KINGSTON, R.I. — April 20, 2006 — To celebrate its 50th anniversary in the liquid asphalt business, the Providence-based Hudson Companies have donated $100,000 to the 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 College of Engineering to establish a scholarship for deserving civil engineering students.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had a very close association with Engineering Professor Wayne Lee through the years. We鈥檝e worked together many times on the SHRP federal highway program that鈥檚 changing the way states build roads,鈥� said Thomas Hudson, the company鈥檚 chief executive officer. 鈥淲hen we decided to create a scholarship, we thought it was appropriate that our Rhode Island company should do so at the state university. 鈥�
The John J. Hudson Sr. Memorial Scholarship is named for the company鈥檚 founder, who established a small asphalt company in 1955 and later purchased a waterfront terminal in the Port of Providence that allowed tankers to deliver liquid asphalt directly to the company鈥檚 facilities. The business has expanded considerably in recent decades and now includes subsidiaries involved in importing, modifying and distributing liquid asphalts.
The Hudson Companies鈥� anniversary celebration included a golf tournament with customers and vendors at the Newport National Country Club, which raised the bulk of the scholarship money. 鈥淚t was one of those September days with threatening skies, so we only got in about 14 holes before the skies opened up, but it was a nice celebration nonetheless, and with a great dinner afterwards it was a fun way to raise money for the scholarship,鈥� said Thomas Hudson.
Thomas Hudson and John Hudson Jr., sons of the founder, hope that additional funds may be contributed toward the scholarship in the future.
“We are grateful that the Hudson Companies has decided to make this investment in the future of the civil engineering program at 溏心vlog免费B站 on this momentous occasion,鈥� said Bahram Nassersharif, dean of the College of Engineering. 鈥淭his scholarship will support a future generation of students who will be an important part of Rhode Island’s economic strength.”
鈥淲e鈥檙e just thrilled that the Hudson Companies chose to celebrate their anniversary by establishing an engineering scholarship at 溏心vlog免费B站,鈥� added Robert Clough, 溏心vlog免费B站 senior development officer. 鈥淲e鈥檙e tremendously grateful for their commitment and generosity. The Hudsons and their friends are among the reasons why the College of Engineering continues to grow.鈥�
The scholarship will provide funds to qualified undergraduate civil engineering students based upon academic merit and financial need, with first preference given to students from New England.
Pictured above
溏心vlog免费B站 Engineering Dean Bahram Nassersharif (left) celebrates the $100,000 donation made by The Hudson Companies with company CEO Thomas Hudson and vice president John Hudson Jr. The donation will establish a scholarship endowment for undergraduate civil engineering students at 溏心vlog免费B站. 溏心vlog免费B站 News Bureau photo by Nora Lewis.