FirstView 2001 Memorial Scholarship
The 2001 Scholarship is awarded to honor and pay tribute to two individuals who have contributed so much to instructional technology, in general, and to instructional television in particular.

 We are pleased to name this year’s scholarship in memory of
Judi Parker and Francis Thompson

They have contributed substantially to the profession by conceiving and implementing innovative ideas, serving as members of regional and national planning committees and professional organizations. They were committed to improving the educational process through the use of instructional technology.

 WE SALUTE THEM!

Judi Parker
May 2, 1943 – February 20, 2001

Born in Salt Lake City, Judi started her education career as a special education teacher after receiving her BA from the University of Utah. She remained a classroom teacher in Utah and Oregon before moving to West Virginia where she served as director of special education for Monongalia County.

Judi next served as Extension Learning Specialist for West Virginia University.

In 1973 she joined WWVU-TV (later called WNPB and now West Virginia Public Broadcasting) as statewide director of educational services, where under her leadership West Virginia was ranked at the top nationally for enrollments in college credit courses through PBS.

During her tenure as educational services director, Judi also served on numerous regional and national committees including MathLine, the SECA (now NETA) Council where she was Council chair for several years, NISS, the PBS Task Force to plan PBS Express and many others.

Judi retired in July 2000 and is survived by her husband, Kent and two teenage sons, Bryce and Stephen.

Francis Thompson
June 9, 1937 – January 19, 2001

Francis Thompson began his career in education with the Duval County, Florida, school system first as an elementary classroom teacher, then as principal before becoming the utilization specialist for the county’s instructional television service. He was one of the first on-camera television teachers in Florida.

He later served as utilization specialist with the Georgia Department of Education, and director of education services for the Vermont Education Television Network. He then served as eastern representative and national representative for the Agency for Instructional Technology (AIT) for fourteen years before his assignment at PBS, where he served as director of marketing for the PBS Teacher Resource Service.

 At the time of his death, Francis was a marketing representative for NETA Educational Resources. He held a master’s degree in science, education and administration from Jacksonville University in Florida, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.

Francis is survived by his beloved wife Kay, their daughter Susan, son-in-law Rob, and his adored infant granddaughter Lauren Elizabeth as well as his precious Persian cats, Princess and Zorro.