Father Rudy Hines and son Blake Hines wouldn’t trade anything for their experience as Northwestern State student-athletes, and the Hines family wants to help others create their own NSU experiences.
The family has started the Hines Family Track Scholarship to benefit a track student-athlete that’s also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“I wouldn’t have been able to go to college without an athletics scholarship – it was a blessing from God,” said Rudy Hines. “We were in a better financial position once Blake went to NSU, and we feel like it’s our responsibility to give back to a school that’s been so good to us.
“(NSU football coach) A.L. Williams gave me an opportunity, and (NSU track coach Leon Johnson) gave my son Blake his opportunity, and our experience here as student-athletes couldn’t have gone any better.”
Rudy Hines played receiver from 1975-78 and ran track for one season under coach Jerry Dyes.
Son Blake followed in his father’s track footsteps and competed as a 400 meters runner and an intermediate distance hurdler from 1999-2005.
Rudy Hines was also honored by NSU’s Hall of Distinction, which recognizes business leaders who have made significant contributions to the college of business.
“Rudy and Velma bleed NSU purple, and have for a long time, so their desire to establish a scholarship which will perpetually impact the NSU track and field program and one of its student-athletes makes perfect sense,” said NSU director of athletics Greg Burke. “The fact that they are establishing the scholarship in honor of their son, who has followed in their footsteps as a die-hard Demon fan, makes this announcement even more special.”
The endowed scholarship is established as part of NSU’s ‘Perpetually Purple’ program, which aims to grow the Demons Unlimited Foundation endowment from the current level of nearly $2.6 million to more than $5 million.
The ‘Perpetually Purple’ program has grown to nearly 90 endowed scholarships that allow NSU to provide a sustainable source of scholarship funding that’s separate from efforts to supplement the annual athletics program budget with donations, corporate partnerships and special fund-raising events.
“The ‘Perpetually Purple’ endowment program continues to grow and solidify the athletic department’s ability to offer the full complement of scholarships in all sports per NCAA guidelines,” Burke added.
A minimum commitment of $10,000 is required to create an endowment fund, but that fund can start from any initial outright gift.
Endowments can be established with an outright gift such as cash, a stock transfer or property sale, a life insurance policy, or can be included as a provision in a will or bequest.
Arrangements can be made to fund an endowment over an extended period of time.
Photo: Greg Burke/NSU Photographic Services
