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Wife Surprises Retired Broadcasting Professor with an Endowed Scholarship

July 1, 2016

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MACOMB, IL - - A nice watch 鈥� an engraved clock 鈥� a plaque noting one鈥檚 years of work 鈥� all of these items are typical gifts one receives when he or she retires. But, for long-time Professor Sam Edsall, his retirement gift was a bit more unique.

Edsall鈥檚 wife, Anne, surprised him at his retirement reception on May 6 with the announcement that she had fully endowed a scholarship in his name.

鈥淚 just wanted to give some recognition to his 27 years of hard work here at Western and have some type of lasting recognition to honor him,鈥� said Anne. 鈥淎ny little bit of help we can offer a student who is qualified and worthy to have another鈥檚 help financially鈥攊t is good to be able to offer.鈥�

It was a process to keep this secret from Sam as Anne worked with Julie Baker and the to establish the Samuel H. Edsall Endowed Scholarship.

Sam recalled Baker鈥檚 speech during the retirement reception, 鈥淪he started saying all these wonderful platitudes, which you kind of expect at a retirement reception. Then she dropped the bomb saying that a scholarship鈥攁 fully endowed scholarship鈥攚as created in my name. And I鈥檓 standing there with the dean and my mouth just dropped to the floor. I had no idea this was coming.鈥�

Beginning Fall 2016, the annual scholarship will be awarded to a senior pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in broadcasting, who specializes in television. Broadcasting student Emily Manley, from Highland, IL, will receive the first award.

鈥淪he is maximizing her experience, and that鈥檚 the kind of person I鈥檓 really interested in awarding鈥攕omeone that doesn't just come to get a degree; they come to get an experience, as much experience as possible,鈥� said Sam.

The Edsalls said this scholarship was designed for students who are hard-working, ambitious, talented, have initiative and leadership qualities and are a Christian.

鈥淚 worked hard to get an education, and I understand the importance of it, so if I鈥檓 able to help in any way I can, I want to. Part of the reason I ended up being a teacher is because of how I value education because it really does shape one鈥檚 character,鈥� said Sam.

The award amount will vary, based on the annual interest earnings, with a minimum award of $1,000. The Edsalls believe the monetary award will not be the only benefit of receiving this scholarship.

鈥淚 think some recognition goes a long way. When you realize that your hard work is noticed, recognized and rewarded, then that would help you continue on,鈥� Sam said.

Having worked in the department for almost three decades, Sam knows there are a number of incentives to bring incoming freshmen into the program, but this scholarship will help those students already in the broadcasting department, a demographic where more scholarship money is needed.

鈥淭he nice thing about Western is that it鈥檚 a place where you can get a really good education without the king鈥檚 ransom. And that鈥檚 important to me. Perhaps even your parents didn鈥檛 have the chance to go to college, but at this state institution, you have a chance to earn a degree, to learn things that you won鈥檛 get from high school, to better yourself, to learn what it means to be a responsible citizen 鈥� to have integrity, to take care of yourself,鈥� stated Sam.

Anne, a retired counselor, said education is very important to them both and they want to give to organizations they value, such as their church, animal groups and education, specifically 澳门六合彩历史记录.

鈥淲e value education and think education is worth investing in and maybe alert others that this is some place where you can also make a difference in a student鈥檚 life someday,鈥� said Anne.

Sam started working at Western as an instructor in Fall 1989. As the resident 鈥淭V guy,鈥� he taught TV production to underclassmen. Little did he know, he would spend the rest of his career at 澳门六合彩历史记录, ultimately retiring as a full professor.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a wonderful experience here. And the best part about working at Western was my chance to work with the kids. It means a lot to me; they are like my family,鈥� said Sam.

鈥淚t was quite the retirement gift when the announcement was made at Sam鈥檚 retirement reception. As an educator himself, Sam knows what an education can do for a young adult, and he has spent more than two decades helping prepare tomorrow鈥檚 broadcasters for their work in television production. I am very happy that Anne wanted to celebrate his career at Western by endowing this scholarship,鈥� said Brad Bainter, vice president for .

"It is very satisfying to me to see that the impact that Sam has had on his students' lives at Western won't end with his retirement. He will continue to impact students in perpetuity because of Anne's wonderful idea and generosity," Bainter added.

The idea to create a scholarship came to Anne about three years ago, and she was excited to finally share the news with her husband.

鈥淗e鈥檚 just a very selfless and giving person who took the hard-work in stride, so I just wanted to honor and recognize that because he鈥檚 a remarkable person,鈥� said Anne.

The humble professor, who doesn鈥檛 like to toot his own horn, according to his wife, is really proud of how this scholarship will help students for years to come.

Sam said, 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 nice that it has my name attached to it, but the better part of it is that it鈥檚 to help students.鈥�

Sam plans to return to campus each spring for the department banquet, where he will present the award to the scholarship recipient, allowing them to put a face with a name when receiving the Edsall scholarship.

Posted By: Amanda Shoemaker, 澳门六合彩历史记录 Foundation & Development, University Relations
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