First Rutgers students awarded Flip Wilson Scholarships (phillyBurbs.com): "Wilson, who died at 64 of liver cancer in 1998, did not have a journalism background and never earned a college degree.

His friend and former publicist Kathleen Fearn-Banks encouraged him to create the scholarships, so his money could make an impact on the black community after his death.

Fearn-Banks, now a communications professor at the University of Washington, has said Rutgers was selected because it offers the leading journalism program in Wilson's home state.

Other schools chosen were University of Washington, Wayne State University in Michigan, California State University-Northridge and Howard University in Washington, D.C."