Honors and Awards

Kosove Distinguished Teaching & Service Award

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About the Award and History

In 1912, a fourteen-year-old named Harri Kosove dropped out of the eighth grade to help support his family. Harri took the only job he could find. His starting salary was $7 a week. Seventy years later, in 1982, the Թϱ announced that Harrison and Ruth Kosove had given the largest single private philanthropic gift in the institution’s history.

Harri and Ruth chose to invest in Թϱbecause it was a young, dynamic university full of promise. He said, "Թϱis a vibrant, and growing university, not hampered by the traditions of an older school.” Harri said he hoped that by providing a scholarship fund to educate bright American students, he could help spread the gospel of American exceptionalism. He wanted to bring about a resurgence of American greatness. Even Harri thought that sounded a little corny, but he said, "It's that kind of corn that made us a great nation."

 "There's a great need to create more underst