oug Dawson ’77, president of the telecommunications firm CCG Consulting, established a new scholarship to pave the way for a student from the Virgin Islands to attend Maryland.
While working on a major condo development project on the islands over the past year, he met a range of professionals from different places. “As I talked about Maryland, they all shared their own stories about being educated in prominent colleges on the mainland and in other countries. They describe how challenging it is to live [in the islands] and get an education,” Dawson says. “They all go away, but come back to live and help support
scholarships for others. I’m making my home here now, and I
want to do the same.”
Having worked full time to pay his way through college,
Dawson knows how financial strife can burden students. His initial gift of $80,000 will cover all expenses for a student for
four years, and the employees of his Beltsville-based company will become the student’s family away from home.
He plans to work with schools on the islands to help garner interest in Maryland. A handful of students typically complete applications to the university each year, but only six have enrolled over the past three years.
“I love this university,” says Dawson. “I didn’t want to give just a general scholarship to Virgin Islands students; I want them to come to Maryland.”
