George M. Ward Scholarship Established
March 26, 2007
MACOMB, IL -- George Ward's love for the outdoors -- and for Western Illinois University -- will carry on through a new scholarship, named in his honor, for WIU students.
Ward's family recently established the George M. Ward Scholarship for Environmentally Concerned Students for students majoring in biological sciences. Ward, who passed away in December 2005, had served as Western's associate registrar since 1969 until his retirement in 1991. Shortly after his retirement, Ward was asked to return to the Registrar's Office part-time, where he worked in that capacity until 1996.
The Ward Scholarship will provide $1,000 annually to a biology student who will work at the biological sciences department's Alice L. Kibbe Life Science Station in Warsaw (IL). The application deadline for the inaugural Ward Scholarship is Monday, April 2. A recipient will be selected by May 1.
Western's Kibbe Life Science Station includes 415 acres owned by Western, 587 acres by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and 697 acres by the Illinois Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. The department of biological sciences began conducting summer classes at Kibbe in 1966. This nature preserve, which is home to a diversity of plant and animal species, provides students with hands-on experience in field research, as well as offering the general public an opportunity to commune with nature.
"Because our father enjoyed the outdoors and the conservation of the land, we felt it was fitting to establish a scholarship that will benefit a student who is working to improve the environment and who also possesses a love for the outdoors," said Ward's family.
Ward joined Western in 1964 as a faculty assistant in the School of Business and was named assistant registrar in 1967. Ward was also named the director of foreign student admissions in 1981.
He was a pioneer in changing student record maintenance from paper to computer-based, and is considered the author of Western Illinois' automated record system which was named in his honor -- the WARD report (Western's Audit of Requirements for Degrees). In 1991 he was presented with Western's Alumni Achievement Award. Ward earned a bachelor's degree in business education in 1965 and a master's degree in business education in 1968 from Western.
"The Ward Scholarship will support students in an outstanding department," said Brad Bainter, assistant director of development. "Throughout his career George provided exceptional service to the University. The Foundation is honored to administer this scholarship in his name."
For more information or to apply for the George M. Ward Scholarship for Environmentally Concerned Students, contact the Scholarship Office at 309/298-2001.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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