The Student Printz

Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: News

Jeff McAdory [Click to enlarge]

Marianne Todd [Click to enlarge]

Michael McCarter [Click to enlarge]

Steve Gardener [Click to enlarge]

Ted Jackson [Click to enlarge]

Tim Isbell [Click to enlarge]

Jim Bishop [Click to enlarge]

Ed Wheeler [Click to enlarge]

The School of Mass Communication and Journalism celebrated its alumni and former teachers by hosting a photojournalism summit last Friday in which six former photojournalism students and two retired professors were inducted into the school's hall of fame.

Chris Campbell, the director of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism, opened the summit Friday morning by giving a welcome and explaining the background of the school's hall of fame.

According to Campbell, the school created the hall of fame two years ago. The first induction ceremony was held in 2006 and honored Gene Wiggins, a professor, and Kathleen Koch, a journalist.

The inductees who were honored in this year's summit were Jim Bishop, a retired Southern Miss professor; Steve Gardner, a freelance photographer; Tim Isbell, a photographer with "The Sun Herald;" Ted Jackson, of "The Times-Picayune;" Jeff McAdory, of "The Commercial Appeal;" Michael McCarter, of "The Cincinnati Enquirer;" Marianne Todd, a freelance photographer and Ed Wheeler, a retired Southern Miss professor. All of the inductees were in attendance except for Jim Bishop, who was unable to attend because of his wife's illness.

"We've had a lot of people with amazing careers," Campbell said.

The summit, which ran from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., allowed for all six alumni to give presentations of their past and current achievements.

During the celebratory luncheon, which was held in the Thad Cochran Center, Jackson introduced and presented the hall of fame award to his former professor and mentor, Wheeler.

"Ed always taught us to hold on to a camera strap and it will take you around the world," Jackson said. "Ed was able to connect the past to the present and instill the love of photography in his students."

Wheeler received a standing ovation upon his receipt of the award, and he shared an emotional hug with Jackson.

"You guys have no idea how much I learned from you," Wheeler said to his former students. "Perseverance, for sure. I tried to run off as many of you as I could."

Wheeler then said he was returning to his seat before he broke down in tears.

"Ed built a great program," Campbell said. "We're aspiring to rebuild it."

Accompanying the photojournalism summit was a silent auction consisting of photos and other items donated by the inductees and other photographers. The proceeds from the auction will benefit the Ed Wheeler Photojournalism Fund, which provides the School of Mass Communication and Journalism with resources slotted to be used for photographic supplies and equipment, and the Damian E. Morgan Memorial Scholarship in Photography, which is an endowment for photo students.

On Monday, Campbell said the silent auction raised about $2500 for the department.

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