Alabama Reporter to Speak at FHU Graduation May 14

A television reporter from Huntsville, Ala., will bring the commencement address at Freed-Hardeman University Saturday, May 14, when 242 students will be awarded either bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Elizabeth Gentle, a reporter for the NBC affiliate in Huntsville, will speak to the graduates.

In addition to the 242 students receiving degrees, an additional 33 students who are scheduled to complete their work by August will participate in the ceremonies. Commencement exercises are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in FHU’s Loyd Auditorium.

Gentle graduated from Freed-Hardeman in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication. As a student, she wrote for the student newspaper and worked with the campus radio and television stations.

At WAFF-48 News, Gentle is a general assignment reporter covering crime, breaking news, politics, and federal, state and local court cases. She has provided live coverage for NBC, CNN, Fox, Raycom Media, and The Weather Channel.

Gentle covered former President George W. Bush’s tour of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Reactor, visits to North Alabama by former vice president Dick Cheney, the BP oil spill’s effect on the shrimp industry, and the inauguration of Alabama Governor Robert Bentley.

In April 2008, Gentle and her photographer Ben Isenhower made news themselves when they interrupted a break-in at an abandoned restaurant where they had been shooting video. The would-be burglars were attempting to steal equipment from the restaurant. The photographer called 911 and Gentle chased one of the burglars. Hunstville Police arrived shortly and arrested all three suspects.