Office of Community Relations

University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853-1299

September 20, 2004

UMES ANNOUNCES MAJOR GIFT

PRINCESS ANNE, MD---Richard F. Hazel, former president of the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Salisbury, is making the largest private gift on record to one of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore announced on Monday, September 20, 2004 a $3 million gift from Hazel to benefit the institution's teacher education program.

In recognition of his contribution to UMES and his lifelong commitment to his community, the University System of Maryland Board of Regents approved the naming of the university's new $30 million, State of Maryland funded education, social science and health science building Hazel Hall in his honor.

"We will be forever indebted to Mr. Hazel for his generosity to UMES, his passion for producing excellent teachers and his love of the Eastern Shore," said Dr. Thelma B. Thompson, president of UMES. "This university has a rich history, going back to 1896, of producing outstanding educators. Thanks to Richard Hazel and his vision, UMES will be able to attract some of the best of our local high school graduates intent on pursuing careers in education while expanding faculty development opportunities. This is a joyous day."

"On behalf of the entire University System of Maryland community, I extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Hazel," said USM Chancellor William E. Kirwan. "His wonderful gift demonstrates his dedication to advancing higher education opportunities on the Eastern Shore and his desire to help UMES address the state's critical shortage of teachers."

"Governor Ehrlich and I thank Richard Hazel for his outstanding generosity and support of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore", said Lt. Governor Steele.  Traditionally, HBCU's play a significant role in educating minority students and increasing opportunities in our communities. This gift will help preserve that tradition and hopefully set a trend of enhanced support for HBCU's across the country.

  Richard Hazel was hired at Pepsi in 1957 by his father-in-law, William Morgan, owner of the family business. Richard assumed managerial responsibility for the company by the mid-'70s. In turn, Richard began transferring the day-to-day operation of the business to his son and daughter, Morgan and Colleen Hazel, in the 1990s.

Richard Hazel--and Pepsi in Salisbury--is synonymous with community support. Most charities and non-profits on the Lower Shore have been beneficiaries of donations from Pepsi, both in terms of product and funding.

The Hazel Endowment at UMES will benefit many of the Eastern Shore's children. Hazel Scholars will be chosen from a pool of students from the Eastern Shore majoring in education. At both undergraduate and graduate levels, full tuition scholarships will be awarded to students who meet the academic criteria and who are from the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia, and Sussex County, DE.

The Hazel Endowment will also establish an endowed professorship in the Department of Education, as well as providing funding for education faculty for seminars and workshops in their fields of study.

The undergraduate teacher education program at UMES offers bachelor's degrees in the specialty areas of art education, music education and special education, and in the secondary (middle and high school) education content areas of agriculture, biology, business education, chemistry, English, family and consumer sciences, mathematics, social studies and technology education.

The Department of Education also offers graduate teacher education programs: a Master of Arts in teaching, graduate degrees in guidance and counseling, special education, and career and technology education (at the Baltimore Museum of Industry), an M.A.T. at the University College of the Caribbean in Jamaica and a doctorate in educational leadership.

The department recently received accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

For more information, call the UMES Division of Institutional Advancement at 410-651-7773 or go to www.umes.edu.

Contact: Anne Moultrie


Phone: 301/445-2722
E-mail: amoultrie@usmd.edu