When he was in high school, Dr. Robert Patterson began searching for scholarships and came across a listing from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. He was awarded a scholarship and attended Georgetown University for his undergraduate studies. Years later, Dr. Patterson became the Chair of the African American Studies Department at his alma mater, where he teaches students to think critically and focus on solving some of our society’s most complex problems.
Dr. Patterson gave the keynote address at our 2018 Scholarship Recipient Reception and encouraged the high school seniors in attendance to be grateful for their blessings and unafraid to take on the world's biggest challenges.
During the reception, he announced the creation of his own new scholarship fund. The Robert J. Patterson Scholarship Fund will help students seeking to major in African American Studies, the humanities or social justice. With the help of the Hartford Foundation, Dr. Patterson is paying forward the opportunities that he was given.