Marshall University Foundation
Marshall University Foundation, Inc.
One John Marshall Dr.
Huntington, WV 25755
304-696-6264
1-866-308-1346
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153
Marshall University Foundation Inc. establishes scholarship in honor of Homer Hickam Sr.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Foundation Inc. is establishing the Homer Hickam Sr.-Red Helmet Scholarship for children and grandchildren of coal miners and mine rescue team members.
The scholarship honors Homer Hickam Sr., a coal miner and father of New York Times best-selling author Homer Hickam Jr. Homer Hickam Sr. was instrumental in developing the first mine rescue team units in West Virginia.
“My father knew the value of a good education,” Homer Hickam Jr. said in a recent interview. “He wasn’t able to go to college but he saw to it that my brother and I had the means to go. By creating this scholarship at Marshall University, I hope to draw attention to the higher education opportunities available to students of the coalfields.”
The scholarship will be awarded annually to a West Virginia resident who is an undergraduate student and the child or grandchild of a coal miner or coal mine rescue team member. The award is renewable for up to four years provided satisfactory academic progress is maintained.
Dr. Lynne Mayer, Associate Vice President for Development at Marshall, said, “This effort by Homer Hickam Jr. to honor his father is a wonderful and lasting tribute.”
Homer Hickam Jr. is best known for his award-winning classic Rocket Boys: A Memoir that was made into the film October Sky. Red Helmet, his latest novel, is a love story set in a contemporary West Virginia coal mining town.
Hickam, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature degree last year by Marshall University, says he will help promote the scholarship during his nation-wide Red Helmet tour this month and in March. Hickam is scheduled to be in West Virginia to promote his new novel on Friday, Feb. 29 and Saturday, March 1. Friday’s schedule includes stops at Tamarack in Beckley at 1 p.m. and Hearthside Books in Bluefield at 5 p.m. Saturday’s visits will be at Empire Books in Huntington at 1 p.m. and Taylor Books in Charleston at 6 p.m.
“I’m pleased that we can honor my father and the work of mine rescue teams with this scholarship at Marshall,” Hickam said. “Marshall is the university that services the Appalachian coalfields more than any other, and I am thrilled to help create this scholarship opportunity.”
To contribute to the scholarship, please visit www.homerhickam.com or www.marshalluniversityfoundation.com. For more information on the scholarship, contact Tracy Straub, Donor Relations Coordinator, at straub5@marshall.edu or (304) 696-6781.