‘Lew’ and Janice Hazlewood, who have created an endowed scholarship in the School of Engineering, are greeted by Kevin Gardner (left), development officer for the school, and Engineering Dean Alex Cheng (right).
When it comes to generosity toward the University of Mississippi School of Engineering, P.L. “Lew” Hazlewood Jr., of Oxford, is a shining example.
Hazlewood and his wife, Janice, generously established the Janice and P.L. “Lew” Hazlewood Jr. Engineering Scholarship Endowment. The couple set up a planned gift for the future, but in the meantime are donating flow-through funds to accommodate the scholarship.
Giving to Ole Miss comes naturally for the couple.
“My parents paid for my college education,” said Lew Hazlewood, a chemical engineering alumnus. “Very often, this isn’t the case now, and the burden is left on the student.
“Janice and I wanted to help these students obtain a college education and to help grow the University of Mississippi School of Engineering. We urge others to donate to the engineering school via this scholarship.”
A native of Liberty, Lew Hazlewood was first exposed to the university at a 1959 football game against rival Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Coincidentally, his future wife, a native of New Iberia, Louisiana, also was at the game, although they didn’t meet until a few years later.
“From that time, I have dearly loved Ole Miss,” Hazlewood said. “To show our affection, we even bought a customized Ole Miss van.”
Lew Hazlewood enrolled at the university in 1967. Following graduation, he worked for the PPG Industries chemical facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for 35 years.
“At first, I was a process engineer,” he said. “Then, I was promoted and ultimately became team leader. My education at Ole Miss enabled me to understand chemical processes and gave me the necessary skills to perform my job.”
The Hazlewoods always wanted to be able to attend more UM sporting events by retiring to Oxford. They moved in 2004 and worked for the university for several years. He was is the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and she worked in the Department of Psychology.
“We are grateful to be able to celebrate with them now, as we welcome our Hazlewood scholars to campus,” said Kevin Gardner, UM Foundation development officer for the engineering school. “This present and future commitment will greatly assist us in our recruitment for exceptional academic students.”
With this gift, the School of Engineering Scholarship Committee will be able to select a deserving student who has demonstrated an exceptional academic record and remained in a major track in engineering at the university.
The Hazlewoods’ donation has already proven very beneficial for the program, Dean Alex Cheng said.
“With the impending growth that has steadily become the norm at the School of Engineering, donations of any type are very well received, especially ones for student scholarships such as the gift from ‘Lew’ and Janice Hazlewood,” Cheng said. “Their timely generosity is helping to accomplish the provision of unique scholarships for the School of Engineering.”