A chat with Ambassador of Hope hosts Howard and Rhonda Hawks

University of Nebraska Regent Howard Hawks, and his wife, Rhonda, will serve as hosts of tonight’s Ambassador of Hope Gala at Qwest Center Omaha.









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Howard and Rhonda Hawks are the hosts of tonight’s Ambassador of Hope Gala, which will feature a speech by Condoleezza Rice.
The event, which raises money for research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, will feature a speech by Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009.

Howard Hawks, founder, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Tenaska, an international independent energy company, has served on the NU Board of Regents since 2002.

Below, he and Rhonda discuss cancer and their involvement in tonight’s gala.

How has cancer affected you?

Like many other families, members of our family have struggled with cancer. It’s a very difficult “war” to fight — both emotionally and physically.

Why did you decide to get involved in the Ambassador of Hope Gala?

Shining a light on the hope for a cure for cancer is so important. We have been fortunate to work with members of the UNMC staff, including (UNMC Eppley Cancer Center Director Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D.) and his team. Dr. Cowan is a compassionate doctor and a genuinely caring person. He and members of the cancer center staff with whom we have been involved are so committed and on the cutting edge of research and clinical trials, which are so important as a weapon against cancer.