This scholarship was established to honor the memory of this influential and exceptional educator, thanks to Lt. Col. P.S. Parra (USAF, Ret. and WWII Veteran), whose daughter, Mary Elizabeth Parra (BJ '77), enrolled in Mizzou's J-School upon the advice of Mrs. Wilson.
In his new book, Truth Worth Telling, 60 Minutes Correspondent Scott Pelley wrote about his experience at Coronado High School (CHS) in Lubbock, Texas: "In the publications classroom I found the captain who set my course. Marjorie Wilson was on fire to teach. In her journalism class there was no higher purpose, no greater thrill, than to gather the news and report to the public. Tall, slender, with bright eyes and raven hair, Mrs. Wilson was one of those teachers who reveals the world. Her enthusiasm was intoxicating, her patience, inexhaustible."
In the many years that Mrs. Wilson taught in the Lubbock Independent School District, she undoubtedly influenced, supported and developed several hundred students like Scott Pelley who pursued careers not only in journalism, but also in a spectrum of diverse fields, including law, business, education, health and technology. Several former students are nationally as well as internationally known as published authors and editors.
Was Mrs. Wilson your teacher, or did you have a teacher, like Mrs. Wilson, who had an impact on your education and career? We are inviting all supporters of journalism and her former students to join us in this tribute to Marjorie Wilson by donating to this scholarship fund.
Born Marjorie Jordan in December 1922 in Asheville, North Carolina, Mrs. Wilson died in May 2012 in Texas. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1946, Mrs. Wilson later earned her Master of Arts in English from Sul Ross State University (Alpine, Texas) in 1970. Nicknamed, "Scoop," for her talent of getting the story, Mrs. Wilson began her journalism career as a print news reporter for the Fayetteville Observer and Winston-Salem Observer in North Carolina.
When Mrs. Wilson was the publications sponsor in Lubbock, the CHS yearbook and student newspaper achieved regional, state and national awards and recognition. In addition, Mrs. Wilson led state and national high school journalism organizations, including serving as president of the Texas Association of Journalism Directors and Co-Editor of National Journalism Educators magazine. She was a nationally recognized speaker, writer and workshop presenter and a life member of Mensa. After 22 years, Mrs. Wilson retired from teaching in 1984. Widowed in 1988, Mrs. Wilson married Ray Andrea in 1994. She is survived by her three children -- Jan, John, Joan and their spouses.
Because of your financial support, Mrs. Wilson's legacy will live on and will support a journalism student from Texas to get one step closer in pursuit of a dream. Thank you!