In celebration of renowned Kansas City broadcaster Walt Bodine‘s 90th birthday and in support of future journalists, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Foundation is raising funds for a Walt Bodine Scholarship in Communication Studies Endowment Fund.

The goal is to raise $10,000 from the community. If that goal is reached, the UMKC College of Arts and Sciences‘ Communication Studies department will add $5,000 to fully endow the scholarship at $15,000. Contributions to the Walt Bodine Scholarship in Communication Studies Endowment Fund can be sent to 202 Administrative Center, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, MO 64110. For more information about the UMKC Foundation, visit umkcfoundation.org.

Throughout his 60-year career, Bodine has worked for WDAF-TV 4, KMBC Channel 9, KBMA-TV (now KSHB-TV) and various radio stations. His background includes staff announcer, program script writer, television reporter, news anchor and stints as news reporter and news director. For the past 25 years, he has worked at KCUR 89.3 FM. From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. each Friday, Bodine appears on KCUR’s Walt Bodine Show.

In addition to his media career, Bodine helped prepare UMKC students for careers in journalism as an adjunct professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Communication Studies Department.

Bodine has received several awards, including the Kansas City Spirit Award in 1987, recognizing him as the “voice of the people” and “our community conscience”.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.