He is Dr. O'Dell M. Owens, president and chief executive officer of RISE Learning Solutions Inc., an early childhood education and literacy program.

        “We think Dr. Owens is an excellent choice for this award,” said Sarah Creech, administrative assistant of the Queen City Foundation, which created the award. “He certainly has been an example of excellence in education.”

        The foundation seeks to motivate academically talented minority students to apply for admission to independent college preparatory schools.

        Judge Black, now retired, was a co-founder of the foundation. In setting up the award, he said: “The Award of Excellence and Diversity in Education is awarded to persons who stand out because of their leadership, vision, creativity, generosity or accomplishments in pursuit of excellence and diversity in college preparatory education.”

        “I am delighted that someone like Dr. Owens was chosen as a recipient,” Judge Black said. “His dedication to education and diversity has been outstanding.”

        Dr. Owens distinguished himself in November 1988 when he announced Cincinnati's first pregnancy from a frozen embryo and became internationally known as a fertility specialist.

        He left his practice in April to head RISE Learning Solutions Inc.

        A Cincinnati native, Dr. Owens earned a bachelor's degree from Antioch College and a medical degree from Yale University.

        He has been honored with the Tree of Life Award by the American Jewish Committee, the Lincoln Award from Northern Kentucky University, an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Cincinnati and was the youngest person inducted into the Ohio Independent College Hall of Excellence.

        Dr. Owens is a member of the board of directors of US Bank, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum, the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and the Cincinnati Fine Arts Board.

        Judge Black earned a bachelor's degree from Yale and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

        He served four years on the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court and 12 years in the Court of Appeals for the 1st District.

        The ceremony announcing the award and its first recipient will be held Oct. 1 at the home of William Motto and Barbara Gould in Indian Hill. For more information, call the foundation at 241-1322.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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