By Brayden Nuessen

Quincy University has received a major investment in its communication degree program with a $450,000 gift from Quincy Media Inc., the parent company of WGEM Radio and TV and the Quincy Herald-Whig.

“QMI is pleased to continue its ongoing support of Quincy University,” Ralph Oakley said, president and  CEO of Quincy Media, Inc. “QU is a vital cog in the quality of life and infrastructure of Quincy and the entire region.”

QMI has been helping the communication department with new equipment and other technology since the 1980s. In 2012 QMI helped the university establish the QU Broadcast Center. It provided digital equipment including HD cameras, a television control room switcher and editing stations.

This donation is going toward a major renovation that will feature a new digital television studio.There will be a new production control room and a news integration software will be installed.

Nora Baldner, assistant professor of communication, expressed her excitement in the press conference by stating how important this is to QU students.

“We are at a time where it is crucial to educate and train journalists, and it is crucial to support Quincy University, and I am really happy that this project gets to do that,” Baldner said.

“It is pretty momentous gift,” Matt Bergman, director of development, alumni and community relations, said. “We will now be able to train students in this facility and to go out and do things and work in places with better equipment. It puts us in the next level.”

Ralph Oakley also express his excitement by giving out the donation to the communication department

“We are really excited to support Quincy University, which we have done for years,” Oakley said. “This will help them provide better education for university current students but help to attract future students”.

QU students will definitely benefit from this donation even if they graduate in May.

“I am really excited however I am a little jealous that I will be graduating in May and won’t get to see the full use of it,” Anna Oakley, a QU senior, said. “I think as someone that will be graduating with this program, it is really important that it continues to have a really good reputation and build on that reputation.”

The Quincy University communication department expects to have the new equipment ready by Fall 2017.