'Good Morning America' gift provides scholarship in alumnus Robin Roberts' name
Contact: Christina Chapple
12/19/06
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University alumnus Robin Roberts, anchor for the popular ABC morning news program “Good Morning America,” was visibly touched Tuesday morning (Dec. 19) by a “Secret Santa” gift from fellow anchor Diane Sawyer.
In an on-air exchange of presents, Sawyer gave Roberts a full-tuition scholarship to Southeastern to be presented in Roberts’ name to a student from her high school, Pass Christian High School in Pass Christian, Miss.
Moved to tears, Roberts told Sawyer, “Education is so important to my family. Thank you so much.”
Southeastern President Randy Moffett said the university is equally touched by Sawyer’s gift.
“The gift of education is priceless,” he said. “Ms. Sawyer’s gift to Robin Roberts gives invaluable national exposure to the benefits of giving to higher education. While this gift may specifically impact the life of one student, it could also indirectly touch many more by inspiring others to give a scholarship in the name of a friend or loved one.
“Southeastern is grateful personally to Ms. Sawyer and Ms. Roberts, but we’re also grateful on behalf of higher education in general,” Moffett said.
Roberts, a 1983 Southeastern graduate, has been a loyal and supportive Southeastern alumnus, who has frequently expressed her gratitude to Southeastern. Named Alumnus of the Year in 1996, she endowed the Robin Roberts Scholarship, which benefit the university’s athletic program.
As a Southeastern student Roberts was a standout forward on Lady Lions basketball team and got her start in broadcasting as sports director at Hammond's WFPR/WHMD radio. Following graduation, she began her career in television journalism in Mississippi, moved on to ESPN in Atlanta, and then to New York where she had contracts with both ESPN and ABC Wide World of Sports. She has been the third anchor for “Good Morning America” since 2005.
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