Hixson Opportunity Award

The Hixson Opportunity Award is for Kansas students who would otherwise not be able to attend the University of Kansas. This renewable award is available to eligible freshmen who will enroll for the upcoming fall semester, and it can be combined with other renewable KU scholarships. Ten students will be selected for this award each year, and recipients will be announced by March 1.

For many of the great successes of the world, the background they came from was their great challenge.  I'm trying to find those people.  Those who may not have the highest grade point or a perfect family background, but who can be successful.  These are the ones who will lend the helping hands in the future.    

- Christina Hixson

Scholarship amount

  • $6,000 per year, renewable for a total of four years
  • Ten new recipients are selected per year

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible, you must

  • have faced significant personal challenges as well as financial hardship
  • be a Kansas resident
  • be a current high school senior enrolling at KU in the upcoming fall semester
  • be admitted to the University of Kansas
  • show financial need determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Priority consideration will be given to first-generation college students (students whose parents did not earn a four-year college degree)

Recipient expectations

The goal of the Hixson Opportunity Award is to engage students in programs on campus to help them navigate the college experience.

  • use advising, tutoring, and success workshops from TRIO Supportive Education Services (SES)
  • enroll in Hixson Scholars Seminar section as part of University 101
  • participate in Hixson Scholars Peer Mentoring
  • take advantage of opportunities to interact with the scholarship donor, Miss Christina Hixson
  • strongly encouraged to live on-campus during their freshman year

How to apply

Submit the Hixson Scholarship application by Feb. 1 by going to ku.academicworks.com

  • Students must be admitted and have their KU Online ID and password set up to access the application.
  • Applicants will need to include an essay describing your potential to succeed and any personal challenges you faced that may hinder your ability to achieve these goals.
  • Provide a letter of recommendation from one of your counselors, teachers, community leaders, or other person who knows you well.
  • File the FAFSA for the 2025-26 school year by Feb. 1. The FAFSA opens on Dec. 1, 2024 and can be filed at fafsa.gov.

Renewal criteria

To be eligible for renewal, you must complete 24 KU hours and earn a cumulative 2.0 KU GPA.

See Scholarship FAQs