Morell Teaching Chair Honors Mother's Love of Reading

10/28/2005

NICEVILLE-- Janet Nadel Morell was addicted to reading and literature. She volunteered in libraries throughout much of her adult life. Her motivation in doing so was not completely altruistic, as her library connection helped her to identify and read new acquisitions as soon as they hit the shelves. A devoted mother to her three children; Susan Cohen, JoEllen Morell, and Bob Morell, she imparted a love of reading to each of them. Even her grandchildren quickly understood her devotion to the printed word.

Janet's connection with Niceville was, at first, as a visitor from North Carolina. When at age 79 she moved permanently to Niceville to be near her son Bob and his wife Venita Weaver Morell, her incredibly adaptable attitude was exemplified by her remark, "I've moved before and I will move again," followed quickly by the question, "Where is the local library?"

"Mom always felt at home on the O-W campus and she was touched by the Adare Marie Weaver scholarship established by the Weaver family in memory of Venita's sister," said Bob Morell of the year his mother lived in Niceville until her passing in March 2004.

Thus, after her death it seemed only natural that family members looked to Okaloosa Walton College for an opportunity to establish a living and ongoing tribute to Janet Morell's memory. To that end, Susan and David Cohen and Bob and Venita Morell worked with Dr. Bob Richburg, OWC President, and Carla Reinlie, OWC Foundation Associate Director, to establish the Janet Nadel Morell Endowed Teaching Chair in Reading and Literature with an eventual $100,000 gift, including state matching funds.

Bob Morell noted that his mother often commented that she had never been as happy in all of her life as she was after she moved to Niceville. She was introduced to OWC by Venita's parents, Helen and Loyal Weaver, and her life was enriched by many of the cultural offerings at O-W, including plays, concerts and visiting artists.

Endowed Teaching Chairs promote excellence in teaching, which is the most vital and fundamental activity of OWC. The chair will be established in memory of Janet Nadel Morell, and proceeds from the endowment will fund an annual award to an outstanding faculty member for teaching excellence in reading or literature. The instructor, who will be selected by Okaloosa-Walton College because of demonstrated outstanding teaching ability, will receive a $5,000 professional or program stipend annually.

"The gift of an Endowed Teaching Chair is among the most important contributions that can be made to Okaloosa-Walton College and to the thousands who are educated at OWC," said Dr. Bob Richburg, OWC President. "We are so appreciative to the Morell family for this important and lasting recognition of their mother and for how this generous gift will benefit future generations of students at OWC."

For other individuals or companies who would like to establish an Endowed Teaching Chair at OWC, information is available by calling the OWC Foundation at 729-5357 or on the website at www.owcfoundation.org. The foundation website now also features the opportunity for donors to make a contribution on-line through a secure system.