The Gary and Rose Neeleman Endowed Scholarship in Communication at the University of Utah Announced
Photo of Gary and Rose Neeleman
The Department of Communication is pleased to announce the creation of the Gary and Rose Neeleman Endowed Scholarship in Communication, made possible through the generosity of the Neeleman family.
This endowed scholarship will be awarded to students in the Department of Communication with a preference for those pursuing journalism. Preference may also be given to students whose work reflects a global perspective, including those contributing to print journalism with an international focus and those engaged in projects related to Portugal and Latin America. Financial need may also be considered.
As an endowed fund, the scholarship will provide support for one student each year helping to expand access to academic, professional and international opportunities throughout their time in the program. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, travel stipends, research or professional development.
The endowment is named in honor of Gary and Rose Neeleman, whose lives reflected a deep commitment to compassion, service and the transformative power of both education and journalism. This scholarship is intended to carry forward those values and support students whose work aligns with these same principles.
Neeleman family members who helped establish the scholarship reflected on the purpose of the gift:
“We created this scholarship to honor Gary and Rose Neeleman, whose lives together were devoted to service, journalism and communities across Latin America. We hope it supports students who bring that same global perspective, curiosity, and compassion to their work and use communication to serve others.”
Ralph Wakley, a longtime friend and colleague of Gary Neeleman has loving memories of Gary and Rose. “As a reporter,” said Wakley, “I first met Gary at the UPI Salt Lake City news bureau in 1970 and Gary and Rose became friends for more than 50 years. During those years, I watched Gary help some many reporters advance their careers within UPI and with other news media companies. Gary and Rose also helped dozens of Brazilian students attending universities in Utah, served as an unpaid Brazilian representative in the U.S. and helped numerous Brazilian visitors with any problems they encountered.”
Said Department Chair Avery Holton, “This generous and lasting gift ensures our students will have opportunities to enrich their perspectives at a global level. This, in turn, will provide them with opportunities to enrich their communities, as well."
The Department of Communication is proud to recognize this meaningful contribution and the opportunities it creates for current and future students.
About the Department of Communication
The University of Utah’s Department of Communication is one of the premier communication programs in the country and home to nearly 1,200 undergraduate majors and a robust research environment. Consistently ranked among the nation’s most esteemed academic communities, the department combines hands-on learning with nationally recognized faculty expertise to prepare students for careers in advertising, strategic communication, digital storytelling, AI integration, journalism, health, science, organizational communication and beyond. With an international research portfolio and a vibrant, collaborative community, students gain the skills, confidence, and creativity to lead with impact and to transform the communities around them.