June 05, 2008

Rendleman scholarship fund continues to grow

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The scholarship fund established to honor a Southern Illinois University Carbondale photojournalism student who died from injuries received in a car accident in April continues to grow.

The Ryan Rendleman Photojournalism Scholarship is closing in on $11,000, according to Ron Graves, constituency development officer for the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts and associate director for institutional advancement with the SIU Foundation.

The scholarship will honor Rendleman, a 22-year-old senior, who died April 29 south of Nashville. The crash occurred less than two weeks before Rendleman was to earn his bachelor’s degree. Family members accepted Rendleman’s diploma posthumously during commencement ceremonies May 10.

Faculty members of the School of Journalism have pledged $3,500. Two community members pledged $6,500, and others have contributed additional gifts so far, Graves said.

The school hopes to collect the $25,000 necessary to create the endowed scholarship, which will go to an SIUC photojournalism student. Other specific criteria remain to be determined.

“We’re thrilled with the outpouring of support for the Ryan Rendleman Photojournalism Scholarship,” said Gary P. Kolb, interim dean of the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts.

“The fund has grown quickly and we anticipate additional contributions to realize the full endowment of $25,000. This scholarship will aid future photojournalism students in pursuing their dreams as Ryan was pursuing his,” Kolb said. “It will further the goals of the photojournalism program as well to become one of the best in the nation.”

William H. Freivogel, director of the School of Journalism, said, he’s “gratified we’ve got such a good start on the scholarship. We should be able to get closer to our goal at the fall fundraiser.”

Rendleman’s parents are involved with fund-raising events in Batavia, Graves said. Plans for a special fund-raiser in the fall in connection with Barrett Rochman and Blue Sky Vineyards also are under way, he said.

Contact Graves at 618/453-4748 or by email at rdgraves@siu.edu for more information on the scholarship or to contribute.