Kansas University has announced its receipt of a $5 million gift to create a scholarship program for students with financial needs.

The Christina M. Hixson Opportunity Awards, established by the Ernst F. Lied Foundation of Las Vegas, will offer $5,000 scholarships to qualifying students from across Kansas.

Candidates for the awards must be graduates of Kansas high schools who, because of life challenges or lack of resources, might not consider pursuing a college education. Recipients must demonstrate financial need and qualify academically for admittance to KU.

The program will offer the first 10 awards to freshmen admitted for the 2007-08 academic year. It will continue to add 10 students per year until the program supports renewable scholarships for 40 students.

The fund will be managed by KU Endowment.