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Marcie Meekins isn’t sure she will ever top a recent Mother’s Day present. It was when she told her mom that she had created a student award in her honour.  

Meekins presented her mom, Sandy (Sandra) (Hibberts) Meekins (’80, ’82), with a written story about why she wanted to create the award to recognize Sandy’s role as the first person in their family to attend university and as the person who had instilled in Meekins a love of learning.  

“Mom doesn’t get emotional easy,” says Meekins. “But on that day, she was gobsmacked.”  

Meekins also told her mom she was going to ensure the award’s growth and existence by leaving a gift in her estate plans.  

Meekins is ��������’s director of development and works everyday with alumni and friends looking to give to the University and have an impact on future generations.  

“I am honoured to work with others on their giving goals and am proud to be a donor myself,” says Meekins. “�������� has been a part of my life for as long as I remember. From learning to swim in the pool, to discovering a love of art at the Owens, to playing in music festivals at Brunton.”  

When it came to making �������� a beneficiary in her estate plans, Meekins says she was inspired by other members of the University’s Legacy Giving Society and by the fact that you can have a greater impact than you may think by involving philanthropy in your estate plans.  

Meekins also encourages people to think about combining current and legacy giving to create an award today and see its impact. Meekins and her mom have already had the chance to meet several recipients of the Hibberts Meekins First-Generation Graduating Student Award.  

“Those are also wonderful days for my mom,” says Meekins.

The University’s Legacy Giving Society recognizes and celebrates the visionary philanthropy of friends and alumni who have confirmed that �������� is part of their estate plans. For more information, visit