By Nicole Lyons, November 7, 2024
Kaylee Bohle, assistant director of Fitness and Wellness at the UCM Student Recreation and Wellness Center and granddaughter of Walt Hicklin, poses for a Homecoming photo with her grandmother, Lynn Hicklin, before they sign the Walt Hicklin Memorial Scholarship Endowment agreement.
The 欧美视频 (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.
鈥淭hese 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,鈥 said Courtney Goddard, Vice President
for Advancement and Executive Director of the .
Walt Hicklin Memorial Scholarship
The Walt Hicklin Memorial Scholarship is named in memory of the late Walter 鈥淲alt鈥 R. Hicklin, 鈥64, 鈥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鈥檚 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鈥檚
(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.
鈥淚n 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,鈥
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.
Dr. Brian J. Hughes Scholarship for Leadership in Athletic Training
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鈥檚 degree program
and received three successful accreditations from the Commission on Accreditation
of Athletic Training Education for bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree levels.
As part of his job duties, Hughes said he is the 鈥渃urator and fundraising champion鈥
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.
鈥淎s 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,鈥 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.
鈥淚 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
鈥 first generation and/or non-traditional students,鈥 Hughes said.
For more information, visit .
From left, Courtney Goddard, UCM Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Foundation Executive Director; Brian J. Hughes, professor and director of Athletic Training; and his wife, Kathy Hughes, prepare to sign the Dr. Brian J. Hughes Endowed Scholarship for Leadership in Athletic Training agreement.