Monday, May 9, 2011
Sarah's story | What is the Hixson Opportunity Award?
From left, Taylor Leibbrandt, Sarah Bregman, Kimberly Moore and Douglas Speight, four Hixson scholars, in a sunflower field outside of Lawrence in 2008.
Christina Hixson never attended college, but each year the Hixson Opportunity Award, a $5,000 renewable scholarship given in her name, provides 10 to 11 high school seniors the opportunity to attend the University of Kansas.
The Hixson Award stands out from other KU scholarships. Applicants need something more intangible than ACT scores, good grades and volunteer hours to qualify. They need a story of personal hardships and financial difficulties that make it unlikely they could ever attend college.
“For many of the great successes of the world, the background they came from was their great challenge,” Hixson told the Department Financial Aid and Scholarship. “I’m trying to find those people. Those who may not have the highest grade point or a perfect family background, but who can be successful. These are the ones who will lend the helping hands in the future.”
As the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust, Hixson has donated more than $24 million the University, much of which built the Lied Center. Most recently, she gave $2.5 million to help fund the Lied Center lobby expansion that opened in March.
Hixson established the Hixson Award at the University in 2007, though a similar program has existed at Iowa State University since 1995. Hixson scholars graduated at a rate 10 percent higher than the all-university average at Iowa State between 1995 and 2006.
The first class of KU Hixson scholars will graduate this spring. Seven of the original 10 students are still enrolled at the University.
Of the 80 to 100 high school seniors who apply for the Hixson Award every year, almost all experience financial difficulties and many don’t come from a traditional two-parent household, said Sara Vancil, KU assistant director of financial aid and scholarships.
“Some of the applicants have even dealt with extremely serious situations within their families, such as abuse, neglect, drug issues and issues with the law,” she added.
The Hixson Award allows recipients to turn something bad into something good. It can be their ticket out of unhealthy and unstable lives. Their ability to survive and prosper despite those difficulties is what qualifies them for the Hixson Award.
“We want students who have demonstrated they are capable of overcoming adversity,” Vancil said. “We look for resilient students who, despite obstacles, remain passionate about graduating from college and specifically about succeeding at KU.”
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