In the wee hours of a March morning, Keith Chamberlain '87 had an awakening. It inspired a pre-dawn e-mail to his Oswego classmates and subsequent fundraising drive that he hopes will establish the Dr. I. David Glick Award for Excellence in Communication.

"Dr. G" was an influential part of the communications department and became a close friend of Chamberlain's. What better way to honor his life, which ended in August 2005, than with a scholarship dedicated to the principles he instilled in many of his students, Chamberlain thought.

"Dave (Glick) basically wouldn't accept mediocre work," he said. "He pushed you to do your best."

The award is one way to perpetuate those values and give current students an incentive to fulfill and transcend their potential, just as Glick strived to do, Chamberlain said.

The scholarship would go to juniors and seniors with declared communications majors. In addition to 3.0 cumulative and 3.25 communications grade point averages, the award candidates would need to demonstrate their abilities with a piece of written work.

"We're trying to honor the man in what little way we can," Chamberlain said.

Two months after his call to action, Chamberlain is just shy of his original goal. Glick's daughter, Leanne, has offered to match the first $5,000 raised to make a $10,000 minimum endowment. Anything above and beyond will be funneled into more or larger awards, said Chamberlain, who contributed $1,000 of his own money to get the scholarship fund going in March.

A number of factors led to creating the Glick award. For one, Chamberlain noticed that currently there are only three similar scholarships available to communication studies majors.

Chamberlain also noted the success of the Louis A. Borrelli '77 Media Summit, renamed last fall for another inspirational communication faculty member, Dr. Lewis B. "Doc" O'Donnell. The restructuring of the department as the School of Communication, Media and the Arts provided another prompt.

A professor emeritus of communication studies as well as curriculum and instruction, Glick started working at the college in 1975. While at Oswego, he held the titles of associate dean and acting dean of the professional studies division, vice president for student services, dean of students, associate professor and research associate in academic affairs.

Chamberlain plans to collect the initial Glick scholarship donations through June 30, which is also pegged for the close of Inspiring Horizons: The Campaign for Oswego. The goal is to give the inaugural award at a future annual communications alumni dinner.

Those who would like to contribute or have questions can contact Development Associate Joy Westerberg Knopp '92 at 315-312-3003 or knopp@oswego.edu.

- Shane M. Liebler

PHOTO CAPTION:
Keith Chamberlain '87 and late Professor Emeritus Dr. I. David Glick pose at Commencement in 1987. Chamberlain, right, is now raising an endowment to create a communication studies scholarship in Glick's memory.


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