When he died in 1996 of a heart attack at age 41, the news shocked the community. In his memory, the Randy Wicks Memorial First Amendment Scholarship was established by the SCV Press Club, and the SCV Newsmaker Awards were established as the annual fund-raiser, with the first dinner held in 1997.

 

In the first 10 years of the program, more than $190,000 in scholarships have been handed out to local students. A committee of Signal staffers, local public relations professionals and activists chooses the Newsmaker award winners, and in the spring the Wicks scholarships are awarded to graduating local high school seniors who plan college studies related to the First Amendment

and the free dissemination of information. The applications are evaluated by the seven-member Press Club board of directors, which interviews finalists and awards scholarships.

 

The Newsmaker awards are given in nine categories. Five Newsmakers are chosen for each category, and tonight all 45 Newsmakers will be honored, with a top Newsmaker named in each category. All net proceeds from the evening’s dinner and auction go to the scholarship fund.

 

The Press Club is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, and its tax ID number is 95-4804976.

 

Featured in this slide show are samples of Wicks’ editorial cartoons, published here with permission from The Signal.