ATHENS, Ohio -- A scholarship fund at Ohio University honors the late Jeff Spalding's commitment and contributions to students. The Jeffery R. Spalding Memorial Award, presented annually to an outstanding student working at the WOUB radio and television stations in the university's College of Communication, is funded by gifts from Spalding's friends and colleagues and will continue into perpetuity thanks to a $150,000 estate gift commitment by his widow, Marie Baxter Spalding.

Jeff Spalding, a native of Circleville, Ohio, was the operations manager of Ohio University's Telecommunications Center before his death in March 2001.

Both Marie, a native of Mentor-on-the Lake, Ohio, and Jeff Spalding received their bachelor's degrees at Ohio University and pursued careers at the Telecommunications Center. Marie Spalding, the former traffic and promotion coordinator for the center, feels the gift will help to preserve the couple's past at Ohio University.

"We both went to school here, we worked here, we met here," she said. "Ohio University was our life, and it makes sense to give something back."

Jeff Spalding served the Telecommunications Center for more than 25 years, and he was instrumental in its growth. In addition to managing operations, his work included production audio, computer networking and student training. He served as a mentor to many broadcast students.

"We both really enjoyed working with the students," Marie Spalding said. "I hope this money will help to advance a student who would have otherwise benefited from Jeff's mentoring if he were still with us."

Carolyn Bailey Lewis, director of the Telecommunications Center, is excited about the scholarship's effect on students.

"It is especially appropriate that Marie decided to memorialize Jeff in this way since he had such a love for students," Lewis said. "For years, he coordinated the Student Professional Development Program, and he made sure that students had the hands-on technology tools they needed to be professionals upon graduation."

The recipient of The Jeffrey R. Spalding Memorial Award is chosen on the basis of participation, performance and enthusiasm within the center's Student Professional Development Program. The first recipient of the award is Eric Hansen, a senior who is studying telecommunications.

In addition to his wife Marie, Spalding is survived by their two children, David, 8, and Alexandra, 5.