College is an experience that many may say are some of the best times of their lives. It’s a chance to meet new people, discover freedom, and grow as an individual. With the help of one outstandingly charitable woman, Christina Hixson, freshman from all over the state were blessed with the opportunity to attend Iowa State University. These selected scholars were personally chosen by Ms. Hixson herself in order to give a student the college experience they desired, but did not have the sufficient funds to attend. As a result of the amazing donations, the Christina Hixson Opportunity Awards program has caught the eye of people within this state as well as across the country, and has been transforming young students since 1995.
As a recipient of the Christina Hixson scholarship, it is very interesting to understand the history behind such a generous donation towards financially disadvantaged students. The story is compelling and began in 1995 when the first awards were given to freshman in each of the 99 counties throughout the state of Iowa. Ms. Hixson was an Iowa native who grew up on a farm in the town of Clarinda. She, as well as her scholars, did not have the funds to attend college, but began working for a Buick dealer in Omaha, Nebraska. The business sooned transformed into a Las Vegas real estate developer, and Chrisitna was there during the whole process at her bosses side, Ernst Lied. His multi-million dollar estate was left to Ms. Hixson when he died in 1980.
Once coming into her fortune, Christina Hixson chose to reach out to those who were most like her as a young adult with the desire to go to college, but seemed unlikely as an option to them because of hardships challenging that opportunity. It was announced that the total land-grant from the Lied Foundation Trust was $5 million dollars, and reportedly one of the largest cash donation given to any public university within the state of Iowa. Ms. Hixson put a great amount faith within this program to see the students succeed that truly understand what a privilege it is to be able to attend a school such as Iowa State University. Over the course of the years this scholarship has been awarded, she has seen just that.From the responses of the recipients, it is clear just how much of a blessing this amazing amount of funding is to a student enrolling at Iowa State. In my experience, I felt as though I had won the lottery, and by the testimonies heard around the state, many shared my exact excitement. What Christina Hixson set out to do was to change lives and open doors. She states that the students she looks to help are not the “best” students or have the highest GPA, but the ones she knows and believes will succeed. This is exactly what has been occurring over the past fourteen years, and will continue into the future.
“I don’t really give gifts, but I do offer opportunities”. This quote from Christina Hixson truly exemplifies the reward she places in the palms of her recipients. She provides them with chances to succeed, to be the person they want to be, pursue the career they desire, and experience college just the same as those who can afford it. She is changing the world through her scholars because; they are the ones who will appreciate the opportunity to make the most of themselves. Christina Hixson continues to bless the state of Iowa every year, and has created outstanding opportunities to hundreds by her gracious and chartible nature.
