From staff reports
Nearly $10,000 has been contributed so far to a fund that honors a longtime editor at The Derrick and will benefit Oil City High School students.
The Glen L. Mohnkern Newsroom Fund was established through Bridge Builders Community Foundations by colleagues and family of Mohnkern, who joined The Derrick newsroom staff shortly after he graduated from Oil City High School in 1964.
Mohnkern then worked for 46 years at the newspaper until his retirement in 2010. He was named managing editor in 1988 and held that position until his retirement.
Mohnkern always talked to his co-workers about how his time working on the Oil City school newspaper as a student spurred his lifelong interest in journalism.
And that led members of the fund committee, including his niece, Carol Brown, to conclude that helping Oil City students nurture their interest in journalism was something he would have appreciated.
Committee members have met with high school principal Scott Stahl and journalism teacher Jennifer Mosher-Johnson, and they decided that buying equipment and software for the students, along with providing funding for things like guest speakers, field trips and seminars, would be the best way to start their effort.
Scholarships may also be offered over time.
He always enjoyed friendly banter with community members, especially when it came to discussing news and the newspaper.
Anyone who would like to make a donation to the fund, which totaled $9,816.40 on Jan. 5, can do so in two ways.
To contribute online, visit bbcf.org and follow a series of instructions. The donation amount and Glen L. Mohnkern Newsroom Fund can be typed in the respective boxes.
There is a shopping cart icon at the top of page to review the donation, and then billing and payment information can be filled in.
Donations can also be made by check and should be made payable to Bridge Builders Community Foundations with Glen L. Mohnkern Newsroom Fund written on the check memo line.
Checks can be mailed to Bridge Builders Community Foundations, 206 Seneca St., Oil City, Pa., 16301.
Questions can be directed to Bridge Builders staff members by calling (814) 677-8687 or emailing bbcf.org
