Field Supervisor’s Forms & Documents
      • Thinking Camps
    • January and May Term 2024
      • Travel JanTerm/MayTerm | Liability Release
      • January Term 2023 Expo
      • Travel JanTerm/MayTerm | Medical Release and Info
      • Travel JanTerm Scholarships
        • Travel JanTerm 2024 Scholarship Application
      • January Term Photo Galleries
    • Military and Veteran Services
      • Veterans OnwardTM*
    • Summer Term
  • Campus Life
    • Campus Police & Safety
      • Campus Emergencies
      • Severe Weather
      • Rules & Regulations
      • Crime Prevention
      • Campus Police Staff
    • Campus Services
      • Campus Bookstore
      • Dining Services
      • Post Office
      • Information Technology
    • Career Center
    • Counseling Services
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Scope of Care
      • Counseling Center
      • Signs & Symptoms
      • Web Resources
      • Contact Us
      • Texoma Resources
      • Student Wellness
        • By Choice Students
        • Greek Organizations
        • FAQs About MSB
    • Health Services and Treatment
      • Austin College Community Health
        • COVID-19 Fall 2022 Protocols
        • COVID-19 Dashboard
        • Information for Visitors
      • Clinic Hours & Health Services
      • Immunizations
      • Health Forms
      • Student Insurance
      • After Hours Assistance
    • Religious Life
      • Presbyterian Traditions
      • AColyte
      • Worship & Bible Study
      • Many Spiritual Traditions
      • ACtivators
      • Religious Life Staff
    • Residence Life on Campus
      • Room Selection
      • Living on Campus 2022-2023
      • First-Year Experience
      • Student Staff
      • Important Dates for Residence Life
    • Student Emergency Resources
    • Student Life
      • Campus Activities
      • Clubs & Organizations
        • ACtivators
        • Esports
        • Recreational Sports
      • Documents & Links
      • Greek Life
        • Potential Members
        • Greek Life Events
        • Greek Life Forms
        • Greek Sponsors
        • Greek Council
        • Order of Omega
      • Student Life Staff
      • Student Life Publications
      • Student Publication
        • AC Observer Job Descriptions
      • Transportation Opportunities
    • Service Station
      • Board Profiles
      • Great Day of Service
      • JanServe
      • First We Serve
      • Aramark Appreciation
      • Alternative Spring Break
      • Austin College Tutoring (ACT)
      • Tostan
      • Thrift Store Drive
      • RooBound
      • Servant of the Year
    • Student Assembly
      • Student Assembly Representatives
      • Student Development Fund
      • Resolution Database
    • Title IX Office
      • Mandatory Student Training
      • Reporting
      • Policy Definitions
      • Grievance Procedures
      • Texas Compliance
      • Title IX Staff Training
    • Student Awards
    • Student Photo Gallery
  • Athletics
    • acroos.com
    • Legends
    • Athletics “A” Association
    • Support Athletics
  • Giving
    • Make a Gift
    • Annual Giving
    • Estate Planning
      • Oscar & Anna Laura Page Meditation Garden
    • Donor Resources
    • Contact Us
Info For...
  • Alumni
  • Parents
  • News
  • Event Calendar
  • Library
  • Business Office
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Quick Links
Home » News » Page Meditation Garden Dedicated

Page Meditation Garden Dedicated

Updated on: October 29, 2021

Scott Schmidt, Carol McDonald, Oscar & Anna Laura PageThe Oscar and Anna Laura Page Meditation Garden—completed this fall just east of Wynne Chapel—was dedicated during Homecoming 2021.

At the dedication, President Steven O’Day said that the spot that is now the meditation garden had been beautiful before, “but you walked past it on the way to somewhere else. Now you want to be part of it,” he said. “It feels to me as though this has always been here. That’s the beauty of this space that includes a columbarium, labyrinth, finger labyrinth, benches, and lights.”

“Come back at night,” he urged. “It is a lantern that calls you.”

O’Day said a committee of alumni had been involved in the project and that the garden was made possible by private philanthropy, with the lead gift coming from Carol McDonald ’72 and her husband, Scott Schmidt.

Carol McDonald ’72 and her husband, Scott Schmidt, first brought up the idea of the garden to College leadership because of the columbarium portion of the project. (A columbarium holds urns containing cremated remains.) “Now that parents and children often live across the country from one another and do not plan to be buried together, a columbarium offers an alternative to being buried in a cemetery no one will ever visit,” Carol said. “Faculty who have given their lives to the College may feel the campus is an appropriate resting place.”

Alumni who remain active in the life of the College throughout their entire lives may feel that same attachment to the campus, Carol explained, adding that sometimes several members of a family may attend the College over generations. “The graduates may have met on campus and been married here; then, their children may have attended and even met their spouses here,” Carol added.

Page Meditation GardenOnce the project was approved, Carol and her husband did not wait to donate the lead gift to make it happen. And, when asked, they had no hesitancy as to the naming of the area. They wanted it to honor Oscar and Anna Laura Page. During Dr. Page’s presidency at the College (1994-2009), Carol worked closely with him through her role as president of Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, as well as an alumna of Austin College and a member of its Alumni Board. Meanwhile, Anna Laura Page, an accomplished musician and composer, invited them to their home where Scott saw her baby grand piano and knew they were kindred spirits with a shared professional interest in music.

President O’Day offered Oscar and Anna Laura Page on opportunity to speak at the dedication, and Oscar said a word of thanks. “This week, I was thinking back to 1994 when we arrived here and began to meet people,” he said. “I began to recognize this is a place where alumni grow close to one another. They go to each other’s weddings and to the births of one another’s children. I saw a family of delightful people that I have been happy to be a part of for many years,” Page said. “I am thankful to the Board of Trustees for agreeing to do this very meaningful thing. I thank you also for remembering us in such a special way.”

FROM THE DEDICATION SERVICE

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

 

WORDS FROM THE CHAPLAIN

The Lord who is our shepherd
makes us lie down in green pastures…
and
leads us beside still waters…

Those are useful images for us as we think about this Meditation Garden.
Green pastures and still waters are metaphors for
peaceful places.
And this beautiful new garden is exactly that.
The shade of the trees and the gentle touch of the breeze invite us to relax;
to exhale,
to put away our anxieties,
and to enjoy
the generous beauty of our surroundings.

The next verse of the Psalm says that this Lord who is our shepherd
and leads us to places of stillness and rest also
restores our souls…

Our prayer is that this Garden may be a source of rest,
renewal, and restoration for all in the Austin College community.

The second part of Psalm 23:4 says the Lord
leads us in right paths.

That’s a pretty good way to think about this labyrinth.
For centuries, individuals, formal cultures, and
various religious traditions have used labyrinth designs to symbolize
and facilitate their search for meaning and guidance.
This labyrinth is a “unicursal,” one-path design.
There are no tricks or puzzles or decisions to be made.

Once you enter the labyrinth,
you are led in the “right path.”
The labyrinth is non-sectarian.
People of all faiths,
people seeking perspective and clarity,
walk labyrinths in all kinds of contexts and places.

All are welcome here—
to walk the labyrinth or
use the finger labyrinth.

In the coming days, we will install a QR Code that will connect visitors to a resource for walking the labyrinth.
It’s the “right path.”
But that “right path” might be different for every walker, every time.

The 23rd Psalm also says that even when
we are in the “Valley of the Shadow of Death,”
we are not alone—
that God is with us even there.

That means God is also with us as we consider and
face our own deaths or the death of our loved ones.
So it is appropriate that one feature of this Garden is
the Columbarium.

This Columbarium will provide a final consecrated,
resting place for members of the Austin College community who choose to have their ashes placed here.
Austin College has prepared and set aside this
Oscar and Anna Laura Page Meditation Garden
to be a place of rest and communion
for the entire Austin College family.

We intend for this to be a place of stillness and solace
where our students, faculty,
staff, alumni, and friends
can find peace and purpose,
comfort and courage.

It’s for all of us.

Filed Under: College Wide News, Home Page News & Events, News

GET IN TOUCH

903.813.2000
Austin College
900 N. Grand Ave.
Sherman, TX 75090

Contact Us

GET SOCIAL

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

GET LINKED

  • Human Resources
  • Campus Offices
  • Faculty/Staff Directory
  • Outlook Email
  • Title IX Office
  • Campus Conduct Hotline
  • Health Services

GET CONNECTED

Subscribe

Connect to AC

Request Information

Copyright © 2021 - All rights reserved | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Consumer Information | Site by thrive-logo