Robert Hales Scholarship

The Scholarships and Awards Program of the Rotary Club of Peekskill has as its primary objectives recognizing the achievements of students graduating from Hendrick Hudson, Peekskill and Walter Panas High Schools; and encouraging higher education for young people in the Peekskill and Cortlandt area. The club’s scholarships and awards support study in a wide range of post-high school study in 4-year, 2-year and vocational programs. Distinctive to the Rotary program is the focus on service to community, school and family among criteria for selection, in addition to academic achievement. This criterion is founded on Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self.

The Dr. Robert J. Hales Scholarship was created in memory of Dr. Hales’ nearly 50 years of dedicated service to the Peekskill and Cortlandt communities. During his more than 46 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Peekskill, he served as club president, never missed a weekly meeting, held many other leadership positions, and earned respect as the  primary mentor to all club leaders who followed him. During his four decades of dental practice in Peekskill, Dr. Hales also was a member of the  Cortlandt Fire Department, the Cortlandt Yacht Club, the Lincoln Society; and board member of the Lincoln Depot Museum. Throughout his life, Dr. Hales epitomized the values behind Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self.