Tag Archives: Getahn Ward Memorial Scholarship

Alumni, EVENTS, FACULTY, FEATURED, NEWS, RESEARCH, Research and Sponsored Programs, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Legacy of TSU alum, adjunct professor Getahn Ward continues through scholarship

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – A year after his death, Getahn Ward continues to be remembered, and those who were close to the Tennessee State University adjunct professor do not expect him to be forgotten.

Sunday, Dec. 16, was the one-year mark of Ward’s death. He was a longtime adjunct in TSU’s Department of Communications and a proud alum of the university. He was also a business reporter at The Tennessean for nearly 20 years.

Shortly after his death, a scholarship in the Communications Department was set up in Ward’s name, and the department’s multimedia newsroom was also named after him.

The new scholarship is the first endowed scholarship in the history of the department.

“This scholarship represents a man who devoted much of his life to the field of journalism and to the education and success of students at Tennessee State University,” said Dr. Tameka Winston, Communications Department chair, and associate vice president of Research and Institutional Advancement.

Dr. Karen Dunlap, a former TSU adjunct professor and colleague of Ward, said the impact he had in the classroom and in the community as a reporter is “lasting.”

“He left an excellent impression,” said Dunlap. “The scholarship is important because it is a name that will remain before students. And they will learn about him; they will have a model in him as they go forward as journalist.”

Dwight Lewis, a former Tennessean editor who worked with Ward, agreed.

“He gave his all,” said Lewis. “I hope students will look at his life and say, I want to be like Getahn Ward.”

To contribute to the Getahn Ward Endowed Scholarship Fund, visit

https://epay.tnstate.edu/C20204_ustores/web/classic/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=401&SINGLESTORE=true.

 

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 7,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

Alumni, Athletics, EVENTS, FACULTY, FEATURED, NEWS, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Getahn Ward Memorial Scholarship created for journalism students at Tennessee State University

The Tennessean

The Tennessean, Tennessee State University and other organizations have partnered to create a new scholarship in the name of the late Getahn Ward that will benefit aspiring journalists at TSU.

The Getahn Ward Memorial Scholarship, announced Dec. 19, will be awarded to a journalism student each year who meets qualifications established by the school’s Department of Communications. Other partners include the National Association of Black Journalists and the Gannett Foundation.

Ward, a business reporter at the Tennessean since 1998, who was known for his real estate scoops, deep sources and bulldog approach, died on Dec. 9 after a brief illness. Ward, an active community leader, was also a longtime adjunct professor at TSU and a proud alum of the university. He was 45.

►More: Getahn Ward, longtime Tennessean reporter and community leader, dies at 45

Ward, who previously worked at the Nashville Banner before it closed in 1997, had a passion for teaching students and advocating for black journalists.

The new scholarship is the first endowed scholarship in the history of TSU’s Department of Communications.

“At a time when our majors are working multiple jobs to offset the cost of a college education, this will go a long way in helping some of our best and brightest students,” said Tameka Winston, who chairs the TSU Department of Communications.  “This scholarship represents a man who devoted much of his life to the field of journalism and to the education and success of students at Tennessee State University.”

The goal of organizers is to raise $25,000, which would be the minimum required to establish an annual scholarship in perpetuity.

The financial value of the scholarship will be determined by how much money is raised. If the goal of $25,000 is reached, the scholarship would be $1,000 per student annually. It would increase if more money is raised.

Winston said the department is also finalizing plans to honor Ward in a way that will give him “permanent recognition” within the department and university.

“He was one of the kindest individuals that I’ve ever met and the news of his passing is heartbreaking,” Winston said. “Getahn was a stellar professor and the department will never be able to replace him.”

►More: Getahn Ward: In honor of one of Nashville’s finest

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 8,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 25 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.