Krane scholarship to benefit IT, journalism students, goes to informatics undergrad
The Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing announced that Sam Parsons has been named the first recipient of the newly created Krane Scholars Award, an award recognizing an outstanding student in the School of Informatics and Computing or the School of Journalism.
IU School of Journalism alumnus and School of Informatics and Computing Dean's Advisory Council member David Krane (right) congratulates informatics junior Sam Parsons after Parsons received the inaugural Krane Scholars Award.
Parsons, a junior majoring in informatics with minors in business and entrepreneurship, is originally from Bloomington. In addition to being named the Krane Scholar, he recently placed second in the Kelley School of Business' Accenture Case Competition. After graduation, Parsons hopes to secure a people-oriented job in the information technology field -- either as part of an internal team or in a consulting/client-facing role.
"The School of Informatics and Computing is proud to give the inaugural award to a student like Sam," said Dennis Groth, associate dean for undergraduate studies. "Sam captures the very essence of David Krane's vision for this scholarship. He is a very motivated and passionate student who continually demonstrates academic excellence."
The award, established by School of Journalism alumnus and School of Informatics and Computing Dean's Advisory Council member David Krane, has been designed to benefit both schools. Every other year, the recipient of the scholarship will come from the School of Informatics and Computing. With this gift of $25,000, Krane hopes to encourage the merging of journalism/media with information technology, and reward students who are blending the two fields.
Students who apply for the award will propose a project that uses or combines journalism, media, or information technology concepts, with the winner being selected by a committee comprising a mix of School of Informatics and Computing and School of Journalism representatives.
"We are thankful for David's support of ideas and projects at the intersection of Journalism and Informatics. We have a number of alumni working in new media, and David's gift will ensure that our students -- together with Informatics students -- imagine new ways about how journalism can inform and improve communities in the future," said Brad Hamm, dean of the School of Journalism.
Krane is a corporate communications and technology marketing professional and venture capitalist with more than 15 years experience. Earlier this year, Krane joined Google's corporate venture capital team. In this role, he helps grow and accelerate portfolio companies and identifies new investment opportunities for Google Ventures. Krane joined Google Inc. 10 years ago as the company's director of global communications and public affairs. In this role, Krane oversaw a significant percentage of the company's PR and communications programs and worked as a member of the senior leadership team to grow Google from a small start-up to a multi-billion dollar global enterprise.
About the Indiana University School of Informatics
Founded in 2000 as the first school of its kind in the United States, the Indiana University School of Informatics is dedicated to research and teaching across a broad range of computing and information technology, with emphases on science, applications, and societal implications. The School includes the School of Informatics at IUPUI and the School of Informatics and Computing at Bloomington, where programs include computer science and informatics. The school administers a variety of bachelor's and master's degree programs in computer science and informatics, as well as Ph.D. programs in computer science, and the first-ever Ph.D. in informatics. The school is dedicated to excellence in education and research, to partnerships that bolster economic development and entrepreneurship, and to increasing opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities in computing and technology. For more information, visit www.soic.indiana.edu.
About the Indiana University School of Journalism
The IU School of Journalism has been a leader in journalism education and research for nearly 100 years. The school offers bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism and the Ph.D. in mass communications. About 900 undergraduate and 100 graduate students make up the program. The school's 22 full-time faculty members prepare students for work in print and broadcast media, journalism education, advertising and public relations. The school is located in Ernie Pyle Hall, which is named for the Pulitzer Prize-winning World War II correspondent who had been an IU student in the 1920s. For more information, visit www.journalism.indiana.edu.
This news release originally appeared Nov. 29, 2010.
