Clockwise from left, Christina Hixson, Kimberly Moore and Brittany Thronton chat during a reception at the Kansas Union. Hixson donated million to a KU scholarship fund.

Nine Kansas University students this week were able to meet the woman behind the $5,000 scholarships that helped them attend KU this year.

The woman, Christina Hixson, provided a $5 million gift last year that allows KU to give at least 10 students a year the scholarships in hopes of enabling students to attend college, if they otherwise would not be able.

“She enjoyed the opportunity to hear from them what their goals are and what aspirations they have,” said KU Endowment Association President Dale Seuferling. “She was interested in what their backgrounds were, why they chose to attend college and how they picked a college.”

Hixson, who never was able to attend a four-year university, modeled the gifts after a program she created at Iowa State University years ago. The KU students come from nine different communities around the state, including Atchison, Paola and Eudora.

Seuferling said Hixson is committed to creating opportunities that she never had.

“I’m interested in giving students a chance,” Hixson said when announcing the donation.

The scholarships are reserved for those Kansas students who, because of life challenges or lack of resources, would otherwise find it difficult to go to college. Seuferling said the current group of students had to overcome a number of obstacles before making it to KU.

“For many of them, they’re the first generation of their family to go to college,” he said.

During the next four years, about 10 new scholarships will be handed out. The $5,000 scholarships are renewable every year for four years.

KU relies on high school counselors and teachers to inform students of these scholarships. Seuferling said the educators are supposed to be on the lookout for students who should continue their education but might not be able to without some help.