Kevin McGoldrick was never able to meet his grandfather Gene Robb, storied publisher of the Times Union and Knickerbocker News from 1953-1969. However, through his participation in the selection committee, he is able to connect with his grandfather’s legacy each year. His mother, Victoria McGoldrick, Gene Robb’s daughter, leads the committee along with several of Mr. Robb’s former colleagues and friends.

In 1995, Lee Robb, Gene’s wife, established the Gene Robb Journalism Scholarship to support students interested in pursuing a career in journalism. As the Committee approaches 30 years of presenting the scholarship, they are focused on supporting a new generation of journalists. From print newspapers to podcasting and influencing, the landscape has changed but the one thing that remains vital is access to timely, accurate, and unbiased information.

Dylan Rossiter, a native of Schodack and journalist working in Boston, MA, received the scholarship in 2017 and 2018. When planning for college and applying for financial aid, he was surprised to learn of a scholarship for journalism students. “This scholarship helped bridge the gap between financial aid and loans, allowing me to purchase the supplies I needed to get started at Emerson College,” said Rossiter.

Gene Robb’s legacy continues, not only through this annual scholarship but with his great granddaughter, a journalism student at Brown University and writer for the Brown Daily Herald.

Can this quote be designed some way: “Even though my mother and I come from different generations and consume media very differently, at the heart of this process is honoring the ethos of my grandfather. On that, we can always agree.” —Kevin McGoldrick, Gene Robb Journalism Scholarship Selection Committee.