Chelsie Taddonio, Decker Scholarship recipient, studying abroad in London.
Photo courtesy of Chelsie Taddonio
The Charles B. Decker Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1991 upon the death at age 34 of Charles B. Decker, an enthusiastic journalist from Saranac Lake, then an Assistant Managing Editor of the Watertown Daily Times.
Charlie Decker graduated from the Saranac Lake Central High School after an outstanding athletic career during which time he was also a sports reporter and photographer for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. He attended Cornell University and the University Of Missouri School of Journalism, leaving to edit the award-winning "Olympic Digest," a daily account of the 1980 Winter Olympics. Following this, he was employed at West Virginia newspapers, but returned in 1983 to the North Country he so loved as managing editor of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. He joined the Watertown Daily Times as state editor in 1986 and was appointed assistant managing editor in 1989.
He had a strong personal commitment to the profession of newspaper journalism and to the public's right to know. He believed fervently in the value of and necessity for a free press staffed by enthusiastic, informed writers. Newspaper work, outdoor sports and conversation occupied him and he gave them his best.
On July 3, 1991 he died unexpectedly of a brain stem hemorrhage. His estate and gifts from family and friends have been placed in a scholarship fund with family and friends acting as advisors.
Selection of grantees will be made weighing these basic criteria:
- Need, to a degree suggesting that the intended education, project or internship cannot be undertaken without financial assistance
- A tangible demonstration of interest in journalism; such as special journalism courses, articles, internships or work on their school paper
- Preference will be given to those students with a concentration in print journalism
Download an application for 2011-2012 school year at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
For past recipients, download the Decker Scholarship Application for Renewal.
If you have been a recipient of the Charles Decker Scholarship and are finished with school, please send us an update.
