Faculty emeritus Pete Mayeux offers advice to his scholarship recipients and professionals

PHOTO ABOVE: “I will be forever thankful,” says Hannah Stodolka about being this year’s recipient of the Pete Mayeux Scholarship which supports broadcasting students. PHOTO BELOW: Pete Mayeux taught broadcasting at Nebraska for 36 years, helping hundreds of graduates who have gone on to work in media.

Pete Mayeux, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln emeritus faculty member of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, takes pride in knowing a scholarship fund created in his honor helps students battle the financial challenges of attending college.

The Peter Mayeux Scholarship Fund was set up at the University of Nebraska Foundation in 2004 to recognize Mayeux’s retirement and longtime service to the college. Over the years, he’s helped to increase the permanent endowment with his personal contributions. The fund assists students with a broadcasting background in paying for at least a portion of their tuition.

“I hope recipients of this scholarship use the funds to further their media careers and become leaders who make significant contributions to the communications media,” Mayeux said.

For sophomore Hannah Stodolka, that is exactly what she hopes to do. Holding majors in broadcasting and sports media communications, she has her hands very full. That didn’t stop her from seeking out a way to lessen the pressure of college costs.

“I decided to apply for the Pete Mayeux Scholarship Fund because college is difficult financially, and I was trying to get any help I could,” Stodolka said. “This fund was one opportunity that would help me do that.”

She won the Peter Mayeux Scholarship for the 2017 – 2018 school year.

Mayeux believes the more skills a student possesses, the more marketable they are when looking for a broadcasting position, and the college matches the scholarship to students engaged in skill-building.

Mayeux offers students and professionals alike some good advice.

“Have more than one specialty or talent you can offer and develop for a prospective employer. When you have learned as much as you can from a job, move on to the next one to avoid becoming stagnant,” Mayeux said. “However, if you truly find a job that is satisfying, enjoy the experience and continue to make contributions to your employer’s work.”

When Stodolka learned she had received the scholarship, she was delighted.

“I was first shocked,” she said. “I was also extremely excited and thankful that somebody was willing to give me the scholarship to relieve some of the financial burdens of college.”

Stodolka hopes to gain more knowledge in her field now that she can focus more on her academics.  She says knowing someone believes in her has encouraged her to strive to be an even better student.

“I want to make sure he Mr. Mayeux knows how much his scholarship has encouraged me to pursue a career in journalism, and I’ll work extremely hard in my classes to become a great journalist,” she said. “I will be forever thankful.”

The Peter Mayeux Scholarship is awarded by the college’s scholarship committee, and those who are considered must be pursuing a major in broadcasting and hold a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above. Mayeux hopes for the scholarship to be awarded to a student with a record of excellent success and a strong desire to work in the broadcasting industry.

Mayeux taught broadcasting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for 36 years before retiring in 2005, producing hundreds of graduates who have gone on to work in Nebraska broadcasting. In 1985 he wrote, “Writing for the Broadcast Media,” which was adopted by universities in more than 100 countries.

VIDEO: Broadcasters honor emeritus professor Peter Mayeux

A member of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, Mayeux attended the University of Louisiana-Lafayette for his undergraduate degree followed by the University of Iowa for graduate school. From there he went on to work in commercial and non-commercial radio and television as an announcer, news reporter and newscaster before teaching at Nebraska. He continues to live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

If you’re considering the rewards that come from establishing a named fund to support the College of Journalism and Mass Communications or other opportunities to help, please contact Greg Jensen, senior director of development, at [email protected] or 402-458-1181.

This article was written by Bekkah Watkins, a senior at the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications who graduates May 5, 2018. She is the public relations and marketing communications intern at the University of Nebraska Foundation.