$5 Million Gift Launches Scholarship Campaign: President's Scholarship Campaign goal is $26 million A $5 million cash gift -- the largest ever to Iowa State -- has launched a $26 million scholarship cam-paign to provide funds for many of ISU's scholarship programs. The gift, from the Lied Foundation Trust, Las Vegas, Nev., will fund the Christina Hixson Opportunity Awards -- $2,500 scholarships that will go to 100 Iowa freshmen (one from each county) each year. Opening doors "We're going to touch those special people who really don't think they're special," Hixson said. The scholarships are intended to create opportunities for students who have the desire and potential to succeed, but perhaps not the money or encouragement to attend college. "You're missing a lot of kids when you only talk about kids who do exceptionally well in high school," Hixson said. The scholarship program will "open doors and give opportunities to those who probably don't really think college is an option for them." A limited number of students who receive Hixson Awards as freshmen will have the scholarship continued through their sophomore years. The endowment to fund the Hixson Awards was created from the $5 million Lied gift plus $1 million from other contributors. Hixson, a native of Clarinda, is the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust. She is a leading philanthropist known for her financial support of charitable organizations, particularly in the Midwest and Nevada. The Lied Foundation Trust was created by the estate of Ernst F. Lied, an Omaha businessman who moved to Las Vegas in 1959 and died in 1980. Hixson was Lied's long-time business associate. The $5 million donation is the largest single cash gift received in one year by an Iowa public university, said Murray Blackwelder, president of the ISU Foundation. The Iowa State recreation/ athletic center has been named the Ernst F. Lied Recreation/Athletic Center in recognition of the gift. President's Scholarship Campaign Hixson's gift is the catalyst for the President's Scholarship Campaign, a $26 million fund-raising effort to provide scholarships to students with a variety of backgrounds and talents. In addition to the Hixson Awards endowment, the campaign will establish endowments for scholarships for National Merit and National Achievement Scholars, high- achieving minority students, intercollegiate athletes, students in campus leadership positions and other academic scholarships. Most of the endowments will provide Iowa State with scholarships for new students. Many of the university's current scholarships were created with juniors and seniors in specific academic majors in mind. A new endowment for Presidential Scholarships will provide full-expense scholarships to an additional 35 National Merit or National Achievement finalists. (The National Achievement program recognizes minority scholars.) Iowa State ranks among the top 25 national public and private universities in the number of National Merit Scholars enrolled in the freshman class. The 1994-95 freshman class includes 57 National Merit and National Achievement finalists. President Martin Jischke's goal is to increase that to 100 new finalists enrolled each year. Making a difference Alumni who are interested in learning more about the scholarship campaign or establishing endowments should contact Blackwelder, (515) 294-4607. "This is an exciting campaign and one of the most significant things we can do for students," Blackwelder said. "Already, we are hearing from our alumni and friends who want to make a difference in the lives of future leaders through this campaign. There is no better satisfaction than to see one's financial investment translate into success for a talented or deserving student." Volunteers Steve ('73) and Kathy ('72) Zumbach will serve as chairs of the President's Scholarship Campaign, and John ('59) and Ruth DeVries will serve as deputy chairs. Both couples are from Des Moines. The scholarship campaign runs through 1998. _____ contact: Internal Communications, (515) 294-3129 updated: 5-25-95