Journalist’s $50,000 gift creates scholarship for KU journalism doctoral students

January 28, 2013

After a career in journalism that has spanned more than 60 years to date, University of Kansas alumnus Bob Sigman has given $50,000 to create an endowed scholarship for the new Ph.D. program in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Sigman, of Leawood, Kan., earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from KU in 1951. His gift to KU Endowment created the Robert P. Sigman Family Journalism Scholarship.

“It is gratifying to make a gift that will benefit the journalism school’s new doctoral program,” said Sigman. “It is important for dedicated students to have the opportunity to take their education to a higher level. When the university advances a student’s education, it is good for Kansas.”

Sigman began his 47-year career at The Kansas City Star by writing obituaries and general reporting. He moved on to covering politics and Missouri government. During his last 30 years at The Kansas City Star, Sigman served on the editorial board. He wrote editorials, columns, and Sunday opinion page commentary, often focusing on Kansas issues. After a brief retirement in 2001, he returned to the workforce as editorial page editor for Sun Publications in Johnson County, Kansas, staying until 2011 when the newspaper ceased publication. Today Sigman’s journalism career continues as he writes a monthly column for 913: Johnson County’s News Magazine, published by The Kansas City Star.

Dean Ann Brill expressed appreciation for the new scholarship. “Bob Sigman’s gift to help journalism doctoral students reflects his own career of creating quality journalism in Kansas and beyond,” said Brill. “We are grateful for his support of this new program and the legacy it will create in our School.”

The gift counts toward Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas, the university’s $1.2 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign. Far Above seeks support to educate future leaders, advance medicine, accelerate discovery and drive economic growth to seize the opportunities of the future.

The campaign is managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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January 28, 2013