Advancement

Vanessa Faura Awarded First Bob Knowles Communication Scholarship

	Bob Knowles

For many in the Charlotte viewing area, WBTV reporter and anchor Bob Knowles was a familiar and popular face. His death in 2003 was a loss mourned not only by his immediate family but also an extended family throughout the television community. As his wife Emily considered ways to best honor her husband, someone mentioned Queens as a place that might represent the ideals that Bob lived and worked for. “I was not really associated with Queens, but as I got to know the institution better, I realized it represented Bob's dedication to community and the pursuit of learning. That's when I knew a scholarship at Queens was the answer.”

Vanessa Faura, a Queens sophomore, was awarded the first Bob Knowles Communication Scholarship at the opening ceremonies of the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event at Freedom Park on May 28, 2004.

Faura is originally from Peru and has lived in Charlotte since 1997. She is a communication major and applied for the scholarship in the spring of 2004. “To honor him (Bob Knowles) in this way is wonderful. I would like to thank Emily Knowles and everyone involved who helped establish the scholarship and internships. Queens is a wonderful school and I am proud to be a Queens student,” said Faura. “I promise to make each and everyone who supported this scholarship very proud. I am honored to be the first recipient.”

Vanessa Faura ’06 with Emily Knowles

Beyond the monetary value of the scholarship, the Knowles Scholarship includes a one-year internship at WBTV with a media mentor at the station. The scholarship also includes an internship with Mike Washburn and Don Hudson, journalists at the Charlotte Observer.

“This scholarship represents what was important to Bob in his profession. He believed in perfecting the art of journalism through the pursuit of the truth, helping people and making our community a better place, and being sure to have a little fun along the way,” said Emily Knowles. “Vanessa is someone Bob would be very proud of.”

Queens President Dr. Pamela Davies was also present at the opening ceremonies. “All of us at Queens are so proud to be a part of this important initiative to honor our friend Bob Knowles. He was an extraordinary journalist and a credit to his profession and a credit to this community. We are excited for Vanessa and know she will benefit tremendously from this experience.” 

For more information about the Knowles Scholarship Fund, please call Queens University of Charlotte at 704 337-2231. To contribute to the Knowles Fund, please make checks payable to Queens University of Charlotte Knowles Fund and mail to the Office of University Advancement, 1900 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, N.C., 28274.

 

An educational scholarship can change a life. Imagine the void in the life of one who misses being exposed to subjects such as art, literature, history or philosophy by a passionate and knowledgeable university or college professor. The recognition of that influence is the driving force behind most who establish scholarships. They want to insure that others will have the enrichment that they themselves enjoyed.

When Dr. Robert Porter (pictured top right), long time Queens professor of art, finally let others know last fall that he was suffering with terminal cancer, the knowledge evoked many emotions on the part of alumni who had thrived in his classes. So as a way to honor Dr. Porter's life and talent as a teacher, they established a scholarship in art at Queens.

Robin Scroggs Hawkins '67 first approached the Advancement Office and asked if it would be possible to do something in Dr. Porter's honor.  A scholarship was decided upon, and she agreed to chair the effort.  Ginger Kemp '95 immediately agreed to give a challenge grant, matching every gift up to $10,000. Hawkins and Kemp (pictured bottom left, respectively) sent letters to those they thought might be interested, and the rest is history. The original goal was $25,000, which is the minimum necessary to endow a fund. The total at this time is over $32,000.

Though this scholarship was inspired by Dr. Porter's situation, the donors decided to name the scholarship for three art faculty members. The Porter, Johnson, Crown Art Scholarship at Queens will memorialize Dr. Porter and honor beloved professors Jayne Johnson and Rick Crown (pictured below Dr. Porter, respectively). A student recipient will be selected for the fall of 2004.

Donations can be made to the Office of University Advancement at Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28274.

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Printed from www.Queens.edu.

Queens University of Charlotte
1900 Selwyn Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28274
Phone: 704 337-2200
Fax: 704 337-2403
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