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News 2003-2004

School of Mass Communications receives O’Brien scholarship gift

As a photojournalist for CBS News’ “Everyone Has a Story,” USF graduate Les Rose is well aware of the fascinating stories people have to tell. Now, he is helping USF students create their own stories by helping them get scholarships for college.

He and his parents-in-law, Tim and Dianne O’Brien, established the Garner Rose O’Brien Halderman Scholarship, an endowed scholarship of $100,000 in the School of Mass Communications. The state has matched the gift with $50,000. The gift was suggested by Rose to show the family’s appreciation to their alma mater. Although he is based in Los Angeles, the USF mass communications graduate has taught popular annual workshops on television photojournalism for USF communications news and production students.

The O’Briens have also made additional gifts to the school and donated portable television lights and a digital camera.

“This family has given a wonderful gift to the students of the School of Mass Communications,” said USF School of Mass Communication director Edward Jay Friedlander. “The Garner Rose O’Brien Halderman Scholarship has already made a difference in the lives of six young USF students. With the scholarship now fully funded, even more young men and women will be helped.”

The donation and its endowment are now funding five $1,000 scholarships for selected undergraduate journalism and telecommunications students who want to become broadcast or print journalists. Ultimately, the Garner Rose O’Brien Halderman Scholarship will provide five $1,500 scholarships each year for School of Mass Communications students.