Scholarships

Endowed by Bob and Sally Berrell, parents of Steve Berrell of Fargo, one of 35 Syracuse University students who died in the 1987 Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland. At Syracuse Steve was a double major in communications and management. He was returning from a semester’s study abroad program in London. The fund was established in 2003.

Howard was one of the region’s best known local journalists and public relations professionals. He is remembered for his animated personality and his indefatigable promotion of the Fargo-Moorhead area. He published a monthly magazine, Howard Binford’s Guide, with stories and advertisements about Fargo-Moorhead, from 1968 to 1986, when he sold the magazine to a local publisher. He also taught mass communication writing at Minnesota State University Moorhead. The fund was established in 1986. Howard died in 1988.

Established by current NDSU communication faculty member Ross F. Collins, the endowment honors his mother Dorothy, who was a local journalist for nearly a half century, and one of the first women to work in general news. She began as a reporter in 1957 for the Moorhead Daily News. When that newspaper folded she moved to the Fargo-Moorhead Forum. She retired from the Forum as Minnesota Editor in 1981, but continued to write editorials and her garden column, the latter until her death in 2008 at age 92. She had been editor of the University of Washington Daily and strongly supported student journalists. The fund was established in 2008.

Established in 2018 by the communication department, NDSU Foundation and Alumni Association based on funding by multiple donors who have designated communication students as beneficiaries.

Robert S. Littlefield, former department chair, created this scholarship in 1992 based on funds generated from NDSU’s hosting of that year’s National Forensic League national tournament.

The Forum since 1878 has been the most important family-owned news operation in the region. Today, under ownership of the Marcil family, it has grown to become a chain of journalism operations, including legacy newspapers, radio and television stations and related businesses. It has strongly supported student journalism by hiring area journalism graduates as interns and as staff members, many of them former students at NDSU. The company established this scholarship in 1988.

Brian, a 1976 NDSU graduate, became an internationally known filmmaker working in New York. He studied cinematography in at the Sorbonne in Paris and at the University of Texas. His 1981 film “Speed of Light” won grand prize at the Houston International Film Festival and became part of film festivals in Europe and the United States. His film, video and musical works included over 30 collaborative productions. Hansen died tragically of bacterial meningitis at age 33 in 1987. The scholarship was established by family in 1988.

Anthony C. Hanson was a 1998 mass communication graduate of NDSU. He wrote for the Spectrum and was active in Theta Chi fraternity, later working for the fraternity as a consultant to chapters around the country. Employed by Encompass Group, a medical product company in Atlanta, Tony died unexpectedly at 33 in 2009. The endowment was established in 2010 by family members who wished to honor his memory as a passionate supporter of NDSU, campus involvement and communication study. Tony’s brother-in-law, sister, and niece also attended NDSU.

A fund for student journalists established in 1983 by William Herm in memory of wife Elizabeth (Betty) Critchfield-Herm. Elizabeth, from a well-known North Dakota family, was sister of James and Richard Critchfield, Hunter, North Dakota. James graduated from NDSU in 1939 to become a prominent CIA operative during the Cold War era. He died in 2003. Richard became an internationally known journalist who wrote for a variety of daily newspapers and published 10 books. He won the 1965 Overseas Press Club award for his Vietnam coverage. He died in 1994. Betty lived in Fargo and Seattle. She died in 1980.

Arthur and his father, Casper, formed a Fargo construction business that eventually became Meinecke-Johnson Construction Company, a major area commercial builder. He served in both houses of the State Legislature, and showed particular interested in higher education appropriations. His donations to North Dakota State University included funds for the Little Country Theatre and Memorial Union. He died in 1983. His wife, Vera Moore Johnson, died in 1978.

Mike is an NDSU graduate and former president of the NDSU Alumni Association. He is owner of Krueger Construction, Inc., a custom home builder in Fargo. The fund was established in 2013.

Established in 1983 by former NDSU communication faculty member Robert S. Littlefield, who named it in honor of his parents. Robert became chair of the NDSU communication department in 1984. As chair he was instrumental in expanding the department and was one of the architects of the department’s Ph.D. program. Robert’s father Harry was president and general manager of Branick Manufacturing, Fargo. He died in 2006. His mother LeVoyne was administrative coordinator for the superintendent of Moorhead Public Schools. She died in 2017.

Margaret was born in Fargo in 1906 and graduated from NDSU in 1929. She died in 2007, in Los Angeles. The scholarship was established by Margaret in 1991. It is shared with the theatre department.

Paul was recruited to become chair of the NDSU communication department, and his wife, Judy, director of graduate studies, in 2000. Bringing experience from large research universities, they were tasked with guiding the department’s new Ph.D. program and bringing the department to a national standard comparable to that of other major research universities. The two established a thriving graduate program along with a variety of academic innovations including expanding online course options and launching an action-oriented Ph.D. concept. The scholarship was established in 2010.

Don was an NDSU graduate who grew up on a farm near Eldridge, North Dakota. As an NDSU faculty member he established the university’s first communication program in 1969. Leaving NDSU for Cornell University, Don worked to modernize its communication program. In 2016 he received the Henry L. Bolley Academic Achievement Award from the NDSU Foundation and Alumni Association. The fund was established in 2009.

Abner graduated from NDSU in 1940. His career in sales began with DKAL-Radio, Duluth, and extended through a variety of businesses before he returned to broadcast sales at KXJB-Television in Fargo. In 1965 he became vice president of public relations and advertising for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Dakota. He was a former president of the NDSU Alumni Association. The fund was established in 1990. Abner died in 2010.

John was a broadcast journalist for WDAY-Television in Fargo. He later became a broadcast specialist for the NDSU university relations office in the 1970s and 1980s, the music director for KDSU-radio (now KNDS), and instructor of broadcast classes for the communication department. He and Shirley were also active in Fargo theatre, particularly in support of the FM Community Theatre. The fund was established in 1984 for broadcast students associated with the campus radio station or broadcast journalism.

Jim was a former faculty member who extended the university’s historically strong record in speech and drama before the department expanded with a program in mass communication as well as speech. He was born in Wisconsin and taught speech education at New York University before moving to Fargo. He was named to the Communication, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota Hall of Fame in 1993. He died in 2010. The fund was established in 1993.

Fred, from New Bedford, Massachusetts, was a professional actor and set designer in Maryland before serving in World War II. He taught at Bowling Green State University, founded the Huron Playhouse in Ohio, and in 1952 joined NDSU as chair of the speech and drama department. He designed the set of the Burning Hills Amphitheatre in Medora, North Dakota, and for six seasons produced the play “Old Four Eyes” in that venue. The Walsh Theatre was dedicated to him for his successful efforts to raise funds to build Askanase Hall. He died in 1999. The fund was established in 1991.