Roxanne Hicklin C’76

“It really doesn’t take that much money to make a difference. You just have to decide what ‘speaks to you’ and find a way to make it happen.”

— Roxanne Hicklin C’76

As a student at Salem College, Roxanne Hicklin C'76 was never able to meet and thank the donors who provided the scholarships that allowed her to experience all the opportunities offered by Salem.

Roxanne shared: "As a kid, I don't think I even realized exactly WHAT it meant that I received scholarship awards; that my years at Salem were possible thanks to the generosity of those who went before me. It wasn't until I graduated and 'matured' that I understood what the generosity of others meant for my college education."

When Roxanne first started thinking about how she could make a difference for future generations of Salem students, she named Salem College as a percentage beneficiary of her 401(k). That initial planned gift is still in place today.

"I want Salem to use that unrestricted gift for whatever is the greatest need when the gift is realized. I know that the College's needs will change, and I can't anticipate what Salem will need at that point (hopefully many years from now!)."

Several years after naming Salem as a beneficiary of her retirement fund, Roxanne began thinking about other ways she could impact the lives of Salem students.

"The original unrestricted planned gift will be a great gift for Salem, but I won't see the impact of that gift. I have always wished I knew the donors who provided my scholarship awards, so I decided to start the process now to establish an endowed scholarship fund … while I'm still alive. The process is really simple: The folks in Salem's Institutional Advancement Office help with the details of establishing the scholarship and the criteria for the award. My financial planner helped me set up the best schedule for payments that work with my financial calendar, designating RMDs in upcoming years toward the scholarship fund."

"With this scholarship, I feel like I am paying back the scholarship I had... and paying it forward … to give another student the chance to enjoy the wonderful place called Salem. And if all goes as planned, I'll be able to meet many of the students who will receive awards from my scholarship fund. I can't wait to hear their Salem stories!"

"If a classmate said to me: 'Wow! I'd love to do what you're doing, but I'm not rich,' I'd tell her it really doesn't take that much money to make a difference. You just have to decide what 'speaks to you' and find a way to make it happen."

Roxanne's commitments at Salem will be felt in so many ways, thanks to the creative process she's used to decide how to give and what to give. She has indeed found the needs at Salem that speak to her, and Salem College and Salem students will be the grateful recipients of her legacy for generations to come.