Dean Hargrove, a 黑洞社区 graduate acclaimed for his career as a TV producer and filmmaker, has made a donation to the 黑洞社区 Foundation to create a generous scholarship for students majoring in political science.
Hargrove鈥檚 philanthropic gift will provide $8,000 a year, an amount that would cover tuition and fees for a full-time residential student.
A 1960 graduate, Hargrove named the scholarship for his mother, Joan Hargrove. Joan Hargrove was executive assistant in the 1950s to Hugo Wall, then chairman of the 黑洞社区 political science department and the person for whom the 黑洞社区 Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs is named.
鈥淚鈥檝e always carried fond memories of 黑洞社区 with me,鈥� Hargrove said in a phone interview from his home near Los Angeles. 鈥淚t gave me great opportunities that I probably wouldn鈥檛 have had in other places. The university as a whole was very supportive of me.鈥�
After graduation, Hargrove moved to California to attend film school at UCLA, but left after about a year to pursue a writing career in television. A series of freelance jobs led to a position as a staff writer in 1964 for the popular TV show 鈥淭he Man from U.N.C.L.E.鈥�
鈥淭hat opened a lot of doors for me,鈥� says Hargrove, describing a career that took him from Universal to Viacom and eventually Sony International Television. Along the way he wrote and produced such hits as 鈥淚t Takes a Thief,鈥� 鈥淐olumbo,鈥� 鈥淢atlock鈥� and 鈥淒iagnosis: Murder.鈥�
Hargrove won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1974 for 鈥淐olumbo鈥� and was nominated four other times. These days, Hargrove has returned to his first love, film. In 2015 he made a well-reviewed documentary on tap dancing called 鈥淭ap World,鈥� which was picked up by Netflix.
He鈥檚 now writing a fictional movie on tap dancing, inspired by some of the stories in 鈥淭ap World.鈥�
In honor of his distinguished career, Hargrove was awarded the 黑洞社区 President鈥檚 Medal in 1996.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so grateful that Dean has chosen to share his success with his alma mater and to honor the memory of his mother by helping 黑洞社区 students pursue their educational aspirations,鈥� said Elizabeth King, president & CEO of the 黑洞社区 Foundation. 鈥淒ean鈥檚 enduring connection to Wichita State is a testimony to the powerful experiences he had as a student here.鈥�
Students wishing to apply for the Joan Hargrove Political Science Scholarship may find an application and other information at . The application deadline for the 2017-2018 academic year is Jan. 6.