WASHINGTON – Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick has been chosen as the first ever recipient of the Educator Award, by the Lowell F. Hawthorne Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides endowments to high schools, universities and educational institutions. 

The Lowell F. Hawthorne Foundation is named after its late co-founder who served as president and CEO of fast casual Caribbean restaurant chain, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery. Hawthorne was said to have a genuine respect and admiration for Dr. Frederick as a black man from the Caribbean who is now leading arguably the most prominent Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the country. The organization says its unwavering support for Dr. Frederick weighed heavily on its decision to celebrate his many achievements as the first Educator Award honoree. 

“As a native of Trinidad and Tobago, the tremendous support I’ve received from the Caribbean community, both at Howard and across the world, is a consistent reminder of my journey to this moment,” Dr. Frederick explains. “Having a line of unwavering support, such as that of Mr. Hawthorne and The Lowell F. Hawthorne Foundation, not only underscores my passion for the Caribbean, but relativizes the position I’m in to ensure that little girls and boys of the Caribbean have the same opportunities for advancement as I once did as a rising student.”

In a letter to the Office of the President, the organization wrote, “Dr. Frederick’s accomplishment as a surgeon and university president made Hawthorne extremely proud. It is with this mind that the Gala Committee sees it fit to select you as the first recipient of the Foundation’s first Educator Award.”

The organization was initially planning to announce the winners of its first ever awards during its official launch event, scheduled for April 30. However, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lowell F. Hawthorne Foundation has decided to postpone its launch event. A rescheduled date will be explored and announced by the organization as re-evaluates its response to COVID-19. 

The foundation aims to cultivate relationships with donors, like-minded organizations and educational institutions to leverage its resources to support education through endowments, along with facilitating ongoing educational projects that align with its mission to ensure access to quality education. For more information about the Lowell F. Hawthorne Foundation, contact lowellhawthornefoundation@gmail.com.

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ABOUT HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 70 Fulbright Scholars. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media contact: Ramzey Smith, Office of University Communications, ramzey.smith@howard.edu