The College of Communication and Information Sciences announced last week the creation of the Virginia O’Neal Sollie Scholarship. The scholarship was made possible thanks to an endowment from Catherine Mosbacher of Houston, Texas.

Mosbacher and Virginia Sollie both attended Carroll High School in Ozark, Ala. It was during their high school years that the two women established a friendship that would span the decades.

“We worked together on the school newspaper, and our friendship developed from there,” Mosbacher said.

Graduating in 1969, both women were accepted to The University of Alabama and chose to be roommates their freshman year.

“Because Virginia’s mother and her grandmother both attended Alabama, her family was able to advise me and my parents on how to prepare for and navigate the first year of college,” Mosbacher said. “Virginia and I were close friends ever since until her untimely death of a heart attack. I was grateful for the role she and her family played in the success of my freshman year, which was foundational to my academic and career success.”

Mosbacher and Sollie remained close friends until Sollie’s death on October 10, 2010. Sollie graduated from the University in 1974 with Bachelor of Arts in journalism.

During her time at the University, Sollie was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and other various organizations on campus.

After graduating, she became the deputy director of bicentennial activities for the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare. She then returned to Alabama to work for The University of Alabama in Huntsville in media relations and advancement. Sollie concluded her career in the Office of Development at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla.

The Virginia O’Neal Sollie Scholarship will give preference to first generation college students, either undergraduate or graduate, who are pursuing a degree in journalism. Mosbacher chose to create a scholarship for journalism students to honor Sollie and her lifetime of achievements.

Larry O’Neal, director of leadership gifts for the university, elaborated on why preference is given to first generation students.

“We have had an initiative on campus to mention and promote first generation scholarships to students,” O’Neal said.

He also said additional contributions are being accepted for this scholarship. Those interested in contributing to the Virginia O’Neal Sollie Scholarship should send checks to:

The University of Alabama, Office of Advancement Services, Box 87010, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0101

To the credit of: Virginia Sollie Scholarship