Team Broadcasting, Inc., recently presented the Ruben C Hughes Memorial Scholarship blues show in honor of the company’s late founder and CEO, who passed away in 2020. The concert was a rousing success!
Ruben C. Hughes was a radio pioneer in Mississippi who dedicated his career to elevating Black artists in blues, gospel, R&B, and hip-hop. After starting his tenure as a disk jockey in Forest, Miss., Mr. Hughes went on to achieve an impactful path in radio that lasted a lifetime. He thrived as the Program Director at WQIC in Meridian, where he worked with icons such as Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson during the early days of their careers. In 1969, he worked alongside Vernon Floyd and Robert Floyd to build the first Black-owned radio station in Mississippi, WORV Radio in Hattiesburg. Later, he went on to establish WGNL and WGNG Radio in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.
Mr. Hughes was a strong proponent of education, specifically Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) He attended Tennesseee State University himself and maintained a desire to to ensure future generations would have access to quality higher education.
The Ruben C. Hughes Memorial Scholarship will preserve the legacy of Mr. Hughes by awarding $XXXX in scholarship funds to juriors and seniors studying journalism and/or mass communications at the following HBCUs: Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Mississippi Valley State University.
Scholarship Requirements:
- Must be a junior or senior at one of the qualifying institutions
- Must be studying journalism, mass communications, or a similar academic program
- Must be in good academic and disciplinary standing
- Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher (Unofficial transcript required)
- Submit a 500-word essay on the following topic: How should traditional media (radio, television, etc.) adapt to today’s rapidly changing media landscape?
This event was a fundraiser for scholarships for college students who majoring in mass communications and would like to further their education. This is a chance to participate in the preservation of Black Radio. Submit your essays to be considered for a scholarship!
