I knew during my freshman year that I wanted to partake in Dr. Wardrip’s famous Maymester class to New York City. When senior year came it was my turn. My fellow 14 classmates and I let Dr. Wardrip lead us all around this massive city. Although not well, he was determined to show us everything New York had to offer. Trips to the Wall-Street Journal, Conde Nast Traveler, Good Housekeeping, and the Conan O’ Brien show were only the beginning of the places we toured. The last day of our trip I told him thank you and that I now knew I had to live in New York City.

I graduated 2 months after that trip and moved to New York a month later. I’ve been here for almost a year, working in the finance industry in downtown Manhattan, blocks away from one of my stops with Dr. Wardrip. Whenever anybody asks me “Why New York from South Carolina” I mention him and the effect that a great professor can have on you. I am honored to have known him.

I took Dr. Wardrip's Maymester NYC class in 1999.

Dr. Wardrip was a hands-on teacher and during Maymester it was fun to see him get all excited about class and the trip to NYC. He was like everyone's Dad with a great big smile! I felt like he would do anything he could to help you succeed with whatever. Definitely one of my favorite teachers and I loved the fact that he kept in touch with his students after they had graduated and moved on.

On my desk at work sits the picture of my Maymester class during our trip to Dateline where we met Stone Phillips. It was a pleasure to be one of his students and I would love to contribute to the memorial scholarship fund.

When Jon first contacted me about being part of his Maymester event, I was not even sure it made any sense, given the fact that I am part of NBC News and his students seemed to be on tracks that would take them anywhere but a network news division!

But, over the years, we found the students to be full of excitement and wonder about the field of journalism in general and that they did get something out of seeing life inside a news operation. They always had a billion questions, insightful comments, and a sincere appreciation for the experience. (They loved to hear stories about Katie Couric and Stone Phillips, too!). But, more importantly, they were openly respectful of their leader, Jon, and I could tell they were incredibly thankful to be a part of a unique New York experience with him at the helm.

One of my favorite memories is the annual group picture....Jon and his entourage on the Dateline set with Jon's smile brighter than the sun! His enthusiasm for his students and for the event was infectious...and THAT is something that remains timeless.

Professor Wardrip had a genuine love of advertising. This was apparent from the first day of class when he informed us we'd be reading "Ogilvy on Advertising." Most of the class took one look at the yellowing pages and let out a collective groan. Why were we reading this relic? Didn't we have computers for doing all of the "hard stuff"?

However, after we had finished the book, we continued to reference it for the rest of the semester and into our other classes. Professor Wardrip taught the tried and true methods of the advertising industry, but made sure we knew that our own skills and creativity are what is key. After taking Professor Wardrip's class, I knew I had made the right decision in my major. He will be dearly missed.

Jon’s passion for the advertising business, his students, his alma maters, various sports and his family was always so evident. In the early ‘90s, he used to stop by my office often on his way out of the building. We’d talk about shared interests, and he never failed to offer some humorous and meaningful stories. He would enjoy my tales from the road (bicycle trips), as I called them; I enjoyed his tales from the ad world. We’d also try to solve many of the college’s problems, assuring one another that we’d put it in a memo and send it out to the dean and our colleagues the next day. He collected some of my ‘memo’ ravings, and I kept most of his.

Although we seldom saw each other outside the walls of the j&mc-school, I always cherished his friendship. He had a big heart, even if sometimes he seemed too meticulous, too stubborn or too unbending when it came to how he taught the introductory advertising course, how he planned some of the school’s special events or how he politely chastised students for not dedicating themselves to their coursework. He will be fondly remembered for his dedication to this school and to his students. I have no doubt about that.

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