The Dorothy Collins Memorial Endowment
for student journalists at North Dakota State University

Dorothy often said she wanted to encourage students majoring in journalism and communication, and a number of times contributed to student scholarships locally. She particularly wanted to encourage students to work for their student newspaper, something she did herself as editor of the University of Washington Daily in 1953.

I hope to turn her wishes into a permanent legacy by establishing the Dorothy Collins Memorial Endowment at North Dakota State University. Funds from this endowment will be used to award scholarships for good-standing students majoring in communication with one unusual stipulation--they must be staff members for the Spectrum, the university's student newspaper.

I think this is what my mother would like to see. Students who choose to work for a student newspaper seldom have room for part-time jobs. They sacrifice their free hours to journalism because they think it is important, the best way to gain practical experience they can use in the real media world. They usually don't get much acknowledgement from the university or other groups. In fact, because they publish a real newspaper, they are more likely to get criticism.

Scholarships from this endowment will offer recognition for these students, who make a real commitment to become media professionals. That reflects what my mother valued.

I hope you will consider making a contribution to the Dorothy Collins Memorial Endowment for student scholarships. You can write a check to the endowment and mail it directly to the NDSU Development Foundation, 1241 University Drive N., Fargo, N.D. 58102, Attention: Scott Barrett, or on line at www.ndsufoundation.com. If you want to mail a donation to me, I can forward it to the foundation in your name. Of course, any donation to the foundation is tax deductible.

Thanks so much for considering making a gift toward Dorothy's permanent legacy as a pioneer in journalism. She worked for more than a half century to promote women in journalism, and to promote high ethical standards for all media people locally and regionally. She was our mentor, our relative, our friend, and my mother.

Sincerely,

Ross Collins, associate professor of communication
Department of Communication, Box 2310, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050.