14 minute read
Donors and Scholars
Leaving A Legacy
WRITTEN BY ERICA LINDSAY
Advertisement
The term “leaving a legacy” may sound like a cliché, but that’s exactly what Paul Atkins has done. For many alumni, Professor Atkins needs no introduction.
“Tough” and “fair” are adjectives used to describe his teaching style, along with an emphasis on accuracy. He was legendary for marking up the previous day’s Daily Athenaeum with red pen and displaying it in the DA newsroom on the second floor of Martin Hall. For former students Joe Gollehon (BSJ, 1973) and James Hunkler (BSJ, 1950), memories of professors like Atkins inspired them to leave their own legacies.
Atkins, Gollehon and Hunkler have each made generous planned gifts to the WVU Reed College of Media. And while each of them has a different story, their motives for giving are perfectly aligned. They want future students to have the same meaningful experiences they had at the College of Media.
Atkins came to West Virginia University with a wave of other World War II veterans who were taking advantage of the new G.I. Bill. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism in 1949 and was called back to his alma mater four years later by Dean Perley Isaac Reed to be the faculty advisor at the DA.
Now, at 94-years-old, Atkins can still recall the exact date of the special edition Daily Athenaeum that he is most proud of –November 23, 1963, the day after John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Kennedy was killed on a Friday, which set into motion a series of changes on campus, from postponed classes to a cancelled football game. Before email, cell phones and the internet, information was distributed through the newspaper, but the DA didn’t run on Saturdays.
“We were sort of up the creek without a paddle, wondering what we could do to inform the campus,” Atkins said. “I had to capture students who were scattered everywhere from beer joints to sleeping in their rooms, but we got a staff of seven or eight people and arranged for a single-page press run at 11 p.m. I was very proud of those students and that we got the paper out Saturday morning.”
Along with the DA advisor role, he taught courses in reporting and copyediting. Throughout his 33 years teaching, he moved up through the ranks with promotions to assistant professor, associate professor and finally professor. But in those early days, he was just happy to be back at the college newspaper that he was so fond of as a student.
The Flying A Paul Atkins spent 33 years teaching journalism at WVU and advising students at the Daily Athenaeum. His students fondly remember him for his dedication, red pen and speed as he ran up and down the steps of Martin Hall.
“I was proud every day that we put out a paper. When you work and produce something daily, you develop a camaraderie, a family. So, I really remember those Athenaeum students from the 50s and 60s,” Atkins said. “Those students have a lot of impact on me. I’ve watched several of them become managing editors, sports editors or top reporters.”
And they remember him. Hunkler kept in touch with Atkins and received Christmas cards from him every year. For more than 40 years, Hunkler served in a wide range of public and community relations positions at the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio. He was also active in many community and professional groups, including the Society of Professional Journalists, which honored him with the Distinguished Service Award in 1977. In the 1990s, he decided to make a planned gift to the College of Media, sharing that he owed his career to WVU.
When Hunkler died on April 26, 2017, at the age of 88, the College received $575,000 from his estate. These unrestricted funds will be used to enhance academic programming and provide opportunities for students.
“It’s a real gift to have an unrestricted donation of this magnitude, particularly during these tough economic times,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the WVU Reed College of Media. “We are eternally grateful to Mr. Hunkler and all alumni and friends who consider the future of the college in their estate planning.”
Finding a home at WVU Joe Gollehon, who received the College’s P.I. Reed Achievement Award in 2017, hopes his estate gift enables future students to create some of their best memories at WVU, just like he did in the 1970s.
I really remember those
PAUL ATKINS
Another student of Atkins, Gollehon recently decided to make “That was an amazing experience. Going to that conference a significant planned gift to the College. really impressed in me the importance of networking,” said
“Paul is a very special person, and I’m honored to be Gollehon. “I think it’s activities out of the classroom like that that mentioned alongside him,” Gollehon said. “He taught me a lot help students become more well-rounded and see a bigger picture about writing and a good part of my career was writing, so I’m of what their careers can be.” thankful for what he was able to instill in me.” Gollehon hopes his gift allows future generations of students
Gollehon recently retired after more than 40 years in public to find their way in public relations. In particular, he hopes he relations, internal and external communications, government can provide travel funds for PRSSA chapters to provide students affairs and crisis communications. He most recently served as the with the networking opportunities that were so vital to his senior vice president and director of governmental affairs at TSG career success. Consulting in Charleston, West Virginia. He was elected to the “It’s so important for students to understand that there’s a Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows in 2011, great big world out there beyond Morgantown and WVU. The but his relationship with PRSA began long before that. networking and friends they make will last throughout their entire
“When I came to the WVU School of careers,” Gollehon said. Journalism, I found a home there. College As for the “Flying A,” as many former was a special time in my life,” Gollehon said. “My best memories are centered around my involvement with PRSSA (the student arm of PRSA). We had a great group of students and worked as an agency to do real jobs for clients around Morgantown.” One of those jobs was a commissioned project by Boeing, a major contractor on the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) project in 1971. The WVU PRSSA chapter helped plan and promote the dedication of the PRT. Boeing later allowed the students to use a Plexiglas map-view model of the PRT to showcase the project at the PRSA Annual Conference in Detroit, Michigan. The students rented a booth and featured the PRT, Morgantown and the WVU campus. Donors who include a gift provision in a will or revocable trust; create a life-income gift; designate an after-death gift of a retirement account; make checking, savings or stock accounts “payable upon death;” donate life insurance or make a gift of real estate with a retained life interest benefiting WVU and its entities are inducted into the WVU Irvin Stewart Society. The Society, created in 1992 by the WVU Foundation, was named after the University’s thirteenth president, Dr. Irvin Stewart. Currently, the Irvin Stewart Society boasts nearly 1,200 members, with students fondly refer to Atkins for his speed running Martin Hall’s steps, the estate gift that he and his wife, Mildred, promised to the College of Media back in 1992 is being realized this year. Mildred died in 2005 and Atkins recently moved into an assisted living facility. After selling the house he and his wife built in the 1960s, he’s happy to know that the proceeds will benefit the College that was such a big part of his life. “I started giving $1,000 every semester to the school for scholarships, and I felt that part of the proceeds from selling the house would enable the school to give scholarships for a long time,” Atkins said. “I hope that will come true. Nothing lasts forever, but I hope the Atkins scholarship will last for many years.” more than 800 living members.
DONOR HONOR ROLL
The College of Media would like to thank our donors who have given to the 2017-2018 annual fund. The annual giving list represents cash and pledge payments received through May 30, 2018.
$250,000 OR MORE American Electric Power Foundation Joe W. Gollehon The Estate of James Hunkler The Nutting Foundation $100,000 - $249,999 Paul A. Atkins Democracy Fund Martha G. Smith $25,000 - $99,999 Samme L. Gee James and Barbara Gilkerson Ralph and Janet Izard Janet Shaffron John and Cindy Walls Scott D. Widmeyer $10,000 - $24,999 Brian C. Farrington Robert and Luanne Kittle Scripps-Howard Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 Raymond and Susan Gillette Janette and Michael Heitz Constance and Timothy Kelly Jennifer A. Manton Jane M. McNeer Gilbert and Susan Meyer, Jr. Stanley J. Reed and Joyce Branda The Estate of Gruine Robinson $1,000 - $4,999 Col. Thomas J. Boyd Barbara S. Casey H. Nelson and Mary Beth Crichton Gerald and Judith Davis Vincent and Barbara Dobilas Karen Duke Elizabeth and Jim Dziedzic Beedeah and Noel Hassen Stephen N. Hunsicker IBM Corporation Suzanne and Paul Johnson Paige L. Lavender John League and April Dowler Dr. Diana and Dr. David Martinelli Lauren J. Messinger Chad and Catherine Mezera Robert and Katherine Miller Alexis and Jim Pugh Maryanne Reed and William Yahner Nancy and Joseph Rickards Sean and Candice Robertson James J. Roop Archie Sader and Alfreda Dempkowski Jane Schachtel and Brett Martin Johanna and James Stewart James and Charlene Stulz M. Anne Swanson Jacelyn and Steve Swenson $500 - $999 Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Ms. Bonnie J. Bolden David S. and Abbey Castleman David and Debra Clarke David F. Cline Cyndi and Eric Greenglass Ronald and Peggy Guziak Stephen and Elizabeth King Robin and William Mease NiSource Northwestern Mutual Life Novartis Corporation Charity Dr. Ivan and Margaret Pinnell Dr. Sandra H. Englebright Utt Stephanie Taylor and Richard Weibley Giles Davidson and Daniel Waldmann $100 - $499 John A. Agate Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Shawn and Sharon Anderson Gerald and Michele Ash Terry and Cynthia Baker Balderson Law Office, PLLC Elizabeth and Nicholas Barth Beth A. Dobis Beers David R. Bennett Shirley J. Bishop Blaine Turner Advertising, Inc. Jacqueline F. Bonar Hannah E. Booth Joyce A. Bower Steven and Jacqueline Breeden Robert and Tara Byers Diane and James Centeno Robert and Lisa Cline Darrell and Madaline Cochran Shannon Cooke Dr. Larry and Rachel Craycraft Ryan A. Crowley Tara E. Curtis Ron and Jayne Cutright Meredith L. Delaney Pamela Bonar Dillon Karen L. Dolecki Thomas and Lori Dowling Benjamin C. Dunlap, Jr. Jessica and Elliott Edwards Eric and Scarlett Feathers Maurice and Elfi Fliess Terri L. Frederique Sherilyn and Mark Frey Ann Garcelon and Gene Carte Amy J. Goodwin Ann S. and Larry Green Dr. Leigh F. Gregg, Ph.D. Charles and Melanie Gregory Health Bread Company, Inc. Jeffrey W. Hertrick Terri C. Hornsby J. Ford Huffman Johnson and Johnson Family of Companies William and Virginia Kavage Lynn P. Kessler-Hiltajczuk Dawn Warfield and Thomas Knight Dr. Brenda J. Logue Stephen T. Marynowski Victor and Theresa L. Mason Vincent and Kassy McGourty John and Joan McPherson Morgan L. McPherson David and Dawn Milne Harry and Rhonda Mitchell Joseph and April Mock Susan and John Morgan Marcelyn Nauman Jason and Michelle Neal William and Cindy Nevin Valerie G. Nieman Eric and Kristy Nutter Chase Ofori-Atta Anna-Maria and Ramon Palmer George and Kim Panos Phyllis and Duane Petty Tricia and Dr. Jeffrey Petty William and Ella Poland, Jr. Geah N. Pressgrove Meredith Raine Glenn and Grace Richards Robert M. Rine Dr. David Rodgers and Robin Roberts Jane Duffy and George Russell Stephen and Dana Saffel Heather P. Savela
Robert A. Scatterday Charles and Mary Scott Preston and Shi Anne Shimer John and Brenda Skinner Linda and John Spencer Prof. Thomas J. Stewart Stone Law Office Timothy and Susan Tewalt Karen M. Thomas William and Mona Tiernan Michael and Sarah Tomasky Timothy and Lori Truman Verizon West Virginia, Inc. Virginia Wereszynski WVU Alumni Association School of Journalism Valerie and Robert Wilkinson Glenn and Dawn Witherspoon, Jr. Karen and Burton Wohl Pamela and Karl Yagle
GIVING SOCIETIES In recognition of the growing importance of private giving, the College of Media honors its friends and supporters through a tiered system of giving levels and inducts new members each fall. Below is a list of new donors or donors who have moved into new giving societies during the past year.
DEAN’S GIVING CIRCLE $1,000,000 + Ogden Newspapers and the Nutting Family The Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation MARTIN HALL SOCIETY $250,000 - $999,999 American Electric Power Joe W. Gollehon James R. Hunkler Martha G. Smith FRIENDS OF MARTIN HALL $100,000 - $249,999 Democracy Fund P.I. REED CIRCLE OF FRIENDS $25,000 - $99,999 Jennifer Janet Shaffron P.I. REED SOCIETY $10,000 - $24,999 Brian C. Farrington Suzanne and Paul Johnson Gilbert and Susan Meyer, Jr. Scripps Howard Foundation
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
The WVU Reed College of Media awards nearly 50 scholarships to our students. Through the generosity of our donors, more than $160,000 is awarded in various scholarship amounts to approximately 100 students each academic year. This is a list of scholarships that were awarded in 2017-2018.
BROWN COMMUNICATIONS, LLC SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Chelsea Harper Denali Hedrick Jewell Lease
CARY JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Hannah Belt Lauren Harvey Elizabeth Keim Anne Parker
CATHARINE PATTON CLARK PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP Erin Gore Kristen Hudgins Emily Koehler Julia Mellett Matthew Minard
COLONEL THOMAS J. BOYD SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Patrick Kotnick Nicholas Lastovka Adam Payne
CUMMINGS SCHOLARSHIP Megan Olebracht
DAVID MATTHEW HASSEN JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Jillian Clemente
DON S. MARSH SCHOLARSHIP Clairice Hemme
DOUGLAS & RUTH ANN WIDMEYER ENDOWED JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Melanie Smith
DR. ELIZABETH A. ATWATER SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Ali Barrett Denali Hedrick
EDITH WATSON SASSER SCHOLARSHIP Alana Longnecker Cassandra McPhail
FRANK AND REBEKAH AHRENS SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Holly Fry FRANK M. KEARNS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Shayla Klein
GEORGE GIANODIS JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Kayla Asbury Rachel Claypool Caitlyn Coyne Lily Hicks Kaitlyn Lopez Jennifer Skinner
GILBERT & MARGARET LOVE JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Cassandra McPhail Emily Zekonis
GRUINE ROBINSON REED COLLEGE OF MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP Mary Alvarez Abigail Briggs Haleigh Fields Bryanna McCullough Anna Saab
HILDA G. AND JAMES E. MCNEER JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Ashley Busnuk
IRENE CAPLAN MOKSAY SCHOLARSHIP Hannah Belt
JAMES & BARBARA GILKERSON JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Mary Alvarez Mia Edmundson Megan Hardy Bryanna McCullough
LINDA E. YOST SCHOLARSHIP Allison Fladd Megan Olebracht
LINDA JEANNE LECKIE SCHULTE SCHOLARSHIP Lauren Harvey
MADELYN JEANNE RUPINSKY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Amber Neice
MARK S. & FRANCES S. GROVE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Hayleigh Moore
MARTHA E. SHOTT ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Hollie Greene Darren Hartwell Lily Hicks Caroline Nichols Jacob Shockley Olivia VanHorn
MERIDETH ROBB MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Blaithe Tarley
MICKEY AND BETTY FURFARI SCHOLARSHIP FUND Benjamin Murray
OGDEN NEWSPAPERS & NUTTING FAMILY JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Graeson Baker Nicole Baron Georgia Beatty Ryan Decker Jessica Foreman Hayleigh Moore Heather Naples Erin O’Leary
ORSON AND SPOKES FOUNDATION JOURNALISM ENDOWMENT Amy Pratt
PAUL A. ATKINS SCHOLARSHIP Holly Fry Ky Kalinowski Avery Lyons Patrick Orsagos Adam Payne Jacob Shockley Jessica Siela
PAUL & MILDRED ATKINS REED COLLEGE OF MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP Jeffrey Boggess
PEGGY PRESTON TIERNEY SCHOLARSHIP Marissa Bailey Abigail Bromley Macey Burns Shannon Cunningham Sarah Feamster Johnna Herbig Jonathan Kraus Daniel Lively Jeffrey McCullough William McNemar Janine Posey Cassondra Smith Kayla Starcher Taylor Steele Anthony Tate Alexan Watt
PERLEY ISAAC REED SCHOLARSHIP Karlee Gibson
RALPH AND JANET IZARD SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Allison Fladd
RAYMOND & SUSAN GILLETTE JOURNALISM MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP Brittany Brown Courtney Freeman ROBERT & LUANNE KITTLE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Maria Lorditch
ROBERTSON URBAN MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP Jade Dawkins Maxwell Shavers
SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Hannah Belt Alesandro Bernardi Kayla Gagnon Kristen Hudgins Maya Huggins Jordyn Johnson Mark Schoenster Camrynn Tanner Maura Therber Katie Unger Gillian Wanosky Haley Williams Lauren Wittschen
SCOTT D. WIDMEYER AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP Brittany Brown
SCOTT D. WIDMEYER FIRST GENERATION SCHOLARSHIP Darren Hartwell
THOMAS PICARSIC SCHOLARSHIP IN JOURNALISM Karlee Gibson
TIMOTHY J. TEWALT JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Aiko Roth Blaithe Tarley
VARGO-OTTO STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP Brittany Osteen
W.E. CHILTON III JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Lily Hicks Colin Spangler Kristen Uppercue
WILLIAM AND JEAN REED JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Graeson Baker Amy Pratt
WILLIAM F. TOLBERT JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Elizabeth Keim
MAKE A GIFT
To learn more about leaving your own legacy through a planned gift, making a donation or providing scholarship funding, visit
reedcollegeofmedia.wvu.edu/give
or contact:
Tiffany Samuels Director of Development WVU Reed College of Media tdsamuels@mail.wvu.edu 304-293-6775
ENHANCEMENT FUNDS
Enhancement funds make it possible for Reed College of Media students to get the real-world experience that enhances both their character and their resumes. In 2017-18, these funds allowed students to intern for organizations like the Cannes Film Festival in France and Ketchum in New York City and study abroad in China.
CHARLES HODEL ENDOWMENT Robert Simmons Atlanta, GA
Noelle Forde United Kingdom
Nicholas Tabidze Cannes, France
GEORGE ESPER INTERNATIONAL STUDY ENHANCEMENT IN JOURNALISM Ella Jennings China
Shyla Parsons China
Abigail Lawhead China
JIM AND BETSY KLEBE DZIEDZIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT FUND Savannah Schafer Norwalk, CT
Johnna Herbig New York, NY
JOHN AND CINDY WALLS CAREER DEVELOPMENT FUND Meg Weissend Los Angeles, CA
Samantha Stocksdale Washington, DC
JOHN AND CINDY WALLS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FUND Hannah Belt Rockville, MD
WVU REED COLLEGE OF MEDIA STUDENT ENHANCEMENT FUND Abby Briggs Los Angeles, CA
Jentzen Kowcheck New York, NY
Emily Amsdell Phoenix, AZ
Emily Zekonis New York, NY
