Slain journalist honored with scholarships, studio

Apr 15, 2016, 11:35 AM

Alison Parker, the Roanoke reporter gunned down on live tv last August, was honored last night at her alma mater, James Madison University, which awarded two scholarships in her honor. Hawes Spencer (who teaches at JMU) was there.

In addition to the scholarships, officials announced that JMU's on-campus television studio, where Parker launched her career, would be named in her honor-- a move that gratified her father, Andy Parker.

"I know that Alison would be just thrilled with all of this."

Faculty member Ryan Parkhurst remembered a student with a passion to dig for the truth.

"It's a terrible loss, but hopefully tonight we had an opportunity to celebrate her life a little bit."

Parkhurst said that over 1,000 donations from across the globe made this the fastest-growing scholarship in JMU history. For WCVE News, Hawes Spencer in Harrisonburg.

#

PHOTO: Alison Parker worked at WDBJ after graduating from from JMU's School of Media Arts and Design in 2012. (photo by Hawes Spencer)

#