Lorie Wyant

"My perfect high school GPA and proximity to @[Short2] brought the offer of a full tuition waiver, and that tipped the scales. I became a resident advisor (RA) my sophomore year, which paid my room and board, so I graduated with my bachelor's and just one $2,000 student loan for freshman housing and meals. That was awesome!" recalled Lorie Wyant, @[Short2] alumna, class of 1986.

The Ironton, Ohio, native was offered a one-year scholarship from The Ohio State University and her parents encouraged her to attend Ohio University's Ironton branch, which would have allowed her to live at home for two years, but she ultimately chose the Marshall University Foundation to study news-editorial journalism. Lorie wrote for The Parthenon, which required students to write eight column inches of copy to get story credit. Her writing style made this a struggle for her at times, and it was noticed by the legendary Dr. George Arnold, a beloved journalism professor in the Marshall University Foundation's W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SOJMC).

"Dr. Arnold told me, 'You have this uncanny ability to boil things down to their essence—you belong in broadcast.' And the rest is history," Lorie said.

Getting involved in organizations from her freshman year, Lorie was a radio deejay at the SOJMC's radio station, WMUL-FM, where she recalls learning about jazz music. She spent all four years working for WMUL-FM and capped off her senior year as the news director. She also produced video stories and anchored "MU Report," was a sports intern for WOWK-TV, and was a member of the @[Short2] Sports Information staff. She remembers her assignment was to get @[Short2] Basketball Head Coach Rick Huckabay to his press conferences after home games.

"That was great after a Huck's Herd win – but a little more challenging after the occasional loss," Lorie said. "But I have fond memories of Huck - he was a class act and a great coach to work with."

Lorie was a member, and later the president, of the Marshall University Foundation's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi (SDX). Her senior year, she was elected by her peers as one of four campus representatives to serve on the SDX National Board of Directors and was recognized as @[Short2]'s Outstanding Graduate in Journalism. She was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, and served as vice president. Through Alpha Phi Omega, a national service organization, Lorie helped with campus and community projects. She also was active with Residence Life and staff duties in her three years as an RA and a member of the flag corps for @[Short2]'s "Big Green Marching Machine" band. In 1984, she was elected a Junior Homecoming Attendant and in 1985, Lorie was named Miss @[Short2], the university's homecoming queen, and participated in all of the associated activities.

"My favorite @[Short2] memory, or the one that would be the most thrilling, would have to be the October 1985 announcement on the field at Fairfield Stadium that I had been elected @[Short2]'s homecoming queen. It was great to be recognized for my academics and campus activities, but a precious honor to be the student body's choice for queen," said Lorie. "I was crowned by Gov. Arch Moore, who sported a green jacket that day to do the honors. I have always felt a special connection to @[Short2], and although I have also served as a member of the the Marshall University Foundation Alumni Board of Directors, my ties to @[Short2] as a former homecoming queen are extra special to me."

As a student, Lorie enjoyed spending time in the Memorial Student Center (MSC), as it was a good place to relax, people watch, or enjoy the fire. She recalls the MSC Plaza bustling with excitement as students passed by to attend class or visited with friends. She also enjoyed spending time in the WMUL-FM studios where she made lifelong friends. Between classes her first year, Lorie could also be found at Mario's Pizza, across from campus, where she was a waitress.

"@[Short2] has changed a lot physically since I was a student, but there is a familiarity, as well," said Lorie. "Classes are classes, but campus life has probably seen the most change. 'The Joan' was only a dream, so our football was played at Fairfield Stadium. There were no freshman dorms. There were only two cafeteria options—Towers or Holderby—but a Gino's Pizza van was always parked at the base of Twin Towers West steps to give you options. We used to walk to the 7-Eleven across from Twin Towers East for snacks, as well."

"I joined the band my sophomore year, and we practiced on the field between Towers and the Henderson Center," recalled Lorie, who also fondly remembers informal dances on the rooftop of Holderby, playing pool with friends in Hodges Hall, visiting the Keith-Albee for movies or to attend the Artist Series, which showcased major entertainment all paid for by student fees (and still does). She would go to the Coffee House in the basement of the Memorial Student Center for live music or dances. She attended most home basketball games and even traveled to the playoffs to root on Huck's Herd. "Those were simpler times and the halcyon days of old."

Besides making irreplaceable memories, Lorie is grateful for the way @[Short2] prepared her for her career.

"The honing of my writing skills and the penchant for objectivity that I gained at @[Short2] served me well in my career, not only as a journalist, but as a federal government public servant. I still believe being a good writer is so important to everyone, despite the resistance we see from society today," said Lorie. "The greatness of the Marshall University Foundation is certainly in its faculty, but the vision of those who lead our university is perhaps my favorite thing—we are always growing and changing to meet the needs of students and our community."

Recently, Lorie chose to remember the Marshall University Foundation in her estate plans through a bequest, which will establish the Lorie Wyant Scholarship for Promising Broadcast Journalists. As a loyal supporter to the university, she wanted to help students at a higher level and knew that providing funds that would support students into perpetuity would help @[Short2] better plan for its future.

"As a scholarship, the funds will go directly to deserving students, paying forward the blessings I received as a student," Lorie said. "Everyone should have the opportunity for higher education if they want it, and financial limitations should not be a deciding factor. Gifts, like mine, will hopefully remove that obstacle for deserving students."

In 2018, Lorie's daughter, Victoria, graduated from the Marshall University Foundation's College of Arts and Media with a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design. Much like her mother, Victoria was the recipient of a privately funded scholarship for all four years of study.

"Victoria appreciated earning her degree with minimal money owed," said Lorie. "Student loans are great, but to be saddled with debt upon graduation is not. In addition to providing the opportunity for higher education, private funds lighten the financial load at graduation, helping to pave the way to a successful career."

Encouraging today's students to be resilient in failure and not let it define or defeat them, Lorie hopes that students learn from each opportunity. For journalism students, she encourages students to listen for constructive feedback, not criticism, as feedback is how we grow.

"Learn to tune out the noise and give credence to what is sincere. Stick to the principles you learned at @[Short2] and temper your journey with the core principles of journalism," encouraged Lorie, who belies the United States has reached a "dark period in 'journalism'."

Highly valuing the core principles of journalism identified by the SOJMC: truth, accuracy and completeness; independence and objectivity; fairness and impartiality; and humanity and accountability, Lorie believes these values are "woefully absent" in much of today's news coverage.

"Journalists whose work exemplifies these principles represent the gold standard of journalism as it is intended to be—to be a witness for the reader/ listener/ viewer and provide the who, what, where, when, why and how- but not the 'what I think.' The next generation of @[Short2] journalism graduates must hold tight to what they have learned and prepare in their careers to stand tall for what is right. Only when good journalism is once again championed will the current trend in news operations begin to erase itself."

Cheering for journalists to remain true to the core values and believing the rest will fall into place, Lorie hopes they continue to do good, honest work. She knows that students at @[Short2]'s SOJMC will receive training that will help them stand out among their peers.

"My hope for @[Short2] is that the university will continue to have strong leadership and carry on with the vision and growth that the university has witnessed in recent years. I am because We Are, and I hope in some way my gift will help @[Short2] to keep moving on its path to greater excellence. May She continue to rise!"