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Department Announces New Scholarships
The College of Charleston has announced the establishment of two new endowed scholarships to benefit the Department of Communication. A $100,000 award was bestowed in honor of the late John M. Rivers, Sr., while a $50,000 scholarship comes courtesy of fellow C of C graduate Mary Ramsay (photo at right).These scholarships will be used to recruit and retain students majoring in communication at the College of Charleston. The students must have a strong academic record and demonstrate leadership and good citizenship.
The new Rivers award complements an existing award from the family that was previously considered the most prestigious in the Department of Communication. That award will continue to be given to the Department’s most outstanding junior or senior majoring in Communication, by a vote of department faculty.
Rivers, a College of Charleston alumnus, began his professional career in broadcasting in 1937 when he became president of the South Carolina Broadcasting Company. He was president, manager, and owner of Charleston’s first broadcasting station, WCSC Radio. His television station, WCSC-TV was the first VHF television station in South Carolina.
Rivers was also one of the founders of the South Carolina Broadcasters Association in 1948. He was president of the organization in 1952-53 and was inducted into the SCBA Hall of Fame in 1974.
In 1986, Rivers helped create an endowment to establish the John Rivers Communication Museum at the College of Charleston. This museum is the only communications museum recognized by both the Antique Wireless Association and the Smithsonian.
The John M. Rivers Scholarship was initiated with substantial gifts from the Rivers family in memory of their father and grandfather. The scholarship recognizes Rivers’ numerous contributions to the field of communication, to the city of Charleston and to the College of Charleston.
The Rivers family includes John M. Rivers Jr., President of Rivers Enterprises of Charleston, as well as Martha Rivers Ingram, Director of Ingram Industries and Ingram Micro Incorporated, John Rivers Ingram, Orrin Henry Ingram, David Bronson Ingram, Robin Bigelow Ingram Paton all of Nashville; Elizabeth Craig Rivers Lewine of New York City. J.B. Fuqua, former employee of WCSC, upon learning of the Scholarship initiated in memory of John Rivers, Sr. also supplemented this scholarship for talented communication students.
WCSC-TV 5 in Charleston is an also an additional contributor to the scholarship.
Ramsay’s gift has been titled the "Ask Jackie" Scholarship. During her time at the College, Ramsay (a 1942 graduate) was very active on campus, working as the Editor-In Chief of the newspaper and writing an advice column called "Ask Jackie." In the years since, she has been active in the Alumni Association and many civic organizations throughout the Charleston Community.
Ramsay is also a member of the College of Charleston Foundation Board and the School of the Arts Advisory Board. The family is also active supporters of the College’s highly successful Division I athletic program.
During the scholarship announcement ceremony, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley also presented Ramsey with a proclamation, declaring June 5th as "Mary Ramsay Day" in the City of Charleston.
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