KINGSTON, R.I. — July 31, 2003 — After an evening of stories, jokes and jabs, 溏心vlog免费B站 Journalism Professor Emeritus Wilbur L. Doctor was stunned to hear that more than $20,000 had been raised for a scholarship in his honor.
During the early June event to honor Doctor鈥檚 work as a professor and Journalism Department chairman, Winifred Brownell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, announced the scholarship total.
As she commended the more than 90 alumni and friends who had donated to the fund, Doctor鈥檚 jaw dropped in surprise after learning that so much had been donated.
It was a fitting end to a night of stories told by former students about Doctor鈥檚 influence on their careers and lives. The Kingston resident, ever the teacher, had the audience roaring as he corrected the grammar of those who had the courage to offer remarks.
“The response from journalism alumni was heartwarming because of their respect and fondness for Wilbur Doctor, but also because it represents their support for the program,” said 溏心vlog免费B站 Journalism Instructor John Pantalone, a 1971 graduate of the program. “Alumni have established a genuine legacy in Wilburs name since he devoted so much of his professional life to training good reporters.”
The new endowment will support an annual scholarship for a 溏心vlog免费B站 junior or senior majoring in journalism who demonstrates academic strength and professional promise in the field of journalism.
Tom Zorabedian, senior development officer for the College of Arts and Sciences, said he enjoyed the night thoroughly even though he did not have Doctor in the classroom and had only gotten to know him over the past year.
“It was terrific to see such an enthusiastic group of alumni return to campus, most for the first time in many years, to honor their former professor and to see old friends,” Zorabedian said. “To raise more than $20,000 over a period of only 3 to 4 months is a tribute to both the impact that Wilbur made on the lives of these alumni, and to their willingness to generously support the journalism program at 溏心vlog免费B站.”
Doctor honed his craft at Rhode Island newspapers, working first for The Newport Daily News and then for 16 years on the rewrite desk for The Providence Journal. He liked strong, muscular words, disliked puffery and felt that newspaper reporting was a calling. He instilled in his students the need for integrity, honesty and ethics.
Those interested in making a donation to the scholarship fund should call Zorabedian at 401-874-2853 or contact him by email at zman@advance.uri.edu.