Advancing Northwest
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Scholarship named for longtime vice president, father of ‘Electronic Campus’ Northwest, the Northwest Foundation and Dr. Jon Rickman recently announced the formation of the Jon Rickman Electronic Campus Scholarship. The scholarship is named for the University’s former vice president of information systems, who retired in December after serving the institution for 35 years. Beginning this fall, the Jon Rickman Electronic Campus Scholarship will be available to Northwest students of all majors, with academic achievement and financial need serving as the leading criteria. “I am extremely pleased this scholarship will continue one of the initial guiding principles of the Electronic Campus, that is, ‘students come first,’” Rickman said. “Through this scholarship, hopefully more students can experience a quality education enhanced by excellent technology at Northwest.” Rickman began teaching and became director of computing services at Northwest in 1976. That same year, he programmed a new Altair micro computer, the first commercial personal computer in the world, used by Northwest’s De-
partment of Computer Science. In 1987, Rickman created the first campuswide academic comprehensive computing network and residence hall network in the nation. The network garnered national attention for Northwest through coverage by The Washington Post, USA Today and the Associated Press, and since, Rickman has been known as the father of the University’s “Electronic Campus.” During the 1990s, Rickman continued to ensure Northwest remained on the cutting edge of the fast-evolving computer technology. In 1991, he helped create MOREnet, the Missouri Research and Educational Network, a data and digital instructional TV network that has saved Missouri schools and tax payers millions of dollars during the last 20 years. Rickman was promoted to vice president of information systems in 1996, and in 2004, Northwest implemented a low cost model to provide residence hall students with laptops. Furthermore, in 2008, Northwest implemented its program to
provide laptops to its more than 7,000 students, making the University the first in the nation to provide both a laptop and textbooks to its students as part of their tuition and fees. “Jon Rickman is a scholar and leader who has epitomized brilliance for more than four decades in higher education,” said Mike Johnson ’85, vice president of university advancement. “This scholarship will award his truest love for students in his name forever, and it clearly links to Northwest’s mission of student success.” To support the Jon Rickman Electronic Campus Scholarship, submit a taxdeductible gift to the Northwest Foundation at 800 University Dr., Maryville, MO 64468 or visit www.nwmissouri. edu/GiveOnline. For more information, contact Northwest’s Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248. n
Foundation Board of Directors Members of the 2011-2012 Northwest Foundation Board of Directors include (front row, from left) Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski, Bill Price ’60, Jennifer Dawson Nicholson ’71, Kay Thomas ’71, Lynn Ruhl, Don Beeson ’59, Terry Day ’65, Mary Asbell ’69, Dr. Virgil Albertini, (second row) Tony Cowen Espey ’83, Dr. Betty Johnson Bush ’60, Foundation Vice President Holly Murphy-Barstow ’81, Arnold Johnson ’77, Deb Tripp ’92, ’96, Jason Garst ’93, Executive Director Mike Johnson ’85, (third row) Paul Schieber ’81, Gary Thompson ’76, Phil Patterson ’74, Dr. Bill Hedge ’74, ’77, ’89, Dr. John Baker, Troy Greenfield ’90, Dick Thomson, (back row) Mark Doll ’80, Foundation President Dan Runde ’81, Bill Brown ’63, Jeff Borchardt ’82, Dr. Jim Redd ’66, Jim Blackford ’72, Rick Carter and Owen Straub ’86. (Not pictured: Mike Faust ’74, Amy Harlin ’95, Ray Hischke ’66, Kenny Peterson ’66 and Juan Rangel ’91). n
Spring 2012
Northwest Alumni Magazine