Orphaned at 14 and he is still laughing.

University graduate and humor writer Jim Good grew up learning how to laugh in order to deal with the heartache of his teenage years.

According to Good, it was the ability to laugh that helped him, along with his brother and sister, cope with their father’s unsuccessful battle with a brain tumor and their mother’s murder by their stepfather two years later.

Creator of the American Orphan Association as well as a scholarship fund for orphans at the University, Good plans to spread his message of hope and humor nationwide.

“I’ve always enjoyed a good laugh,” Good said. “When I’d write letters to relatives, I’d try to get that punch line just right.”

Good, who first graduated from the University in 1988 earning a degree in liberal studies, and returned as a non-traditional student in 1996 to pursue a degree in journalism.

“I had turned 30 and I was bartending, I was not pleased with that,” Good said. “I knew that I had much more potential.”

Using his father’s example as an editor and columnist for the Dayton Daily News, Good discovered that writing was in his blood.

While pursuing his journalism degree, Good worked for the BG News and wrote humor columns with ease.

“Whenever something awful or ridiculous happened, I would come home and write about it,” Good said. “I’d try to put a positive slant on it.”

Once out into the work world, Good discovered that reporting on life’s happenings didn’t come so easily.

“I discovered I don’t like hard news,” Good said. “I try to smile in everything I do and I couldn’t do that when I was covering fires or murders.”

According to Good, turning his focus to help orphans was more than merely a search for a different routine.

“It was a spiritual thing,” Good said. “It was God telling me what he wanted me to do, and then the hard part was me being able to be obedient.”

Currently in the process of earning non-profit status, Good is excited about being able to actively help students overcome their difficulties through his American Orphan Association.

“I feel a great need to tell orphans that they needn’t live hopeless lives, but instead can overcome, conquer and prosper,” Good said. “If this orphan, who beat the odds by earning college degrees on his own can succeed, [others] can too.”

Starting last spring, Good awarded the first annual scholarship for orphans at the University.

Named after an influential book by Norman Vincent Peale, the scholarship titled, You Can If You Think You Can, will be extended nationwide with donations and proceeds from his recently published book.

According to Koder, Good couldn’t have come up with a better title.

“I think it very directly addresses the struggles that he faced,” Koder said. “If you put in a little bit of effort and think positively, there are opportunities such as this award to help you achieve what you’re trying to do.”

Good’s book, “In Good Taste?” is a collection of humor columns written while at the University. Fifty percent of the proceeds from his book benefit the scholarship fund and the American Orphan Association.

A unique addition to the scholarships offered to University students, Good choose to make the scholarship open to most orphaned students.

“The more criteria they [donors] put in the more restrictive they make it,” said, Tim Koder, director of major gifts. “The more restrictive they make it, the more people we have to engage in the University to affirm that we can actually do what they [donors] would have liked us to do.”

To be eligible to apply, students must produce evidence that both of their natural parents died before they were 18 and they must have a grade point average of at least a 3.0.

According to Koder, working with donors like Good often involves creating a fund that reflects a part of their life and assures that their message and aid will continue into the future.

“That’s what Jim did because he is an orphan and went through many of these challenges and difficulties,” Koder said. “His fund represents a part of his life, and he recognizes that the recipients of his award have faced similar challenges.”

YOU CAN IF YOU THINK YOU CAN SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA:

– Applicant must have at least a 3.0 GPA.

– Applicant can be any major.

– Applicant can be from any geographical area.

– Both of the applicant’s natural parents must have died before they reached the age of 18.

– Outside extracurricular activities are considered.

– Financial need is also considered.

To purchase Jim Good’s Book “In Good Taste?” visit: www.booksurge.com or www.greatunpublished.com. The cost is $10 with 50 percent to benefit scholarship fund and the Orphan Association.

For more information about Jim Good or the scholarship contact the Office of Student Financial Aid or visit: www.jimgood.com