JMU Athletics to Honor Alison Parker, Adam Ward

HARRISONBURG, Va. – At Saturday's 6 p.m. football home opener, James Madison Athletics will honor alumna Alison Parker ('12) and co-worker Adam Ward (Virginia Tech '11), journalists at Roanoke's WDBJ Channel 7 CBS station who were killed during a live television broadcast on Wednesday, August 26.

JMU football will wear helmet decals in memory of Parker and Ward. The decal features the number seven in reference to the television station, ribbons with the colors of the two alma maters - purple for Parker and maroon for Ward – as well as the initials for each.

Before kickoff vs. Morehead State, both will be honored as part of a moment of silence, which will accompany a one-minute video board tribute. Additionally, JMU's female cheerleaders will wear purple and maroon hair ribbons while male cheerleaders will have decals attached to their megaphones.

Planning for Saturday's recognition began immediately after the events of last Wednesday unfolded. JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said, "It is important for us as a community to come together in support after the tragic events of last week. Both Alison and Adam were shining lights for their alma maters, their families, their communities and their workplace at WDBJ."

In addition to the recognition at JMU on Sept. 5, BK Racing and co-owner Ron Devine ('78) will be adding tributes to Parker to the JMU-branded No. 83 NASCAR that will race in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 12.

JMU has established the Alison B. Parker ('12) Memorial Fund in recognition of Parker's lasting legacy at the university. The scholarship will be awarded to students in the School of Media Arts and Design. More information is available here. There are additional scholarship opportunities for both Parker and Ward posted here.

Together with the Parker family, JMU has established a memorial scholarship fund in the School of Media Arts and Design...
Posted by James Madison University on Thursday, August 27, 2015

The university held a vigil at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, September 2, marking one week after the shooting incident. Video and photos of the vigil are below.

At this morning's vigil for Alison Parker ('12), President Alger said that at her visitation he attended on Monday,...
Posted by JMU Alumni Association on Wednesday, September 2, 2015