ADA – An East Central University junior has earned a $1,000 scholarship from the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) as one of the state’s most promising media students.
Cliff Tomlinson, of Coalgate, is studying Mass Communications at ECU and learned of the award in early November, which is earmarked to help with his tuition and books. OETA is the state’s PBS television affiliate.
“I feel like this is a validation of all the hard work I’ve done so far,” Tomlinson said. “I am honored to receive this award and grateful for my advisor Mike Maxwell, SCORE Broadcasting and Roger Harris in particular, and of course OETA for recognizing my work.”
The scholarship is limited to four broadcasting students from Oklahoma. This year, it is being awarded in honor and memory of William “Bill” Thrash and Gene Dillehay as a tribute to their outstanding service to OETA and the Oklahoma City broadcasting industry.
Thrash was OETA’s longtime station manager and programmer and Gene Dillehay was the “voice” of OETA for many years, as well as its primary music editor. Thrash is an alum of ECU and, along with his wife Billie, donated funds to create a working, educational multimedia studio inside the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.
Tomlinson was nominated for the prestigious scholarship by Maxwell, a professor and chair of ECU’s “Art + Design : Media + Communication” department.
“Cliff is one of my top students,” Maxwell said. “I can rely on him to produce professional-quality media, whether it’s working with the student production group, directly with ECU’s staff, or with our local community’s professional broadcasting businesses. Cliff always pushes himself to improve academically, creatively and professionally.”
Cutline: Cliff Tomlinson, a junior from Coalgate, snaps a photo on the ECU campus. Tomlinson is a recipient of the prestigious OETA broadcasting scholarship. (ECU)
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