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| Fred & Robert Hooper |
Robert & Freda Hooper had some very personal reasons for setting up a scholarship that will help current and future students succeed at Southwestern Community College.
The scholarship they endowed through the SCC Foundation is open to students enrolled in SCC's radiography and medical sonography programs. Following is a list of criteria:
- Open to all Radiology and Medical Sonography students with priority given to Radiology students
- Must demonstrate scholastic promise and ambition and maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA
- Applicants are required to apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Here's a little background on the Hoopers and the reasons why they wanted to help our students:
Robert (Bob), as everyone called him, was born in Haywood County in 1937. He graduated from Waynesville Township High School in 1955 and from Wake Forest University in 1959.
After graduation, Bob worked at Champion in Waynesville until he was accepted at Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Some local friends helped pay his tuition and allowed him to pay them back without interest after he graduated.
Immediately after his graduation from medical school in 1964, he married Freda Breece and began his internship with the U.S. Army at Brooke General Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. After a three year residency in Radiology, Dr. Hooper was sent to Womack Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, NC where he served as the Chief of Radiology from August 1968 to 1970.
In 1970, he was deployed to the 85th Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam where he served as the Chief of Radiology until his discharge in 1971.While serving in Vietnam, Dr. Hooper was awarded the Bronze Star. Upon his discharge from the US Army, Dr. Hooper returned home to Haywood County. Shortly after his return, he was contacted by area hospitals that were in dire need of his services. Dr. Hooper worked at Haywood County Hospital, Swain County Hospital, Cherokee Indian Hospital, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, District Memorial Hospital in Andrews and Harris Hospital in Sylva where he served as Chief of Radiology from 1971-1991. During that time, he was instrumental in establishing the Radiology program at Southwestern Community College and served on the Radiologic Technology Advisory Committee for several years. Mrs. Freda Hooper was also born in Haywood County in 1940 and, like her husband, graduated from Waynesville Township High School in 1958.
Without enough money for college, Freda began working in the office at Waynewood in Hazelwood. About a year later, she was hired by Dayco Corporation where she worked until 1964. While working at Dayco Corporation, the company covered the cost for her to study at Western Carolina University. Dr. and Mrs. Hooper were married in 1964 and moved to Texas before she could graduate. In Texas, Freda worked for Military Intelligence at Fort Sam Houston. Freda was determined to finish what she had started, and soon she graduated from San Antonio College with an associate degree in business.
After moving back to Waynesville, Freda returned to the classroom and earned a B.S. and a M.A. in Business Education from Western Carolina University. Dr. and Mrs. Hooper had two wonderful children and four grandchildren. The couple always supported each other and enjoyed a 48-year marriage. Dr. Hooper lost his battle with cancer in 2012. When Dr. Hooper established this endowment in 1988, he told his wife her name would be included because much of what he had accomplished would not have been possible without her. Dr. Hooper established a scholarship to help deserving students with financial need and who demonstrated an interest in the Radiologic Technology program. Dr. and Mrs. Hooper were always grateful for the opportunities they were given and for all the people who helped them along the way. This is their way of giving back. Mrs. Hooper stated, “I ask each person that receives this scholarship to help someone when you can, and God will bless
you as He has blessed us."
