Hakes, Truman H. Endowed Scholarship for the College of Engineering
Truman H. Hakes established The Truman H. Hakes Endowed Scholarship for the College of Engineering in support of his alma mater, The University of Akron, in 2006.
A benefactor to The University of Akron for more than 30 years, Mr. Hakes earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from The University of Akron’s College of Engineering in 1953. Following graduation, he attended a United States Air Force ROTC summer camp and went to work for Magnavox in Fort Wayne, Ind. After only a short time at Magnavox, Mr. Hakes was called up for active duty service in the Air Force. His military service for our country was spent in Ohio at Lockbourne Air Force Base and at Barksdale Air Force Base (Second Air Force Headquarters, Strategic Air Command) in Bosier City, La. In 1955, Mr. Hakes went to work for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and in September 1959 left Goodyear to attend graduate school at The Ohio State University on a full-time basis. In June 1960, Mr. Hakes went to work for North American Aviation (later, Rockwell International) in Columbus while continuing his graduate studies on a part-time basis. During his time at North American Aviation, Mr. Hakes earned a master’s in electrical engineering at The Ohio State University and in 1962 completed all of the requirements for a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, with the exception of the final dissertation, due to his relocation to Redondo Beach, Calif., by his employer, Rockwell International.
Mr. Hakes enjoyed a long and productive career with Rockwell International for more than 30 years, retiring as senior specialist in electronics. Throughout his career, Mr. Hakes traveled extensively throughout the country. He had the opportunity to meet many of our nation’s first astronauts and work with a number of aircraft test pilots, briefing all levels of personnel on projects and testing facilities and working on the B-1 bomber test program at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., as well as the design, construction and system check-out of a very large Anechoic Chamber. In recognition of his accomplishments, Mr. Hakes received numerous merit awards.
During college, Mr. Hakes participated in The University of Akron College of Engineering’s co-op program, was inducted into Sigma Tau, and was involved in the Arnold Air Society (ROTC) program. At The Ohio State University, Mr. Hakes was elected to Sigma Xi, a scientific research society. Mr. Hakes states that the education he received at The University of Akron served him well in his career, and the Truman H. Hakes Scholarship is one way he can recognize the dedication and teaching excellence of his professors and the quality of his hometown University.
The purpose of The Truman H. Hakes Endowed Scholarship Fund for the College of Engineering is to provide merit-based scholarships for University of Akron students in the College of Engineering. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive the prestigious Truman H. Hakes Scholarship, which supports full tuition, books, fees, and supplies for one or more students. The Truman H. Hakes Scholarship is renewable for up to four years, based on the student’s academic achievement. Selection of the Truman H. Hakes Scholarship recipient is determined by the dean of the College of Engineering, in consultation with each of the College of Engineering’s department chairs, and in conjunction with the Office of Student Financial Aid.