Patricia ’52 and Russ ’43, Ph.D. ’55 Hardwick

Pat and Russ Hardwick met each other in 1949 at a dance in the UCLA women’s gym. Pat, a sophomore, was the chair of the dance committee; Russ had just returned to UCLA to pursue his doctorate in chemistry. After a dance or two, Russ said to Pat, “I think I’ll marry you.” And so the Hardwicks’ life together – and their love affair with UCLA – began.

After graduation, Russ was on the Stanford University faculty for five years. Then UCLA called him to return to serve as vice chair of the chemistry department, and he remained on the active faculty for the next 30 years. Meanwhile, they raised their three children, and Pat was active in the Faculty Women’s Club and The Affiliates. In 1967, she was invited to become a member of Gold Shield.

Pat served on the Alumni Scholarship Steering Committee for 16 years, during which time the Community College Transfer Scholarships and Alumni Scholarships need-based grant programs were created. She also served in five different positions on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

“It is so exciting to reward these brilliant students – students I didn’t even resemble when I came to UCLA,” Pat says of her commitment to Alumni Scholarships. “My fellow volunteers have always been just wonderful.”

Although the Hardwicks had already included UCLA in their family trust, they decided to make a gift through a gift plannning arrangement known as a charitable gift annuity. The annuity allows them to receive an annual, fixed lifetime income with the benefit of an immediate income tax charitable deduction. By including UCLA and Alumni Scholarships in their estate plans, the Hardwicks are now members of the First Century Society. Eventually, the Hardwick Family Endowment will support Alumni Scholarships through Gold Shield – a meaningful gift to generations of Bruins.

Find out more about UCLA Alumni Scholarships.