Houvouras presented the gift during this year’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications’ Hall of Fame ceremony on Nov. 7, and an accompanying crowdfunding campaign titled “$100,000 for 100 Years” was announced. The school seeks to raise $100,000 in recognition of the program’s 100th anniversary in 2026.
“We are thrilled at this kind donation from Jack Houvouras, and his leadership in starting this exciting crowdfunding campaign to recognize and honor a century of journalism excellence at Marshall University,” said Dr. Rob Quicke, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
A former editor of The Parthenon, Marshall University’s student newspaper, Houvouras went on to found Huntington Quarterly magazine in 1989 and has since developed a portfolio of publications across West Virginia. Over the years, he has been recognized for his business success — earning the West Virginia Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 1994 and The Herald-Dispatch’s Business Innovator of the Year award in 2014. He was inducted into the School of Journalism and Mass Communications’ Hall of Fame in 2021.
Serving as co-chairs of the campaign are Houvouras, a 1988 graduate of the journalism program, and Dr. George Arnold, a retired emeritus professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
“This crowdfunding campaign is about honoring our proud past and investing in the next generation of journalists,” Houvouras said. “Marshall’s journalism program has shaped countless careers over the last century, and this is our opportunity to ensure it continues to thrive for another 100 years.”
Funds raised through the campaign, found at www.sojmc100.com, will support scholarships, technology upgrades and student development initiatives within the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
About the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications
Founded in 1926, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University is one of the oldest journalism programs in the United States. The school has produced generations of award-winning journalists, broadcasters and communications professionals who have gone on to make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond.