Following the June 2003 commencement ceremony where Mr. Hawes was the recipient of a Charter Oak Honorary Doctoral degree, he and his wife announced that they would present a gift to the COSC Foundation to establish a scholarship.
They subsequently made a generous donation and established the Beverly and Rodney Hawes, Jr. Scholarship to recognize a Charter Oak Student pursuing a business concentration that has demonstrated qualities of leadership and commitment to community and is considered to possess the potential to make positive contributions within a business environment.
A longtime advocate for the individual worker, Mr. Hawes was cited by the Harvard Business School Bulletin Online as “having established a remarkable record in business while maintaining a sterling reputation for character and integrity.”
This scholarship is available to a Charter Oak student who is pursuing a business concentration, demonstrates qualities of leadership and commitment to community, and demonstrates the potential to make positive contributions within a business environment.
The average annual award is $800 each for two awards.
Tracy Belbusti, 2010 Hawes Scholarship Recipient (in cap & gown) with four of her five children
Tracy at her graduation from St. Vincent’s College last year, earning an Associate of Science degree in Nursing. Tracy is now at Charter Oak State College working towards a Bachelors of Science in Health Care Administration.
I began my college education at the age of 41, when two of my children were in college. Two more have since gone off to college as well, and I am sure you can appreciate the financial implications. Scholarships such as the Hawes affords me the opportunity to continue my education without the additional stress of worrying about finances. I am so very thankful that these opportunities exist. (Tracy, current student)