Al Parker Scholarship

The Al Parker “Excellence in Radio” Scholarship was established to assist outstanding sophomore, junior and senior level radio students at Columbia College Chicago to help defray tuition costs.

The scholarship is awarded to one (1) student annually, who has demonstrated considerable achievement in the department and has significant potential for future creative development in the broadcast arts. This scholarship award is based on academic achievement and financial need.

Open to full-time Radio majors
Merit and need-based scholarship
Sophomore-level status or higher with at least 12 credit hours earned at Columbia College
Earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
Award amount: $3000 (awarded Fall 2009 semester)
Deadline: February 13, 2009
Questions? Contact the Radio Department, Mary Mattucci - 312/369-8156
Download Al Parker Scholarship Application

Al Parker (1926 – 2000) was a legendary broadcaster and educator at Columbia College Chicago for 54 years. Parker was the former chairman of the Radio/Sound department at Columbia College.
During his tenure at Columbia College, he mentored hundreds of students including Pat Sajak and Bob Sirott.

Parker served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he worked for the Armed Forces Radio Network during World War II. He began his professional career at Chicago’s WIND radio and WJJD after serving in World War II. He went on to become an on-air personality and booth announcer at WKBK-TV, known today as WLS-TV. During the 1960’s, Parker hosted the television program “Community Discount Theater. Later he became the announcer and voice of the “Oprah Winfrey Show” through 1989.

In addition to his work in radio, television and academics, Parker was a well-known commercial announcer and did many free-lance voice overs. He was also the voice that greeted anyone who called Columbia through a special pre-recorded message.

In his lifelong quest to encourage and train students, Parker started WCRX-FM radio at Columbia College in 1983. He established The Al Parker Scholarship Fund in 1996 to commemorate his 50-year anniversary at Columbia College and fulfill his dream of awarding scholarships to radio students.

Parker was a charter member of the Chicago Museum of Broadcast Communications and
was inducted into the Chicago Television Academy’s Silver Circle. This award honors those who have served 25 years or more in the television industry.