ANDERSON — Grammy-award winning gospel singer Sandi Patty will be leaving Anderson to move back to her birthplace: Oklahoma City, Okla.

Her husband, Don Peslis, director of the Center for Character Development at Anderson University and Character Counts of Madison County, has taken a new job at SandRidge Energy — an independent natural gas and oil company concentrating in exploration, according to its Web site — where he will be doing character development work at the corporate level.

Peslis starts his job in January, but it’s not known exactly when Patty and the couple’s children will join him, according to Anna Trent, spokeswoman and Patty’s daughter. The couple has seven children in local schools: two in Anderson Community Schools and five at Anderson University.

Peslis issued the following statement by e-mail:

“Sandi and I are incredibly grateful for everyone in our lives from the Anderson community and greater Madison County area. While my professional opportunities may take our family other places, Anderson is still very much our home, even though we will relocate during the next several months.”

Patty, 52, has lived in Anderson since she was a student at AU, then called Anderson College. She got her first recording contract in 1979, according to the Musician Guide Web site.

In the early 1980s, she was asked to sing backup for the Bill Gaither Trio, and her album “Lift Up the Lord” was issued in 1982.

Patty reached national acclaim after her rendition of the national anthem was included during the ABC Statue of Liberty rededication broadcast on July 4, 1986. This exposure led to appearances on “The Tonight Show,” “Christmas in Washington” and Walt Disney’s “Fourth of July Extravaganza.”

More recently, she appeared in the 2006 annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Patty has recorded 30 albums and has won numerous Grammy and Dove awards. She was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of fame in 2004.

In May 2008, Patty released her 30th recording, “Songs for the Journey,” which includes cover versions of well-known hymns and modern gospel classics.

Peslis has been with the Character Counts Center at AU since August 2000.

“Don did a great job of building a solid foundation,” said Keith Trent, board member of Character Counts of Madison County, which is part of the Character Counts Center. “From one classroom at Forest Hills Elementary School, Character Counts is now in all schools in Madison County.”

Stephanie Moran, program director for the Center for Character Development at Anderson University, will assume the directorship.

“Stephanie will do a fabulous job,” said Keith Trent. “We won’t miss a beat with her in charge. We’ll continue to grow under Stephanie.”

Carl Caldwell, vice president for academic affairs at AU, which oversees the center, said Peslis raised awareness of character development to significant levels in the community and university.

“As a result of his efforts, students are better prepared than ever to assist in schools as teachers,” he said. Like Keith Trent, he expects the center to continue growing under Moran.

“I’m impressed with her commitment to this program,” he said. “She’ll do a great job.”

On Monday, a reception for Peslis and Patty will be held at Reardon Auditorium on the campus of AU.

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If you go ...

What: Reception for Don and Sandi Peslis

Where: Reardon Auditorium, Anderson University

When: 6:30 p.m. Monday