Sometimes the urge to help is contagious. Graduates from Clarion University’s Department of Communication proved that during a recent on-campus reunion when over $31,430 in donations and pledges were received to endow the new Henry “Hank” Fueg Scholarship.
An endowed scholarship requires a minimum of $25,000 to establish and department alumni achieved that goal in an almost unheard of one weekend. The scholarship will be awarded to a communication major who has completed at least their freshman year with a grade-point average of 3.0 or above and who is involved in campus media.
Steve Zinram, director of development for Clarion University, who received his undergraduate degree in 1985 and master’s degree in 1988, both in communication from Clarion, was urged to establish a Facebook page after he started at Clarion in 2009. That led to Zinram reconnecting with many of his former classmates.
“That led to a reunion,” Zinram said. “Initially, we talked about the years 1982-86, but it expanded from there to include all the department graduates from the 70’s and 80’s.”
Alumni Ron Sylvester and Barbara Bright took the lead as co-chairs for the reunion. August 13-15 was scheduled for the event and they reached out to retired and current faculty members to attend.
Fifty-four people attended the reunion weekend, which included a welcome reception at the Clarion Holiday Inn; brunch at Eagle Commons followed by a group tour of campus; and a return to their old classrooms and studios in Becker Hall hosted by the current faculty members Scott and Myrna Kuehn and Bob Nulph.
During the evening reception and dinner at Eagle Commons faculty emeriti Art Barlow, Larry Elkin, Al Larson, and Adam Weiss were introduced to what Zinram called, “The most raucous standing ovation, I have ever been a part of.”
Clarion University President Karen Whitney welcomed the reunion group. Barlow and Larson shared memories and Sylvester was the master of ceremonies.
The concept of establishing the Fueg Scholarship was presented after dinner, following perhaps the most rapid endowing of a scholarship in Clarion University history.
Dr. Henry Fueg, associate professor of communication during his time at Clarion University, died Feb. 29, 2004. He received his B.S. degree from West Virginia Institute of Technology, M.A. from West Virginia University, and Ph.D. from Indiana University. He was recruited in 1968 to work in what was then the new college of communication at Clarion University.
Starting in 1969, Fueg established himself as the local expert in photography, film production, and TV production. In the mid-1970s he aided in redesigning Becker Hall to suit the needs of the department of communication. Fueg was the advisor for the student radio station WCUC and the student-run television facility TV-5. He started the remote broadcasts of Clarion Borough Council meetings and set up the remote news gathering facilities. He retired from Clarion University in 1999.
Donors and others may make additional contributions to the Henry “Hank” Fueg Scholarship or any other scholarship by contacting the Clarion University Foundation, Inc., 814-393-2572 or by emailing giving@clarion.edu.
The Clarion University Foundation, Inc administers all scholarship funds. The Clarion University Foundation, Inc., organized in 1969, is a not-for-profit corporation. The Foundation was formed to promote educational purposes in connection with or at the request of Clarion University. It is the organization designated to receive and manage private sector gifts provided for the support of the activities and programs of the University. Such gifts are generated through contributions from alumni, faculty and staff, business and industry, retired faculty members, and other friends of Clarion University.
Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.