Ibargüen Donates His Honorarium to Create JSU Communication Scholarship
Alberto Ibargüen, Jacksonville State University's 2006 Ayers Lecturer and chief executive officer of the Knight Foundation, donated his $10,000 honorarium from JSU to establish a scholarship for communication majors.

University President William A. Meehan lauded Ibargüen's generosity and said, "Jacksonville State University appreciates Mr. Ibargüen's gift, and—just as importantly—we are gratified that a leading journalist has recognized the value of our communication program and has chosen to do something of this magnitude to help our students."

Ibargüen, who spoke on Feb. 8, is former publisher of the "Miami Herald" and "El Nuevo Herald."

Dr. Cynthia Harper, dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies (home of the Department of Communication), expressed her appreciation of Ibarguen's gesture.

Ibargüen, on the day of his speech, expressed his admiration for JSU students’ curiosity and intellectual engagement. He said he felt a substantive way to express his sentiment would be to donate his honorarium to benefit students. Thus the Ibargüen Communication Scholarship Fund at Jacksonville State University was born.

Dr. Kingsley O. Harbor, head of the Department of Communication, joined Dean Harper in expressing gratitude.

Dr. Rebecca Turner, JSU’s vice president for academic and student affairs, who also was caught by surprise by Ibargüen’s gesture, thanked the executive on behalf of the university's academic and student affairs division.

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