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(Photos by George Johnson)

By FLIP DE LUCA
Posted by SMAD June 19, 2007

Long-time journalism professor and Breeze adviser Alan Neckowitz was honored at a retirement party May 7 in Taylor Hall. Neckowitz retired after teaching at JMU for 34 years.

During the ceremony, JMU President Linwood Rose announced the establishment of a studies abroad scholarship named after Neckowitz and his long-time friend professor Charlie Turner.

Both Neckowitz and Turner have been intimately involved in international programs. Neckowitz has twice been the faculty member in residence in Florence and once in London. Turner just returned from a semester in London. They played a key role in developing the Summer in Ireland program and have served together in that program five times.

In announcing the formation of the scholarship, President Rose praised the duo for devoting selfless time and energy to enriching the lives of JMU students by exposing them to another culture.

Rose said donations from School of Media Arts and Design faculty to start the scholarship program total more than $2,500. SMAD professor Dave Wendelken spearheaded the effort to establish the scholarship. The scholarships will help defray the cost of SMAD students studying in Ireland or one of the other international programs.

Dolores Flamiano, associate professor in SMAD, announced that the first scholarship recipient will be Laura Becker, who will participate in the Ireland program this summer. Flamiano and Turner will be the faculty members in Ireland for 2007.

President Rose also spoke of how it was obvious that Neckowitz was not only respected by his colleagues, but, perhaps even more important, he was liked.

George Johnson, head of SMAD, presented Neckowitz with a plaque in honor of his years of dedicated service. Neckowitz also was given a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble, because he is an avid reader. He and his wife, Kate, also received a gift certificate to the Joshua Wilton House for a romantic dinner.

Former journalism professor Flip De Luca, who retired in 2005, served as “roast master” for the event, attended by about 40 people.

After presenting Neckowitz with several gag gifts, each commemorating an event in Neckowitz's tenure at JMU, De Luca thanked “the Neck” for being such a good colleague.

“It has been a pleasure to work with you,” De Luca said. “The Breeze and the hundreds of students who passed through its doors since you came appreciate the guidance and advice you have offered over the years.”

Wendelken, who has taught in the journalism sequence almost as long as Neckowitz, presented the retiree with a framed photo of Neckowitz, De Luca and Wendelken from Madison magazine that accompanied an article on Professors You Love by the late Pat Butters. Wendelken recalled a lot of the fun the Breeze advisers had over the years including playing in the city softball league and traveling to conventions. Wendelken noted that Neckowitz's talking Wendelken into providing free guest lectures in a summer program for high school newspaper advisers led him to meet his future wife, Janet. Wendelken also spoke of the more than 1,000 students who had taken Neckowitz's news writing classes over the years and Alan's many years service to the scholarship committee.

Charlie Turner, John Woody and Tommy Thompson also offered reflections on Neckowitz's years of service.

Neckowitz and his wife, Kate, plan to stay in Harrisonburg, but will do some traveling, too. They left the next day for 12 days in Chincoteague. When they returned, they received a photo album from Dr. George Johnson of pictures he had taken at the reception.

To contact Mr. Neckowitz, send email to neckowax@jmu.edu.

To contribute to the Neckowitz/Turner Study Abroad Scholarship Acct. #15609, send checks to James Madison University, Advancement Gifts and Records, MSC 3603, 800 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.

Questions about the scholarship fund: contact Dave Wendelken at wendeldh@jmu.edu.

Dave Wendelken also contributed to this story.