News

Media legend Walter Cronkite will be in Portland Wednesday, October 6, as a featured guest at PSU’s 2004 Simon Benson Awards dinner. One thousand people are expected to attend the dinner, which is Portland’s premier philanthropy event.

In its sixth year, the Simon Benson Awards event will be held at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) and includes a reception, dinner and entertainment. Named after one of Oregon’s first philanthropists, the Simon Benson Award recognizes individuals in the community who are visionaries and have generously given time and/or money to support the lives of generations of Oregonians. The reception starts at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Tickets starting at $200 are available to the public by calling Leslie Grasa (503-725-8212).

This year’s Simon Benson Award recipients are Thomas B. and Caroline P. Stoel and Patricia L. Wessinger. Tom Stoel’s leadership has benefited Metropolitan Family Service, Portland Art Museum, American Red Cross and Willamette University. Caroline Stoel is closely involved with Planned Parenthood, Nature Conservancy—Oregon, Council for the Humanities, World Affairs Council, Oregon Historical Society and the PSU Foundation.

Pat Wessinger has provided crucial leadership for many environmental and historical groups including Malheur Wildlife Refuge and the Oregon Historical Society. Pat currently serves as a member of the executive committee of the Nature Conservancy—Oregon, and is a member of the board of directors for Polar Bears International.

Walter Cronkite's accomplishments, both on the air and off, have won him the trust of his colleagues and the American public alike. As a United Press correspondent during World War II, Mr. Cronkite covered North Africa, the North Atlantic, D-Day, and the air war in the skies over Germany. In 1950 Mr. Cronkite joined CBS News, and anchored CBS political convention and election coverage from 1952 to 1980. In 1962 he became anchor of the “CBS Evening News.” Since leaving the Evening News in 1981, Mr. Cronkite has hosted several acclaimed CBS documentary programs.

Cronkite will be available for a 15-minute press opportunity at 5:55 p.m. in rooms D133-134, prior to the Simon Benson Awards dinner. Members of the media wishing to attend the press availability must contact PSU’s Office of Marketing and Communications at 503-725-8794. Media will need to check-in at the Oregon Convention Center by 5:45 p.m. and must present valid credentials in order to enter the press room.

Source:
Leslie Grasa (503-725-8212)
PSU University Relations