DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Family Legacy, First-Generation Alum Perpetuate Hay Challenge
10/27/2020 2:09:00 PM | ATHLETICS
Wicklander and Hayden ease daunting challenges faced by low-income students
CHICAGO – It would not be an exaggeration to claim that DePaul blue is coursing through the Wicklander family bloodline.
And it's getting ready to enter a fourth generation.
DePaul donor and men's basketball season ticketholder Jim Wicklander has been active with DePaul since 1972. His parents introduced him to DePaul through their involvement and philanthropy. His mom Callista was president of the Women's Board from 1977-1981, and mom would relay frequent updates on the university and opportunities to help others.
"I have taken my kids to DePaul games since before they were old enough to remember, which is a long time given that Will is now 42, Joe 40 and Katie 36," Jim Wicklander said. "We often travel to away games to spend time together and see different parts of the country.
"The last decade we have enjoyed New York and the BIG EAST Tournament, where in 2012, Joe met his wife Kelly during a long day of college basketball. Last year, one of my granddaughters asked to have her birthday party at a DePaul game which means there is already a strong connection to DePaul with a fourth generation of Wicklanders."
Cementing that connection is their involvement in the William E. Hay Endowed Scholarship Challenge.
Few have ever loved DePaul more or believed as passionately in its mission as Hay, whose significant eight-figure gift from his estate established the William E. Hay Center for Leadership Development empowering students with the leadership training that Fortune 500 companies offer their top talent.
His sensitivity to the needs and daunting challenges faced by first-generation and low-income college students resulted in the Hay Endowed Scholarship Challenge.
In essence, it allows donors to make a $25,000 gift to create a named endowment with the Challenge providing an additional $25,000 to reach the permanent endowment level.
The Hay Challenge has made a tremendous impact on DePaul Athletics. Donors have responded by creating eight new named endowed scholarships which will make an impact directly on DePaul's student-athletes long into the future. Thanks to the Hay Challenge, commitments have already eclipsed the $500,000 mark.
"The Hay Challenge allowed our family to think more thoroughly about how to direct philanthropy at DePaul," Jim Wicklander said. "We appreciate Bill's leadership by example and know he would be pleased with the impact his Challenge is having on our student-athletes.
"As a result of the Hay Challenge, our impact was doubled with the establishment of two endowed scholarships. The Wicklander Family Scholarship in Men's Basketball is aligned with the sport and its student-athletes. They were mine our family's initial touchpoints with DePaul and a source of so many memories and opportunities to spend time together with family and friends.
"The second scholarship, the Jim and Rose Lynn Wicklander Scholarship for Athletics and Entrepreneurship, is in honor of my late wife Rose Lynn who was an entrepreneur and owned her own business."
The Wicklanders hope their generosity will pave the way for others to follow in their footsteps.
"DePaul has done a nice job identifying their financial needs, and it was natural for our family to extend our gratitude for the work of the university by endowing the two scholarships," Jim Wicklander said. "Each scholarship is aligned with providing DePaul additional resources to support the student-athlete.
"We are firm believers that athletics forces individuals from diverse backgrounds to challenge themselves personally and come together to reach a common goal. We recognize the important role DePaul plays with all students, and especially first-generation and low-income students. We hope that down the road, recipients of the various scholarships will find their way to pay it forward."
Jim and his son Joe fondly recall their interactions with Bill Hay, the DePaul business school alumnus, instructor and friend of the university for more than 30 years who was always guided by the Vincentian values of service and community he learned in Lincoln Park.
Hay earned his MBA from DePaul in 1966 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2006. He taught at DePaul not only in the business school, but also in the School of Public Service. The founder of the William E. Hay & Co. Chicago-based consulting and executive search firm also served as a DePaul trustee.
He generously funded Vincent on Leadership: The Hay Project in 2002, inspired by a desire to spread the leadership concepts and practices of St. Vincent de Paul. At the time, Hay said, "I don't ever want anyone to come to this university—as student, staff, instructor or trustee—without knowing about the legacy of our patron."
It's no wonder Hay and the Wicklanders hit it off so well before Hay passed away in July of 2018.
"Over the years, I had the pleasure to meet and socialize with Bill," Jim said. "I understood and appreciated his commitment to the Vincentian spirit and expansion of leadership."
Joe Wicklander added: "I met Bill Hay through the Union League Club of Chicago where we served on committees together, and frequently our conversations would spill over to the bar. I didn't learn about his involvement with DePaul until later in our relationship, which is surprising given our joint interest in the university. Bill was always positive and really enjoyed helping others."
Jim Wicklander has worked with and supported the efforts of Father John Cortelyou, Father John Minogue, Father John Richardson, Father Dennis Holtschneider and Dr. Gabriel Esteban. He has many fond memories of Ray Meyer, Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Doug Bruno plus several other coaches and has personally enjoyed supporting athletic programs such as golf, track and soccer.
"I had the opportunity in a discussion with Father Dennis to become involved with the DePaul Coleman Entrepreneurship Center where I currently serve on the advisory board," Jim said. "I believe entrepreneurship across the entire university will provide students with the tools to turn their passions into professions.
"Only a few of DePaul's student-athletes go on to play professionally. The leadership traits and work ethic of student-athletes also act as a strong foundation for success in entrepreneurship. The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center provides guidance and support which is helpful in so many ways."
DePaul Vice President of Advancement Dan Allen marvels at the selfless generosity and compassion for others that characterize the university's donor culture.
"It's been said that no university ever became great without philanthropy," Allen said. "It's true. The vibrancy of the university and its robustness in the landscape of postsecondary education in the United States is dependent upon the generosity and investment of others in our strategic priorities.
"I cannot truly express the depth of my gratitude for all our donors, of the Hay Challenge and beyond---especially at this time in our society when student need is greater than ever before.
"What is truly inspiring is how the gifts our alumni, parents, friends, corporations, foundations, faculty and staff share with the university are often designated for the benefit of people they don't even know! Think about that. Isn't that the very definition of selflessness?"
The ultimate form of selflessness is the Hay Challenge donor who wishes to remain anonymous while funding the Golf Alumni Scholarship.
"Golf is something that has shaped our family, our values and our work ethic," the donor said. "Sports like golf will likely never generate the revenue of other major sports. So it's even more important that those who have been positively impacted by the game have an inclusive avenue to participate and give others the same chance.
"Golf taught me how to interact and build rapport with people from all walks of life, and those skills translate to each personal and professional interaction I have to this day. Our vision was to provide a scholarship that honored all alumni. Our hope is that everyone will join in and take part in providing future student-athletes a chance to advance, play a game they love and do it for a great university."
Terrence Hayden is another first-generation DePaul graduate whose path in life was influenced by the university.
Hayden grew up in the northwest suburbs, graduating from Forest View High School in Arlington Heights. Coming from a family unfamiliar with postsecondary education, he followed the advice of a family friend and enrolled at Western Illinois.
After graduating and working as a CPA at a top Downtown accounting firm, Hayden began researching graduate school opportunities in an effort to broaden his education and advance his career in finance. Discussions with family members, friends and coworkers led him to DePaul.
"I determined that DePaul's strong academic reputation and Downtown location was my best option," Hayden said. "I enrolled in DePaul's Graduate School of Commerce in spring of 1972 and graduated in 1975 with an MBA degree in Finance.
"While attending DePaul, I learned a great deal from the many professors and other diverse students that were equally motivated and dedicated."
His success in the world of finance brought him full circle to that teenager from Forest View who had little idea about the transformative potential of a college education. Experiencing that revelation first-hand, Hayden wanted to open up life's possibilities for other first-generation and low-income students.
"I had just started to consider starting a scholarship program, but was hesitant to commit financially at that time," Hayden said. "When Bryan Duby (Athletics Development) told me about the Hay Challenge for matching contributions, it convinced me to commit in setting up a student scholarship.
"The Hay Challenge became my answer for reaching out and helping others receive the benefits I had from DePaul. In selecting students that were first-generation and low-income to receive a scholarship, I also wanted to look at those students-athletes that receive less support.
"I ended up selecting women (I have three daughters) involved in cross country/track and field and majoring in accounting. Those were the interests of mine and my daughters. This reflects my belief that a student's participation in sports also contributes much to their academic and future success."
All it took was one game for Hayden to catch a permanent case of Blue Demon fever.
"My favorite DePaul memory centers around my involvement with men's basketball that started in 1978 when I watched DePaul and Dave Corzine defeat Notre Dame on national TV in 1978," Hayden said. "I became a season ticketholder the following year right on through today.
"One other particular game stands out for me. With only a few seconds remaining and DePaul trailing St. John's by three points, Dallas Comegys was at the foul line. After making the first free throw, he bounced the second shot off the rim, rebounded it and made the shot to tie the game as DePaul went on to win in overtime."
Success stories like Terrence and Patricia Hayden, the Wicklanders, David and Beth Faircloth, Marge Mazik, Ed Leidecker and the other Hay Challenge donors along with Dan Allen's leadership that is paving the way for present and future first-generation and low-income students to attend DePaul.
And no doubt, empowering these young people today is planting the seeds for the next generation of donors who will enthusiastically take up Bill Hay on his challenge that keeps on giving.
The Hay Challenge runs through Dec. 31 or until DePaul has created 100 new scholarships. Any donor who is interested should reach out to DePaul Athletics Development at 773-325-7240 or email Thad Dohrn at tdohrn@depaul.edu.
And it's getting ready to enter a fourth generation.
DePaul donor and men's basketball season ticketholder Jim Wicklander has been active with DePaul since 1972. His parents introduced him to DePaul through their involvement and philanthropy. His mom Callista was president of the Women's Board from 1977-1981, and mom would relay frequent updates on the university and opportunities to help others.
"I have taken my kids to DePaul games since before they were old enough to remember, which is a long time given that Will is now 42, Joe 40 and Katie 36," Jim Wicklander said. "We often travel to away games to spend time together and see different parts of the country.
"The last decade we have enjoyed New York and the BIG EAST Tournament, where in 2012, Joe met his wife Kelly during a long day of college basketball. Last year, one of my granddaughters asked to have her birthday party at a DePaul game which means there is already a strong connection to DePaul with a fourth generation of Wicklanders."
Cementing that connection is their involvement in the William E. Hay Endowed Scholarship Challenge.
Few have ever loved DePaul more or believed as passionately in its mission as Hay, whose significant eight-figure gift from his estate established the William E. Hay Center for Leadership Development empowering students with the leadership training that Fortune 500 companies offer their top talent.
His sensitivity to the needs and daunting challenges faced by first-generation and low-income college students resulted in the Hay Endowed Scholarship Challenge.
In essence, it allows donors to make a $25,000 gift to create a named endowment with the Challenge providing an additional $25,000 to reach the permanent endowment level.
The Hay Challenge has made a tremendous impact on DePaul Athletics. Donors have responded by creating eight new named endowed scholarships which will make an impact directly on DePaul's student-athletes long into the future. Thanks to the Hay Challenge, commitments have already eclipsed the $500,000 mark.
"The Hay Challenge allowed our family to think more thoroughly about how to direct philanthropy at DePaul," Jim Wicklander said. "We appreciate Bill's leadership by example and know he would be pleased with the impact his Challenge is having on our student-athletes.
"As a result of the Hay Challenge, our impact was doubled with the establishment of two endowed scholarships. The Wicklander Family Scholarship in Men's Basketball is aligned with the sport and its student-athletes. They were mine our family's initial touchpoints with DePaul and a source of so many memories and opportunities to spend time together with family and friends.
"The second scholarship, the Jim and Rose Lynn Wicklander Scholarship for Athletics and Entrepreneurship, is in honor of my late wife Rose Lynn who was an entrepreneur and owned her own business."
The Wicklanders hope their generosity will pave the way for others to follow in their footsteps.
"DePaul has done a nice job identifying their financial needs, and it was natural for our family to extend our gratitude for the work of the university by endowing the two scholarships," Jim Wicklander said. "Each scholarship is aligned with providing DePaul additional resources to support the student-athlete.
"We are firm believers that athletics forces individuals from diverse backgrounds to challenge themselves personally and come together to reach a common goal. We recognize the important role DePaul plays with all students, and especially first-generation and low-income students. We hope that down the road, recipients of the various scholarships will find their way to pay it forward."
Jim and his son Joe fondly recall their interactions with Bill Hay, the DePaul business school alumnus, instructor and friend of the university for more than 30 years who was always guided by the Vincentian values of service and community he learned in Lincoln Park.
Hay earned his MBA from DePaul in 1966 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2006. He taught at DePaul not only in the business school, but also in the School of Public Service. The founder of the William E. Hay & Co. Chicago-based consulting and executive search firm also served as a DePaul trustee.
He generously funded Vincent on Leadership: The Hay Project in 2002, inspired by a desire to spread the leadership concepts and practices of St. Vincent de Paul. At the time, Hay said, "I don't ever want anyone to come to this university—as student, staff, instructor or trustee—without knowing about the legacy of our patron."
It's no wonder Hay and the Wicklanders hit it off so well before Hay passed away in July of 2018.
"Over the years, I had the pleasure to meet and socialize with Bill," Jim said. "I understood and appreciated his commitment to the Vincentian spirit and expansion of leadership."
Joe Wicklander added: "I met Bill Hay through the Union League Club of Chicago where we served on committees together, and frequently our conversations would spill over to the bar. I didn't learn about his involvement with DePaul until later in our relationship, which is surprising given our joint interest in the university. Bill was always positive and really enjoyed helping others."
Jim Wicklander has worked with and supported the efforts of Father John Cortelyou, Father John Minogue, Father John Richardson, Father Dennis Holtschneider and Dr. Gabriel Esteban. He has many fond memories of Ray Meyer, Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Doug Bruno plus several other coaches and has personally enjoyed supporting athletic programs such as golf, track and soccer.
"I had the opportunity in a discussion with Father Dennis to become involved with the DePaul Coleman Entrepreneurship Center where I currently serve on the advisory board," Jim said. "I believe entrepreneurship across the entire university will provide students with the tools to turn their passions into professions.
"Only a few of DePaul's student-athletes go on to play professionally. The leadership traits and work ethic of student-athletes also act as a strong foundation for success in entrepreneurship. The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center provides guidance and support which is helpful in so many ways."
DePaul Vice President of Advancement Dan Allen marvels at the selfless generosity and compassion for others that characterize the university's donor culture.
"It's been said that no university ever became great without philanthropy," Allen said. "It's true. The vibrancy of the university and its robustness in the landscape of postsecondary education in the United States is dependent upon the generosity and investment of others in our strategic priorities.
"I cannot truly express the depth of my gratitude for all our donors, of the Hay Challenge and beyond---especially at this time in our society when student need is greater than ever before.
"What is truly inspiring is how the gifts our alumni, parents, friends, corporations, foundations, faculty and staff share with the university are often designated for the benefit of people they don't even know! Think about that. Isn't that the very definition of selflessness?"
The ultimate form of selflessness is the Hay Challenge donor who wishes to remain anonymous while funding the Golf Alumni Scholarship.
"Golf is something that has shaped our family, our values and our work ethic," the donor said. "Sports like golf will likely never generate the revenue of other major sports. So it's even more important that those who have been positively impacted by the game have an inclusive avenue to participate and give others the same chance.
"Golf taught me how to interact and build rapport with people from all walks of life, and those skills translate to each personal and professional interaction I have to this day. Our vision was to provide a scholarship that honored all alumni. Our hope is that everyone will join in and take part in providing future student-athletes a chance to advance, play a game they love and do it for a great university."
Terrence Hayden is another first-generation DePaul graduate whose path in life was influenced by the university.
Hayden grew up in the northwest suburbs, graduating from Forest View High School in Arlington Heights. Coming from a family unfamiliar with postsecondary education, he followed the advice of a family friend and enrolled at Western Illinois.
After graduating and working as a CPA at a top Downtown accounting firm, Hayden began researching graduate school opportunities in an effort to broaden his education and advance his career in finance. Discussions with family members, friends and coworkers led him to DePaul.
"I determined that DePaul's strong academic reputation and Downtown location was my best option," Hayden said. "I enrolled in DePaul's Graduate School of Commerce in spring of 1972 and graduated in 1975 with an MBA degree in Finance.
"While attending DePaul, I learned a great deal from the many professors and other diverse students that were equally motivated and dedicated."
His success in the world of finance brought him full circle to that teenager from Forest View who had little idea about the transformative potential of a college education. Experiencing that revelation first-hand, Hayden wanted to open up life's possibilities for other first-generation and low-income students.
"I had just started to consider starting a scholarship program, but was hesitant to commit financially at that time," Hayden said. "When Bryan Duby (Athletics Development) told me about the Hay Challenge for matching contributions, it convinced me to commit in setting up a student scholarship.
"The Hay Challenge became my answer for reaching out and helping others receive the benefits I had from DePaul. In selecting students that were first-generation and low-income to receive a scholarship, I also wanted to look at those students-athletes that receive less support.
"I ended up selecting women (I have three daughters) involved in cross country/track and field and majoring in accounting. Those were the interests of mine and my daughters. This reflects my belief that a student's participation in sports also contributes much to their academic and future success."
All it took was one game for Hayden to catch a permanent case of Blue Demon fever.
"My favorite DePaul memory centers around my involvement with men's basketball that started in 1978 when I watched DePaul and Dave Corzine defeat Notre Dame on national TV in 1978," Hayden said. "I became a season ticketholder the following year right on through today.
"One other particular game stands out for me. With only a few seconds remaining and DePaul trailing St. John's by three points, Dallas Comegys was at the foul line. After making the first free throw, he bounced the second shot off the rim, rebounded it and made the shot to tie the game as DePaul went on to win in overtime."
Success stories like Terrence and Patricia Hayden, the Wicklanders, David and Beth Faircloth, Marge Mazik, Ed Leidecker and the other Hay Challenge donors along with Dan Allen's leadership that is paving the way for present and future first-generation and low-income students to attend DePaul.
And no doubt, empowering these young people today is planting the seeds for the next generation of donors who will enthusiastically take up Bill Hay on his challenge that keeps on giving.
The Hay Challenge runs through Dec. 31 or until DePaul has created 100 new scholarships. Any donor who is interested should reach out to DePaul Athletics Development at 773-325-7240 or email Thad Dohrn at tdohrn@depaul.edu.
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