After the devastating loss of Douglas Hawes, a beloved teammate, we channeled our grief to try to do something good for someone else. We decided to honor Doug’s legacy by establishing a scholarship in his name that focused on both his passion for technology and his active involvement in the community. This year, the Lake Trust Foundation is awarding three individuals a scholarship to cover the tuition costs of attending Cleary University.
Doug Hawes was a problem-solver, a visionary, and an entrepreneur. He made everyone feel welcome wherever he was and demonstrated a lifelong commitment to his community. Doug was a motor enthusiast who loved spending time with his family. Most recently, Doug worked with us as a Business Intelligence Manager. With his advanced technical knowledge and experience, he was a mentor to all he worked with.
Our recipients will all attend Cleary University in Howell to study programs that correlate with Doug’s passions and work.
Kevin: Inspiring Future Generations
For Kevin, going back to school is an opportunity for him to give back to his community. He plans to study data analytics at Cleary University this fall with the goal of someday teaching at a community college or university. The educational outcome of receiving this scholarship will give Kevin the tools he needs to teach future generations and help his community.
“I’ve been the recipient of that community involvement, which is very different for me. I’m used to being engaged and helping others, but I was very much the recipient of that help.”
Kevin explains that after a two-year personal health battle, he’s seen firsthand the impact that a community can have when they band together to help an individual in need. He’s happy to have the opportunity to once again give back after getting a clean bill of health a few months ago.
“I think this is really a marker for getting back on track with life and being able to then return what was paid forward to me. For me, the way to do that is to teach.”
