Hawkes Scholars

Hawkes Scholarship

Robert "Bob" C. Hawkes was a Springfield College alumni, who was an inspiration to many he met.  He was a very accomplished multi-sport athlete throughout his life and worked incredibly hard to overcome a spinal cord injury from a tragic accident. It was said of Mr. Hawkes that "Adversity shrivels the very soul of some men. Of others, it makes giants."  

Among his many accomplishments, Bob is a member of National Wheelchair Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Sports Hall of Fame of Maine, New England Wheelchair Athletic Hall of Fame, Athletic Hall of Fame of Springfield College and North Yarmouth Athletic Hall of Fame.  Bob competed in the 1959 and 1960 National Wheelchair Games in Flushing, NY.  He won three swimming events and was selected to the first U.S. Wheelchair Team to compete in the International Stoke-Mandeville Games - later the Paralympics - in Rome, Tokyo and Israel. He continued to compete at the master's level in various sports for many years and he also competed in wheelchair road racing until the age of 78 and Hobie Cat regattas at the Rudder Club, Jacksonville, FA.  

Bob was also recognized for his desire to help others with different abilities. He served as a mentor and peer counselor to many individuals with spinal cord and head injuries. He felt that people in similar circumstances to his own were "lost souls" and decided to do something about it.  Robert created and served as president of the Maine Paraplegia Association and Wheelchair Confined.  He was also the director of the Bangor Regional Speech and Hearing Center for 16 years before moving to Florida, where he was a speech therapist at Alden Road School, Jacksonville, FA.

The Robert C. Hawkes '47 Endowed Scholarship is designed to aid students with a preference given to students with disabilities, including, but not limited to, students restricted to wheelchairs. Criteria for this scholarship include:

  • Be a person who receives SC Grant monies
  • Be willing to be identified as someone who learns differently or as a person with a disability

Hawkes Scholars 2023

2023-2024 Hawkes Scholar 

Julia Kidman

I am a senior from Milford, MA, who is a Health Science major, as well as a Psychology minor and Rehabilitation & Disability Studies minor.  After graduation, I will continue my education with online courses to become a Child Life Specialist.  On campus, I participate in the Partners Program, am a New Student Orientation (NSO) leader, and a member of the DAPi Honor Society.  I am very grateful to be selected to receive the Hawkes Scholar. Springfield College is a very welcoming and supportive community to be a part of. Everyone I meet is so kind and loving I feel like we are all one big family. I am always in awe of all the amazing opportunities and programs that Springfield offers its students to allow them to become their truest and best selves.

 

The Hawkes Scholars

2019-2020 Hawkes Scholar

Hannah Silverman

I am a Senior from South Windsor, Connecticut. I am a Sociology major with a minor in Psychology. I am currently in the Masters of Social Work program at Springfield College. My goal is to be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the mental health field. I have been involved on campus in a variety of ways. I’ve been on the Executive Board of Student Ambassadors, a Pre-Camp Leader, on the MSW Student Organization Board, and in the Best of Broadway.

I am so grateful to be selected as the Hawkes Scholar and will continue to excel in my academics, as well as for my personal growth in leadership and community service.

 

 

2020-2021 Hawkes Scholar

Griffin Reid

I am a Senior from West Hartford, CT.  I am an Applied Exercise Science major.  I would like to help rehabilitate people physically and socially from injury.  I am on the wrestling team and I am a resident assistant.  

I have a traumatic brain injury on top of preexisting learning disabilities, dysgraphia. I can aspire and relate to some of what Mr. Hawkes had done and the impact he made. I would like to continue to positively impact and affect other people.    

 

 

2021-2022 Hawkes Scholar 

Chandani Rana

I am a Junior, from Kathmandu, Nepal, who is double majoring in Psychology and Sociology, with Minors in YMCA Professional Studies and the SC Honors Program  I am looking forward to applying to the Masters of Social Work program and to work as a Clinical Social Worker in the future.  I am the co-president of International Student Organization, a member of the YMCA Club, and a member of the Honors Council. I am grateful to be chosen to become a Hawkes Scholar. The college community has been very supportive of me and my academics and career goals. One of the reasons why I chose Springfield College was its commitment to service and leaderships and its humanics philosophy. Throughout the years I have been here, I have lived its missions and felt the warmth and care in the College's community that I have used to find in my home, thousands of miles away, making it my home away from home. I couldn't thank enough for this opportunity that has embraced and celebrated me for who I am. Thank you!

Ashley Varriale  

I am a Sophomore from Framingham, MA. I am double majoring in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. I aspire to be a Pre-K teacher.  I participate in the Partner's Program.  I want to offer my sincere thanks to the Hawkes family for their generosity in creating the Robert C. Hawkes '47 Endowed Scholarship. I was very happy and appreciative to learn that I was selected as the recipient of your scholarship. I appreciate your support to help me accomplish my goal of becoming a preschool teacher. 

 

 

2022-2023 Hawkes Scholar 

Gabriella Heaney-Secord  

I am a Senior from Westwood, MA. My major is Physical Therapy with a minor in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies. I am a member of the Women’s Tennis team. After I complete my degree at Springfield College, I plan on working as a physical therapist to help restore functional movement and improve quality of life for individuals in need. I aspire to be someone who can help make a difference in an individual's life and I hope to achieve that through physical therapy. It's truly an honor to be chosen to receive this scholarship and validates all the hard work that I put in.