524 WEST 57 STREET NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019-2880 (212) 975-4321

November 19, 2009

Dear scholarship committee: Id very much like to recommend Rodney Harris for the 2010 Lem Tucker Journalism Scholarship. As a correspondent for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, I think I know a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in television news. More importantly, as a journalist who has spent the last 25 years interviewing some of the countrys most inspiration, civic-minded people, I like to think I can recognize strong character and commitment when I see it. Rodney Harris definitely has those qualities. I met Rodney when he was just beginning high school. At the time, he was already writing, editing, producing, and anchoring a newscast in his basement. He posted his newscast on YouTube, which is how he caught my eye at CBS. I did a story about this curious young man and his early-onset passion for news. During the shooting of that story, I also met his parents. They had lost their basement to Rodney s newsroom when Rodney was still in grade school. I learned from them that it s not easy raising the next Walter Cronkite. It leaves little room for folding laundry. But Mr. and Mrs. Harris showed their son nothing but encouragement and support. At this point, as a matter of full disclosure, I should tell you I m a graduate of Bowling Green State University and, in all honesty, Id rather see Rodney go there. In fact, I had lunch a couple weeks ago with the director of the BGSU J-School. We talked about the importance of bringing in students who have already demonstrated a commitment and encouraging the best freshman is the key to graduating and placing the top professionals. Unfortunately for BGSU, at least one of those young students has decided he would rather attend Central Michigan. Rodney Harris is yours now to foster and grow. Please give him what you can to help him succeed. And thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,

Steve Hartman CBS News