While considering how he could put his campaign gift to use, alumnus Tom Kuby was challenged by College of Communication Dean Kathy Krendl to think outside the box. He followed her advice and established the L. J. Hortin Faculty Mentor Award in 2000 to honor his mentor, Loren Joseph Hortin, professor of journalism at Ohio University from 1947 to 1967.
The endowment funded by Kuby, and the award it supports, will provide a lasting tribute to Hortin. "He was an outstanding mentor and teacher," Kuby said. "He epitomized, for me, what a professor should be."
All too often, the time and effort a mentor puts into a young professional goes unnoticed. However, Kuby's campaign gift made it possible to recognize outstanding mentors in the College of Communication. The recipient of the 2001 L.J. Hortin Faculty Mentor Award is Joseph Richie, assistant professor of telecommunications.
"Overall, Joe Richie brings a level of caring to his teaching and advising that is unparalleled. His guidance has proved invaluable throughout my life," said Greg Guy, who nominated Richie for the award. "He is a shining example of the concept that teaching is more than just lectures and tests."
The award is given annually to a current or former faculty member who exhibits a commitment to the professional and personal growth of students. The selection process is based on faculty members' continual efforts to go beyond the normal mentoring role, their ongoing relationship with the nominator and their impact on his or her career. Guy, a former advisee of Richie's, is now vice president of Patrick Communications. He said Richie provided him with connections and resources he needed in his job search after Guy finished his master's degree. Nominations for the L.J. Hortin Faculty Mentor Award are made by alumni and reviewed by the College of Communication Society of Alumni and Friends.
Richie, who has been teaching at Ohio University for almost 17 years, was shocked when he learned that he received the award. Krendl read Guy's nomination letter during a college-wide faculty meeting. "I had no idea," Richie said. "You've got so many outstanding people in the room." The true payoff, he said, is to see where former students like Guy have ended up in their careers.
The Bicentennial Campaign -- targeted for completion in 2004, the University's 200th anniversary -- will provide money for scholarships, endowed professorships, technological enhancements, innovative programs and some capital improvements. As the largest fund-raising effort in the history of the institution, the goal of the Bicentennial Campaign is to raise over $200 million in support of the University. For more information on how you can be a part of the campaign, visit www.ohiou.edu/campaign/.
Look for Patricia Palmer's story in next week's Outlook. Palmer pledged a $2400 campaign gift toward the Fred A. Palmer Scholarship in Journalism.
