#96-11-5
For Release: 11-6-96
Contact: Peter Bailley

Brook Elise Wells of Tovey, IL, a first-year student at Knox College, has been named as the first recipient of the Richard E. Cheney Scholarship. Richard E. Cheney of New York, retired chairman of Hill & Knowlton and a native of Pana, IL, established the scholarship at Knox College to support outstanding students from Christian County. The $2,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a current Knox student or admitted applicant from Christian County whose record demonstrates strong academic performance and potential.

Wells was awarded a Knox College Muelder Scholarship in recognition of her academic achievements. Her academic interests include psychology and English. Her future plans include graduate school and possibly a career as a psychologist. In addition to her studies, Wells also enjoys playing basketball.

Cheney was born in Pana in 1921. He graduated from Pana High School and enrolled at Knox, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1943 with a major in history. He spent most of his career with Hill & Knowlton, becoming chairman in 1987. He is internationally known for his work as a public relations counselor to firms involved in mergers and acquisitions.

Founded in 1837, Knox is an independent, four-year, liberal arts college, located in Galesburg, Illinois, with 1,100 students from 42 states and 33 nations. Knox's "Old Main," a National Historic Landmark, is the only building remaining from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.