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WIU President Jack Thomas; Joe Rives, vice president for QC and planning; Scott Brouette, assistant director of Student Services; and Mary Pruess, WQPT director at the Aug. 23 press conference announcing Rives' and Brouette's historic gift to WQPT
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Rives, Brouette Make Historic Gift to WQPT

August 24, 2017

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MOLINE, IL - - Joe Rives, Western Illinois University vice president for Quad Cities and planning, and Scott Brouette, assistant director of Student Services at WIU-QC, have made a historic gift of support to WQPT, a media service of Western Illinois University. Their $100,000 gift --the largest in its history-- will be used to continue and expand WQPT's ability to tell local stories and provide educational outreach to life-long learners in the region, according to Mary Pruess, WQPT director.

"Dr. Rives was instrumental in bringing WQPT to Western Illinois University," said WIU President Jack Thomas during an Aug. 23 press conference in Riverfront Hall on the WIU-QC campus. "He believed the value of WQPT to Western Illinois University would increase our community service, increase outreach to the public, improve the long-term sustainability of the station, and keep the station in the Quad Cities. WQPT, as part of the President's Executive Institute, provides connections between WIU and external communities. Thank you, Joe and Scott, not only for your work at Western Illinois University, but for your generosity to WQPT and Western Illinois University."

"WQPT is grateful not only for the generous support of both Dr. Rives and Mr. Brouette, but the opportunity this gift presents to provide more services, both on-the-air and through our educational outreach," said Mary Pruess, WQPT director. "Our local programming like The Cities with Jim Mertens, and outreach like Vibrant Neighborhoods, are made possible because of our supporters. We are pleased to receive this gift that will assist WQPT in our mission."

As noted in the Argus-Dispatch, Both Rives and Brouette started their careers in early childhood education.

Brouette has filmed more than 30 one-minute "Exploring With Mr. Scott" segments that air during WQPT children's programming. He also works with WQPT on its Vibrant Neighborhoods project based at Moline's Esperanza Center, leading AmeriCorps volunteers who work with students there.

"Early childhood education is my life, pretty much," Brouette told the attendees. "This is a great fit. I love how it comes full circle, with my degree in broadcasting and my early childhood degree."

He earned a master's in elementary education from Western in 2010, after receiving three bachelor's degrees from Illinois State University, in psychology, mass communication and early childhood education. He formerly was the lead teacher for WIU's Infant & Preschool Center.

"I hope this is a challenge grant to others in the community to join us," Rives said. "In thinking of a gift to the university that's been so good to us, we had to ask ourselves, 'Where can we make an impact?' Giving has to come from the heart," he said. "WQPT's outreach is amazing to me."

WQPT provides educational outreach to the area by bringing free events for the public to the WIU-QC campus, including Imagination Station, and recently The Wall That Heals, the half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Additionally, the station provides training to hundreds of teachers each year.




Posted By: Alison McGaughey (AR-McGaughey@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing