Journalism Offers The Jim Knippenberg Memorial Scholarship

The “Jim Knippenberg/SPJ Memorial Scholarship" in journalism is an endowed scholarship that was established in honor of the late Jim Knippenberg. Knippenberg, a UC alumnus and long-time reporter and columnist for the Cincinnati Enquirer, passed away in 2009. He was best known for his humorous coverage of Cincinnati’s social elites. The fund was endowed through the hard work of a team of volunteers consisting of Jim’s friends, family, colleagues and admirers. Mary Armor, who was Jim’s dear friend and “partner in crime” for many years, was the lead volunteer and organizer for the project. It is notable that this fund was endowed through a collection of small gifts, the largest being $5,000, and not by a single donor. After three years, two elaborate fundraising events – attended by the likes of Pat Berry, Norma Rashid, and Jerry Springer – and countless individual meetings and conversations, the scholarship was finally fully endowed at the end of 2013.

Jeffrey Blevins, head of the UC Department of Journalism, praised Armor’s tireless efforts in securing the endowment.

"I want thank Mary Armor for the hard work she undertook to honor the memory of UC Journalism Hall of Famer Jim Knippenberg,” said Blevins. “We were able to award these scholarships thanks in large part to Mary’s labor of love . . . and it will serve journalism students for years to come."

The 2014 recipients of the Jim Knippenberg/SPJ Memorial Scholarship are

• Kelly O’Brien is a journalism major in the magazine track. O'Brien has a 3.86 GPA, and last year was a Charlie Stix scholarship winner. She is an intern at UC's College of Nursing where she writes for the college's magazine and website. Her previous internships include work at UC's Division of Professional Practice; Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber; and the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati. O'Brien is a transfer student from Ohio State University.

• Lauren Kremer is a journalism major in UC's photojournalism track. She has a 3.43 GPA and is currently a member of UC's student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, as well as a multimedia reporter and staff photographer for Verge magazine. Kremer was also a staff photographer for The News Record last year.

• Natalie Coleman is a journalism major with a 3.67 GPA. She has published 13 articles in The News Record and is seeking an editorial role at TNR for 2014-15. She has interned at Clerisy Press and is a former volunteer for New Voices Photography, aiding homeless people in Over-the Rhine through photography projects.