AggieFunded - Steven H. Hanks Legacy MHR Scholarship Endowment

Honoring the Legacy of Steve Hanks

The Steven H. Hanks Legacy MHR Scholarship Endowment honors Steve’s transformative impact on the Master of Human Resources program at Utah State University and the unwavering dedication he shows to every student he mentors. Widely regarded as the father of the MHR program, Steve is the driving force behind its evolution into a nationally recognized experience—one defined not only by academic excellence, but by meaningful relationships, mentorship, and personal growth.

During his decade of leadership, Steve cultivates a culture where students are challenged to grow beyond their expectations. Whether encouraging them to develop “presence!”, guiding them through international experiences, or investing in one-on-one mentorship, he believes deeply in each student’s potential. His influence turns individuals from all walks of life into confident, capable HR leaders. The continued success of MHR alumni stands as a powerful testament to his legacy.

Through this endowment, the Huntsman School celebrates the values Steve embodies—leadership, mentorship, and a steadfast commitment to student success. By providing scholarship support to MHR students, this fund ensures that future generations have access to the same life-changing opportunities Steve champions.

Our Mission
The Steven H. Hanks Legacy MHR Scholarship Endowment Fund seeks to support:

• Financial assistance for students pursuing the on-campus MHR degree
• Opportunities for students to engage fully in their education with fewer financial barriers
• The continuation of Steve’s legacy of mentorship, leadership, and student development
• Long-term growth and excellence of the MHR program

Continuing Steve’s Impact
Every contribution to this endowment helps carry forward the spirit of dedication and belief that defines Steve’s work. By supporting this fund, donors ensure that his legacy continues to shape the Huntsman community and empower future HR leaders for years to come.

How You Can Help

• Make a one-time or recurring gift to support current and future MHR students
• Share this initiative with classmates, colleagues, and fellow alumni who are impacted by Steve’s legacy
• Reflect on and share your own experiences of how Steve influences your journey

Your support does more than fund scholarships—it honors a legacy of transformation, strengthens the MHR program, and invests in the future leaders who carry Steve’s vision forward.

Your gift will be used only for the above-stated purpose if the required minimum endowment level of $25,000 is met by December 31, 2030. If not met, the gift will be considered expendable towards the stated purpose.

The Endowment will exist in perpetuity. If circumstances arise that render the stated purpose of the Endowment (as set forth herein) illegal, impractical, impossible, or wasteful (e.g., a change in law, the elimination of a USU program, position, or course of study, the persistent unavailability of scholarship recipients that meet the criteria, etc.); then, as set forth in this Solicitation, under such circumstances and in keeping with Utah Code 51-8-501(1), USU may designate a new purpose and/or scholarship selection criteria for the Endowment. Any such new purpose shall be defined by USU’s President and Dean of the College.

The Endowment shall be deposited and invested by the Board of Trustees of USU, through the USU Investment Advisory Committee in accordance with USU’s investment policy. The USU Foundation is the legal entity designated by USU to receive charitable gifts in support of its academic mission.

Distributions from the Endowment shall be governed by USU’s Endowment Spending Policy. The spending policy calls for an annual distribution up to 5% (currently set at 4%) of the value of the endowment account to be expended per the gift agreement. An additional 1.5% of the endowment value shall be used to fund the administration of the endowment and USU advancement efforts. All additional gains shall be retained as appreciation and invested along with the corpus to grow the value of the Endowment over time.

By letter dated May 21, 2008, the Internal Revenue Service has declared the USU Foundation (federal tax identification number 87-0627128), to be a duly qualified charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) and also an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(iv) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation is a duly chartered active Utah nonprofit corporation, under the provision of Utah Code, Title 16, Chapter 6a.