The University of Central Missouri (UCM) Alumni Foundation announced two new scholarship endowments during recent Homecoming festivities.
The family of Walt Hicklin has established a tribute to his decades of service to UCM through the Walt Hicklin Memorial Scholarship Endowment, while faculty member Brian Hughes and his family have established the Dr. Brian J. Hughes Scholarship for Leadership in Athletic Training.
“These scholarship endowments are powerful tributes to those who have made such significant contributions to our university. By establishing them with the Alumni Foundation, they will last forever and will always honor the legacy of service by both the Hicklin and Hughes families and empower future students,” said Courtney Goddard, Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the UCM Alumni Foundation.
The Walt Hicklin Memorial Scholarship is named in memory of the late Walter “Walt” R. Hicklin, ’64, ‘76. Hicklin served UCM in many capacities, including Mules Football coach, instructor of Mathematics in the former Department of Athletic Enrichment, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and interim vice president for Student Affairs. He retired from UCM in 2006 after 31 years of service.
Following his retirement, Hicklin was appointed to UCM’s Board of Governors and served for 12 years, including two as president.
Hicklin also served with the American Legion Missouri Boys State organization for 37 years while the program was hosted at UCM. He was named to the Board of Directors in 1991 and was inducted into the Boys State Hall of Fame in 2011. He also served as the official university host for the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program.
Among his many accolades, Hicklin received the UCM Student Government Association’s (SGA) James C. Kirkpatrick Excellence in Governance Award. SGA subsequently honored him by establishing the Walter Hicklin Excellence in Service Award, first presented to Hicklin in 2022. His exceptional work at the university also resulted in his selection as the first recipient of the J.P. Mees Award for Outstanding Professional Staff in 2003.
“In establishing this scholarship, my family and I hope to honor Walter Hicklin and his memory, his dedication to Central and his vision for educating future teachers,” said his wife, Lynn Hicklin.
The Walt Hicklin Memorial Scholarship is available through the UCM Alumni Foundation for an undergraduate student who is pursuing a degree in Mathematics Education.
Brian J. Hughes, professor of Athletic Training, has been the director of the Athletic Training program since 2001.
During his tenure, the Athletic Training program has launched a master’s degree program and received three successful accreditations from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education for bachelor’s and master’s degree levels.
As part of his job duties, Hughes said he is the “curator and fundraising champion” of the Dr. Ronald VanDam Athletic Training Student Scholarship. VanDam was the first director of the Athletic Training program and was succeeded by Hughes. Friends and former students started the VanDam scholarship as he entered his 24th year at UCM, and coincidentally, Hughes is establishing his scholarship in his 24th year of service to the university.
“As time has passed, I thought it was the right time to start my own scholarship in part to not only reward the most deserving students but also to solidify and build our program,” Hughes said.
Hughes was a long-time contributor to the VanDam Scholarship fund before creating his endowment. He said his sense of philanthropy and high regard for education come from his family. He was taught at an early age to give back and personally experienced the value of education.
“I know firsthand the power that a university can have, the value of scholarships and its direct impact upon the students we teach because they look like my own family – first generation and/or non-traditional students,” Hughes said.
For more information, visit ucmfoundation.org.
Gallery Credit: Bethany Adams
