CJF Update

Spring Issue 1998

Sun-Sentinel Invests in CJF

The Broward Education Foundation to Manage Trust

Upon the retirement of Alyce Culpepper, her friends, colleagues and former students donated more than $3,000 to help establish the Culpepper Journalism Foundation in her honor.

Instead of the traditional retirement gifts, she requested the formation of a foundation to benefit print and broadcast journalism students in South Florida. The CJF will provide scholarships for high school students to attend university summer journalism programs at the end of their junior year so they can return to their schools and share with their classmates during the next year.

"So many scholarships are just for graduating seniors," Culpepper said. "It's important for underclassmen to learn from college professors as well as to see how journalism fits into their career plans."

Culpepper worked for 30 years for the School Board of Broward County, Florida. Most of those were in journalism, first at South Plantation High School and later at the district's Insturctional Television Center, now known as BECON.

Julie Jones, a colleague at ITV, organized the retirement gift. "What impressed me was teh willingness on the part of the donors," Jones said. "there was no hesitation to give to an organization that was in the name of a woman who spent her career giving to students."

During Culpepper's tenure at South Plantation High, the Sword and Shield was named the top newspaper in Broward be the Sun-Sentinel. For the foundation, the Sun-Sentinel donated $1,000. "we're very passionate about young people pursuing careers in journalism, and we're glad to help out," said Earl Maucker, editor of the Sun-Sentinel.

Former students who know of Culpepper's retirement, made donations. "The CJF is an exciting opportunity to encourage young people to continue to practice and excel in journalism," said Cathy Gartin, a former broadcast journalism student who now is an associate producer in Atlanta for CNN's Larry King Live and Crossfire.

Valerie Griffin McCarty, Vice President of Communications for Nickeldeon Latin America, was editor of the Sword and Shield in 1987 with jordan Metz (now an attorney in California). "Culp inspired me for my career," McCarty said. "I know the foundation can do the same for other students so I wholeheartedly support it."

In addition to McCarty, other local former students who are helping with fundraising and in-kind donations are Brandon Hawthorne, president of Hawthorne/House Advertising; Cindy Depancis Renzo, teacher; and Jennifer Ator, attorney.

The goal of the foundation is to be self-perpetuating so the fellowships can grow in number and amount. The CJF will be managed by the Broward Education Foundation so it can maintain a nonprofit 501(c)(3) status.

"We are delighted the CJF is with us, and we look forward to growing those funds with you," said Kim Bentley, Executive Director of the Broward Educaiton Foundation.

Currently, all the money donated and earned through investments will go toward the scholarships and the 1 percent management fee. Operating expenses, including postage and printing, are paid by the Culpepper family.

Foundation to Award First Fellowship

in the spring, a journalism student at South Plantation High School will receive the first Scholarship funded by the Culpepper Journalism Foundation. The $250 will help offset the expenses of a summer institute at a university.

The student must agree to return South Plantation for his/her senior year and share what they have learned with fellow staffers.

"Summer programs enable students to bring a wealth of knowledge as well as enthusiasm back to the local program," said Linda Tucker, newspaper and TV teacher.

Applications for the scholarship will be available in March from the journalism teachers and in the guidance office. The winner will be announced at the Underclass Awards Ceremony in May.

Foundation Members

Thank You From the Executive Director

I want to thank all of you for extablishing the Culpepper Journalism Foundation in my honor. It is truly the most generous tribute to me and my family while benefiting the students in South Florida.

Special kudos to many of my former students who jumped on the bandwagon as they have done over the past 30 years: Jennifer Ator ('89), Ben Eggleston ('90), Greg Fisher ('85), Cathy Gartin ('91), Brandon Hawthorne ('80), Valerie (Griffin) McCarty ('85)and Jordan Metz ('85), Cindy (DePancis) Renzo ('79). My only wish is that this was done years ago for their benefit.

Thanks also to my former co-workers at the Instructional Television Center and South Plantation High School. Their generosity in time and money certainly contributed to the success of this foundation.

A very special thank you goes to the Sun-Sentinel whose sizeable investment became the focal point of the CJF and whose nuturing taught me journalism. I hope that the Sun-Sentinel will continue to support us for years to come.

But most of all I want to thank my family who has generously supported this foundation, and who has survived through endless deadlins, continual stress and eating dinner at school concession stands while we covered sports evets with three-camera shoots for cable television. I could not have done it without you.