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ATHENS, OH – Three current Scripps College students can breathe a little easier financially going into the next school year thanks to the generosity of two alumni who worked at WOUB when they were students at Ohio University. Will Miller, a rising senior media arts and studies student from Xenia, Ohio, and Kaylee Mackey, a rising junior media arts production student from Canal Winchester, Ohio, each received The Larry and JoAnn Katz Family Scholarship. Cali Christian, a rising senior music production and recording industry student from Urbana, Ohio, received the Leonard E. Auerbach Regional Representatives Scholarship.
“I love working at WOUB and everything I get to do there and everything I have gained from it,” said Mackey. “It’s great to see that someone who did the same thing as me is still so involved in supporting it to this day. Getting this scholarship cements for me that this is where I’m supposed to be and what I am supposed to be doing.”
The Larry and JoAnn Katz Family Scholarship was established by Larry Katz and his wife and preference is given to award the scholarship to a student with involvement in WOUB, especially in athletic programming. Katz worked at WOUB as a student and graduated in 1977. He has lived in New Orleans since then. Katz spent the first part of his work career in the apparel business and 29 years ago changed directions to develop and grow a chain of local breakfast diners, called Dots Diner. He met his wife, JoAnn, while both were students at Ohio University.
“It’s meaningful to be able to be rewarded for my passion to tell the story of professional competition,” said Miller. “Getting this scholarship helps a lot.”
The Leonard E. Auerbach Regional Reps Scholarship was established by former WOUB student Stuart Sharpe. The award gives preference to students with experience at places on campus like WOUB. The student must be enrolled in the School of Media Arts and Studies to qualify. Sharpe graduated from Ohio University in 1964 and again in 1966. He went on to have a long career in radio advertising and owned the Regional Reps Corporation before retiring.
“I was very relieved when I learned that I was awarded this scholarship,” said Christian. “It lessens the financial burden with tuition, and rent. I can work less hours and that helps me to focus on schoolwork and extra curriculars.”
All three students have internships lined up for the summer. Christian will be at the Southeast Ohio History Center. Mackey and Miller are spending their summer with minor league baseball. Mackey is interning with the Columbus Clippers while Miller is interning with the Akron RubberDucks.
“Working in Akron for the RubberDucks this summer is going to be expensive and this scholarship helping to pay tuition next year means I don’t have to worry about that going into my senior year. It means a lot to me. It’s a huge relief. It changes the whole ball game,” said Miller with a baseball joke laugh. “I owe Larry and his wife a huge thank you. It’s really rewarding to work for something for so long and be passionate about it and get funding like this to keep doing that thing. I know now that this is what I should be doing with my life, and what I should be doing with my career. That means a lot to me to know that I’m on the right path.”
“This is so very helpful,” said Mackey. “This scholarship relieves a lot of worry.”
