Through a remarkable planned gift to George Mason University, Robert “Ken” Hedrick, Jr., BA History ’71, has created four endowed scholarships in tribute to those who shaped his life: his late husband, Walter Huxley; his late parents, Robert Hedrick and Lorraine Kisner Hedrick; and his late partner, Hans-Gerd Mehrtens.
These scholarships will benefit first-generation students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Nursing, the College of Engineering and Computing, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Hedrick’s commitment to supporting George Mason students reflects our university’s shared belief that while talent is equally distributed among people, opportunity is not. His planned gift helps to bridge this gap through access to education, powering the opportunity to change lives.
Hedrick’s philanthropy is rooted in the examples set by both sets of his grandparents, who were neighbors in a farming community in West Virginia. His paternal grandparents fed anyone who walked by the farm, and his maternal grandparents regularly took in foster children. Both families were not considered wealthy by any standard, and yet they were always first to share what they had.
These quiet acts of service formed the foundation of his values.
“I was impressed by my grandparents,” recalls Hedrick. “They didn’t have any money and yet they always helped others. That has stuck with me to this day.”
Other grounding lessons came from his time as a student at George Mason in the early seventies.
“My history professor, Dr. Josephine Pacheco, pointed out that the ability to change your mind as you learn is probably the most important thing you’ll gain from your college education,” said Hedrick. “I experienced this first-hand while I was writing and learning about Abe Lincoln during her class. This sense of openness, being open to changing my mind stayed with me.”
Hedrick’s background as a history student was critical to shaping his thinking and his career. His work in public finance—with cities, counties, and government agencies—was strengthened by his ability to offer a deep understanding of people and their backgrounds. This skill to connect with individuals from all walks of life, which he credits to his George Mason education, proved invaluable to opening opportunities he never expected.
Hedrick’s early career took him to Capitol Hill during the Watergate era, where he worked on President Nixon’s impeachment and met the future Hillary Rodham Clinton. He also worked with Senator John Glenn, an experience which would later open a door to attending graduate school and securing a job in the financial industry—defining moments that proved life-changing.
Hedrick is now focused on helping future generations of George Mason students gain access to their own life-changing moments. His planned gift will empower students through four distinct scholarships:
The Robert K. Hedrick Jr./Walter F. Huxley Scholarship Fund benefits history students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Originally established in Hedrick’s name alone, he added his late husband’s name, Walter Huxley, after his passing. For Hedrick, the naming of this scholarship serves as a testament of their life together, honoring their marriage and their shared belief in the power of philanthropy.
The Lorraine Kisner Hedrick Scholarship Fund benefits students in the School of Nursing and is named in memory of Hedrick’s mother, whom he describes as a gifted, determined woman, and who became a registered nurse during a time when opportunities for women to pursue advanced degrees in medicine were limited. She graduated from nursing school at the top of her class and had a long career in emergency care and community health.
After raising her children, Kisner Hedrick enrolled in George Mason’s Bachelor of Individualized Study program and graduated in 1985. She later pursued a PhD in psychology at the University of Richmond but passed away before completing the degree. Her dedication to education and service stands as a powerful example of lifelong learning and resilience.
The Robert K. Hedrick, Sr. Scholarship Fund supports students in the College of Engineering and Computing and is named in memory of Hedrick’s father. Hedrick Sr. was an engineer and innovator and shared the family’s commitment to education and helping others. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from George Washington University using his VA benefit, then went on to complete a master’s in civil engineering from Catholic University and pursue a PhD (pending) at George Washington University while employed by the U.S. Army. In that role, he pioneered military technologies later used throughout Europe and Greenland.
The Hans-Gerd Mehrtens Scholarship Fund supports students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and is named for Hedrick’s late partner. Mehrtens grew up near Bremen, Germany and attended Universität der Kűnste for his bachelor’s in fine arts and Freie Universität Berlin for his PhD in philosophy. He was part of the vibrant art scenes in Berlin and the East Village, New York City, and his work has been shown in New York, Canada, and Germany. Mehrtens had a passion for living life to the fullest, and his art carries an intensity that reflects his rage against the HIV epidemic and his own HIV diagnosis.
These scholarships demonstrate Hedrick’s commitment to helping the next generation and his gratitude for the opportunities that shaped his life and career.
“When we each reflect on our lives, we’ll likely realize there have been many people who have given us a helping hand up,” says Hedrick. “I've had a lot of people help me, for which I'm eternally grateful. This is one way I can give back, help someone, help the next generation.”
He hopes the students who receive these scholarships use the opportunity to advance themselves and are inspired to help others in the future. For Hedrick, directing his support to George Mason students was intentional, as our university represents the heart of educational access and has a high percentage of first-generation students.
“George Mason is a place where education truly transforms families—where support makes an immediate and lasting difference.”
Hedrick’s planned gift is received during the university’s Mason Now: Power the Possible campaign and underscores how our community of alumni, friends, faculty, and staff are committed to meeting the challenge of transforming the future.
March 03, 2026