Hekhuis Communication Arts Award

The reason the Hekhuis Communication Arts Award is an award rather than a scholarship is that the donor, Mary Hekhuis, decided to fund it annually until it eventually became endowed through her estate. That’s what you call looking ahead.

Mary had a long, successful career as CLC’s director of public Information from 1969 to 1987. She had gained her knowledge and expertise at the University of Michigan, where she had met her husband of 57 years, Clair. Mary’s background spanned several areas of media and communications—forensics, radio and television as well as journalism.

As CLU grew in stature and the field of communications expanded, the Hekhuis Award became even more significant. Mary was widowed in 2009, but her zest for living and her love for the institution never wavered. She was exceptional at maintaining friendships, especially those that tied her to the university and to her church, Holy Trinity.

In 2000, as Mary evaluated her future plans for the Hekhuis Communication Arts Award, she expressed these thoughts: “In a Communications Age, it’s fitting that an award be made to students planning a career in this vital field, not only to encourage them, but also because CLU offers the kind of education that emphasizes ethics and responsibility.”

In establishing the criteria for the Hekhuis Communication Arts Award, Mary asked the University to select a junior majoring in communication with a minimum 3.0 grade point average who was actively involved in forensics, journalism, radio or television.