Board of trustees chair Herman E. Muller Jr. '51 paused in his customary Commencement day introduction of James J. Whalen to reflect on the recent Park Foundation decision to give $10 million to the College in recognition of the president's longtime service to the institution.
"That
you are held in the very highest regard by your colleagues and friends
was brought home to us again in deeply meaningful ways . . . as the foundation
announced its gift," said Muller, who thanked the foundation and the
family of the late Roy H. Park "for their singular generosity and
for giving us yet another special opportunity to thank you, J. J., for
your wise counsel, your friendship, and your numerous contributions to
the College."
The Park Foundation of Ithaca awarded the grant on May 16 "in honor of the longtime distinguished career of College president James J. Whalen." The gift will endow new initiatives in the Roy H. Park School of Communications, including undergraduate scholarships, professorships, and a distinguished visitors program. A portion of the funds will also be devoted to the purchase of capital equipment for the school.
"Jim Whalen has served Ithaca College and the greater community of American higher education with distinction," said a foundation representative. "As he begins his final year of service to the College, we wanted to offer our appreciation for his outstanding leadership."
Whalen, who said he was "deeply moved" by the foundation's gift, has been president of the College since 1975 and plans to step down at the conclusion of the 1996-97 academic year. "This will allow us to move our fine communications program to an even higher level of quality and prominence, and I pledge every effort to ensure that the Park School and Ithaca College remain worthy of the foundation's pride and interest."
Roy H. Park, who died in 1993, was founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Park Communications, Inc., a multimedia company with broadcast and print properties throughout the United States. He had a longtime affiliation with Ithaca College, having served on the board of trustees from 1973 to 1993. He was chairman of the board from 1982 to 1992, when he became the board's first chairman emeritus. He supported various programs at Ithaca, including student scholarships, capital projects, and academic program development.
With more than 1,100 students in a broad range of programs,
the Roy H. Park School of Communications was named for Park in 1989 in
honor of his lifelong achievement in the communications industry and his
long-standing leadership and service to Ithaca College.