Iowa State’s Hixson Scholars received a twofold surprise on Jan. 27 when President Martin Jischke announced their $2,500 scholarships would again be renewed, and the yearly scholarships would now become four-year scholarships.

“I think [the scholars] were incredibly surprised and overwhelmed,” said Debra Sanborn, director of the Hixson Opportunity Award Program.

“I was in shock — I couldn’t believe they renewed it again,” said Kelly Burton, Hixson scholar and junior in child and family services.

Along with the obvious financial help the scholarships provide, the awards also serve as a recognition of personal achievement. Burton said behind each scholarship is an individual story of struggle and triumph.

The scholarship, Sanborn said, was created by Christina Hixson, who wanted to design a scholarship for high school students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to go to college.

Hixson, who was born into a disadvantaged family in northwest Missouri, did not have the opportunity to go to college.

Hixson went on to become a long-time employee and the sole trustee of the LIED Foundation trust. Sanborn said Hixson, who currently lives in Las Vegas, has made various successful investments to increase the trust.

The scholarship program Hixson founded is tied directly to ISU. A scholarship is provided annually to one student from each Iowa county who plans to attend ISU.

Sanborn said the Hixson scholars have consistently achieved academic records above the university average, and the program itself has an above average student retention rate.

Burton said she comes from a broken home that was plagued with substance abuse.

While attending high school, Burton said she worked 40 hours a week to pay her bills and still maintained a good grade point average.

Burton said she could not believe it when she learned she had won the scholarship.

“The scholarship has provided me with so much more than just money for tuition. It’s given me hope, encouragement and an opportunity for a better future,” she said.

To thank Christina Hixson for her generosity, Burton said she and other Hixson scholars are doing well in their classes. “I think one of the ways we are showing our gratitude is through our academic achievement,” she said.

Sanborn said an important part of the program involves initiating links between new and old Hixson scholars.

An important part of the program’s success, Sanborn said, has been the university’s support of the program. By this fall, Sanborn said there will hopefully be 100 new Hixson scholars. She said the 1998 recipients may be named later this month.