NBC 5 Proudly Announces The Harold Taft Scholarship

Celebrating 60 Years of Excellence in Texas

Updated 10:52 PM CST, Tue, Jul 28, 2009

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NBC 5/KXAS-TV, Dallas/Fort Worth, celebrating sixty years of broadcast excellence this month, has partnered with The Lone Star Emmy Educational Foundation, to announce the Harold Taft Scholarship. This annual scholarship award is the first of its kind in Texas for students pursuing meteorology and atmospheric science degrees.

Harold Taft, NBC 5’s legendary chief meteorologist served on-air for 42 years - from 1949 until his death in 1991. He was known for accurate, reliable weather forecasting, industry professionalism and promotion of quality science education.

The Harold Taft Scholarship is open to sophomore level or above undergraduate students currently studying meteorology, or meteorology-related fields. Applicants must be enrolled in a Texas institution of higher learning or have attended four years of high school in Texas. Applicants are required to document academic excellence, personal referrals, and additional information.

One of Taft’s protégés is current NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist David Finfrock. "Until his death in 1991, Harold always insisted on hiring only professional meteorologists, with a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology. To this day, NBC 5 has upheld the standards set by Harold Taft, hiring only degreed professional meteorologists. We are the only station in North Texas to make that commitment,” Finfrock said.

A $2000 scholarship will be awarded to the recipient at the October 18, 2008 Lone Star Emmy Awards Gala.

NBC 5 raised endowment funds for the Taft Scholarship at The Lone Star Emmy Educational Foundation through a community outreach program with Midland Radio and Walgreens.

Emergency weather radios were sold at a reduced rate to North Texans. A portion of each sale was donated to the scholarship fund, which totals almost $70,000.

For more information on the Harold Taft Scholarship and application information, please contact Reginald Hardwick, Scholarship Committee Co-Chairperson at (817) 654-6317 or via email at reginald.hardwick@nbcuni.com.