The WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism and the School of Journalism Alumni Association will host the first annual Alumni and Donor Recognition Ceremony on Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. in Martin Hall.

The Alumni Association will present its annual awards to the best and brightest graduates and friends of the School of Journalism. Awards include “The P.I. Reed Achievement Award,” which is the highest honor the Association bestows upon a graduate of the School in recognition of his or her outstanding career achievements; “The Friend of the School Award,” which recognizes individuals for their exemplary support and commitment to the School; “The Martin Hall Cornerstone Award,” which honors School of Journalism graduates and Alumni Association volunteers; and “The P.I. Reed Young Alumni Award,” which is given to alumni who have graduated in the last 10 years and have achieved a high level of success in their profession.

The School of Journalism Alumni Association award recipients for 2009 include:

P.I. Reed Achievement Award – Hoppy Kercheval
The radio “dean” of West Virginia broadcasters, Harvey “Hoppy” Kercheval (MSJ, 2005; BSJ, 1977) joined West Virginia Radio Corp. in 1976. Through the years, Kercheval’s assignments have included news, sports and talk. A native of Jefferson County, Kercheval began as a news anchor/reporter at WAJR in Morgantown while attending WVU. After graduating with honors from the School of Journalism, Kercheval took over as news director at WAJR and helped start the state broadcast network, Metronews. Kercheval was named vice president of operations in 1991. In 1993, he created Metronews Talkline, which has become a signature program of the network. In addition, Kercheval has been a key member of the Mountaineers Sports Network. He has been honored with many awards, including the West Virginia Broadcasters Association “Broadcaster of the Year” award in 2002.

P.I. Reed Achievement Award – John Veasey
John Veasey (BSJ, 1959) has been with Fairmont newspapers since 1958 when he joined The Times West Virginian staff as sports editor. He was named managing editor of the Fairmont Times in 1970 and editor of the Times West Virginian in 1976 when the two newspapers merged. Veasey was born in Florida but moved to Morgantown during his sophomore year in high school. He is a graduate of the School of Journalism and is a past president of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association and the United Press International Editor’s Bureau. He has written a daily column for the Times West Virginian since the mid-1980s. In August 2006, he was the recipient of the Adam R. Kelly Premier Journalist Award, presented by the West Virginia Press Association. In October 2009, Veasey was inducted into the Fairmont State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Friend of the School Award – William Nutting
William Nutting serves on the board of directors for Ogden Newspapers Inc., is the West Virginia representative for the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association and serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Newspapers Association. The Nutting family and the Nutting Foundation have been strong supporters of the School of Journalism. In 2000, they established the Ogden Newspapers Visiting Professorship in Journalism. They are also supporters of the Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series and the Ogden Newspapers Multimedia Classroom (205 Martin Hall). William Nutting also serves as a member of the School’s Visiting Committee and on the WVU Board of Governors. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his law degree from University of California-Los Angeles in 1986.

The Martin Hall Cornerstone Award – Stephanie Beddow
Stephanie Beddow (MSJ, 1993; BSJ, 1990) has served on the School of Journalism Alumni Association Board since 2001. She has served as secretary, vice president and, most recently, as president (2006-present) of the Association. Beddow also served as president and as a board member of the North Central Chapter of the School’s Alumni Association from 2001-04 and 2002-04, respectively. In addition to her service to the Association, Beddow most recently was the director of donor relations for the WVU Foundation. Before that, Beddow worked as a territory sales manager for Bertek Pharmaceuticals and as a public relations specialist for the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center.

The P.I. Reed Young Alumni Award – Justin Weaver
Fairview, W.Va., native Justin Weaver (BSJ, 2007) has forged a successful career at ABC since graduating from WVU. Weaver started at the network as an intern for “Good Morning America” during his senior year. After graduation, Weaver was hired as a desk assistant but was promoted to the booking department in just a few short months. Since then, Weaver has been a segment producer for “Good Morning America” in New York City, Washington, D.C., and now Chicago. While in school, Weaver placed fourth in the television category of the Hearst Journalism Awards Program. He was also among a team of students who placed in the top three of the national Society of Professional Journalists’ “Mark of Excellence” competition for the “Starting Over” Katrina project website.

School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed will also formally announce the establishment of the School’s new giving societies and dedicate the new wall of honor, installed last spring to acknowledge and honor the generosity of the School’s top supporters.


In addition, recipients of the 2009 “Golden Quill Teaching Awards,” Dr. George Esper and Jan Boyles, also will be recognized. In spring 2009, The School instituted its own student-selected instructor awards for outstanding teaching. Esper and Boyles are the first recipients of the awards.

Alumni and friends of the School of Journalism are encouraged to attend the ceremony. Questions should be directed to Kimberly Brown, Director of Communications, at 304-293-3505 ext. 5403 or Kimberly.Brown@mail.wvu.edu .

-WVU-
cv/10/06/09
CONTACT: Kimberly Brown, School of Journalism
304-293-3505 ext. 5403