Posted on 05/02/2002 7:45:37 PM PDT by 2Trievers
(U-WIRE) BOSTON -- When Katherine Loy and Sandra Oliveira went to the annual College of General Studies ceremony on Friday, they expected to turn in their Capstone projects and hear announcements of academic accomplishments. They didn't expect to hear their own names announced for $10,000 scholarships, and they had no idea they'd be writing thank you letters to Howard Stern. For the next five years, the Howard Stern Scholarship Fund will award two $10,000 scholarships to Boston University CGS students continuing in broadcast journalism at the College of Communication. CGS sophomores Loy and Oliveira both received letters saying faculty members nominated them for a scholarship and asking them to write a two-page essay about the value of their CGS education. Both said they were "shocked" after hearing their names and the awards' details announced on Friday. "When they were first presenting the award, I was like, 'Oh, that's really nice of him,'" Oliveira said. "When they said the amount, I thought 'Someone's going to be really lucky.'" Though she wasn't excited about attending CGS at first, Oliveira said she ended up appreciating her "well-rounded education" because it "opened my eyes a bit about how the world runs." While Oliveira said her parents do not share her admiration of Stern, the self-proclaimed "King of All Media," she said they are just as ecstatic about the award. "I think it's such an honor," she said. "It came at the best possible time because I was worried about how I was going to pay for things next year." Now, each semester of Oliveira's junior year will cost $5,000 less, and she said she plans on thanking Stern for it, though she has not had any contact with him yet. After graduating from the College of Basic Studies, which would become CGS, in 1974, Stern graduated magna cum laude from the School of Public Communication, which would become COM, in 1976. Oliveira said while she hopes to follow Stern's academic path, she will probably do something more news-oriented in terms of her career. "I love his show," she said. "I think he's so real. He represents what a lot of guys are thinking and afraid to say. I don't necessarily admire how he conducts himself sometimes, but I admire him for not being afraid to say what he thinks and push the limits." "I've always been a big fan of Howard," Oliveira said. "I was surprised they actually mentioned his name [at the ceremony] because they try not to usually." BU spokesman Colin Riley declined to comment about previous relations with Stern. "Generally, relationships with most alumni grow in fondness over the years," Riley said. "This is a very generous gift to the University and for those students." Riley also said alumni gifts like Stern's are "outstanding acts of generosity." "He's someone who is very popular with students and some of our faculty and staff," he said. "He's become extremely successful and taken radio where no one else has." The offices of Stern's show and his agent did not return calls or e-mails requesting interviews, and CGS officials refused to comment, saying the award was a COM scholarship. COM Dean Brent Baker did not return repeated phone calls from The Daily Free Press. According to archives of Stern's show on a fan's Web site, in April 2001, Stern said he'd had a change of heart about Chancellor John Silber and might set up a scholarship program to help other students get into broadcasting. Though BU canceled Stern's first radio show for offensive material, his national radio show, television show, two best-selling books and movie about his life have earned Stern many fans, some opponents and lots of money. Like Oliveira, Loy said she had no idea Stern planned to fund a scholarship and "was completely shocked, amazed and grateful" when she found out Baker and CGS Dean Wells had selected her. "They kept it really quiet," Loy said. "Dean Wells said it was because Howard wanted it that way and just to make it a surprise. I know the relationship between them isn't exactly great, so it was surprising." Rather than writing "the standard essay," Loy said she tried to make the piece humorous and interesting by writing about her professors and what they said in classes. For example, she said her ethics class made her evaluate her own morality and think about how far she would go to get a story. "I got a little dramatic," she said. "I wanted to be a journalist for a long time, but I had some doubts about whether it was what I should do. [The scholarship] is a validation that I'm doing the right thing and will succeed at what I want to do." Loy said that the school would send Stern information about the winners and their essays, and she plans to write him. "I don't think I'll have to go on his show and take off my clothes or anything," Loy said. However, she would "definitely" go if invited. "Why pass up an opportunity like that?" she said. Loy said winning the scholarship will give her a "good icebreaker" to use in the future. "For the rest of my life, I can say I got the Howard Stern scholarship," she said.
What a mess after Michael "This helmet doesn't fit" Dukakis. Not that Weld was any great shakes himself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.