Jim and Martha Schuh: A Legacy of Opening Doors

Endowment to provide scholarships for media studies students is the largest in College of Fine Arts and Communication history

By Kim Westerman | November 2026

For Jim and Martha Schuh, education was more than a pathway to professional success. It was a means of opening doors, expanding horizons and helping young people discover possibilities they might never have imagined.

That belief continues to shape lives at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, where the couple’s generosity supports students pursuing careers in media and communications, as well as those seeking life-changing experiences abroad.

According to Jim’s sister, Barbara Shanahan, the Schuhs’ philanthropy reflected values that were central to their lives: a deep commitment to education, a generous spirit and a desire to create opportunities for others. Their gifts to UWSP were a natural extension of those convictions.

A Professor’s Commitment Beyond the Classroom

For Jim, a longtime UWSP broadcasting professor, investing in students was both a professional calling and a personal priority. His commitment to their success continued well beyond his retirement, as he remained actively involved in supporting scholarships and celebrating the achievements of recipients.

Shanahan recalls her brother’s dedication to teaching and his belief in the importance of helping young people develop their talents. His generosity, she explains, was consistent with the way he approached his work and his relationships throughout his life.

Alex Ingersoll, a faculty member in UWSP’s Media Studies program, joined the university in 2013, after Jim had retired. Although they never taught together, Ingersoll came to know Jim through scholarship ceremonies, where the retired professor remained a welcome presence.

Ingersoll remembers him as wonderfully kind and generous with his time, encouragement and financial support.

Following Jim’s death, the university learned of an additional endowment supporting broadcasting scholarships, significantly expanding the assistance available to future generations of students.

The gift arrives at a time when the media industry is transforming rapidly. Traditional broadcasting has evolved into a landscape encompassing digital storytelling, streaming platforms, social media and emerging technologies. UWSP’s Media Studies program, housed in the School of Design and Communication, prepares students to navigate that changing environment.

Ingersoll hopes the scholarship will honor Jim’s professional legacy while supporting students pursuing contemporary forms of media communication.

Its impact may be especially profound for first-generation college students and those facing financial hardship. For some, Ingersoll explains, scholarship support can determine whether attending college is possible at all.

Opening Doors to the World

The Schuhs’ generosity also extends beyond Wisconsin through the Schuh International Program Scholarship, which supports UWSP students participating in study abroad experiences.

The couple originally designated the scholarship for students studying in London, with a preference, when possible, for students pursuing communication and broadcasting. The criteria connect Jim’s professional interests with the couple’s broader commitment to education and international learning.

For Shanahan, the scholarship reflects Jim and Martha’s belief in the value of experiences that broaden perspectives and encourage personal growth. Their commitment to helping students explore the world was another expression of their desire to create meaningful opportunities for others.

Brad Van Den Elzen, director of UWSP’s Office of International Education, sees such support as far more than financial assistance. Study abroad challenges students to navigate unfamiliar environments, develop independence and encounter perspectives that reshape their understanding of themselves and the world. He says, “Donor generosity doesn’t just fund study abroad — it changes lives. Each gift lifts the weight of financial worry from a student’s shoulders and replaces it with possibility, courage, and hope. Donor support allows students to step into unfamiliar cultures, discover their own resilience, and feel a sense of belonging in a world much bigger than they imagined. These experiences spark confidence, broaden perspectives, and often become the stories students tell for the rest of their lives. Because of donors, students return home transformed — more curious, more compassionate, and more certain of the impact they can make in the world.”

For students who might otherwise find international travel financially out of reach, scholarships can open doors to experiences that influence their academic paths, professional aspirations and personal growth.

These opportunities, Van Den Elzen explains, help students return home with greater confidence, curiosity and compassion, carrying lessons that often remain with them throughout their lives.

A Shared Legacy of Giving

Although Jim’s professional life was rooted in broadcasting, the Schuhs’ philanthropic vision encompassed something broader: the conviction that education should create possibilities for students regardless of their financial circumstances.

As Shanahan describes it, their generosity was not simply about providing financial assistance. It reflected who they were as people and what they valued. Jim’s lifelong dedication to teaching and the couple’s shared commitment to helping others found lasting expression in scholarships that will continue to benefit students for years to come.

Their support connects two complementary forms of discovery. Through media studies, students learn to tell stories, communicate ideas and engage audiences. Through international education, they encounter new cultures, challenge their assumptions and develop a deeper understanding of the world.

Both pathways reflect a commitment to preparing students not simply for careers, but for lives of curiosity, engagement and purpose.

As UWSP continues to award scholarships in their names, Jim and Martha Schuh’s generosity will reach students they never had the opportunity to meet. Each recipient carries a part of that legacy forward, translating the couple’s commitment to education into new experiences, accomplishments and possibilities.

For Shanahan, that continuing impact is a meaningful expression of her brother and Martha’s lives. Their legacy is not confined to what they accomplished or contributed during their lifetimes, but extends into the futures of the students whose opportunities they have helped make possible.