Father Nick Smith
Father Nick Smith Blends Several Gifts to Endow a Scholarship and Two Awards
Father Nick Smith’s parents and uncle attended Millikin, and his undergraduate education created a special place in his heart for the University — which is why he is endowing a scholarship and two awards with a blend of gifts that includes a living trust, a life insurance policy, annual gifts and estate gifts. His philanthropy toward Millikin is also a good example of how careful planning can make a dramatic impact. “I saved every stipend I received for funerals, weddings, baptisms, etc., and other monetary gifts to establish these funds to benefit students,” he said.
“They say that your undergraduate education is the most special and the one you most identify with, and for me that is very much the case,” said Father Nick, who earned a bachelor of arts in English literature in 1983. “At Millikin, I grew into myself.”
Father Nick went on to earn two master’s degrees at St. Louis University and then attended seminary, where he earned two more master’s degrees. He serves at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis as director of the Office of Sacred Worship, Archdiocesan Master of Ceremonies and associate pastor.
He has already endowed the Smith-Orlandini Scholarship in honor of his family, and his new gifts will help endow the Smith-Orlandini Award; both will benefit students in exercise science and sport. The new gifts will also help endow the Smith-Pacholski Award for English majors; it is in honor of his English professor and mentor, Dr. Richard Pacholski, who taught at Millikin from 1970 to 1998.
“The life insurance policy and revocable living trust support the two awards, which will then be fully endowed with legacy gifts,” Father Nick explained. “This will allow all three of the gifts to be endowed in perpetuity.”
Father Nick grew up in Taylorville, Ill., 30 miles from the Millikin campus. He was attracted to Millikin by his family’s history of attendance, of course, and by the small campus size. “Also, Millikin’s atmosphere is so inviting,” he said. “Physically it is beautiful, though the people at the University are really the main difference.”
He joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and as a junior was a student assistant to Dr. Pacholski.
“I was a good student in high school, but something sparked at Millikin,” Father Nick said. “I fell in love with English and became more self-confident. Millikin allowed students to develop relationships with faculty members, who would take the students under their wings and mentor them.”
Father Nick gave the baccalaureate address in 2004 and donated the stipend check to the Millikin Fund — and then began giving regularly. He urges other alumni to do so as well. “Millikin has helped shape us to be the people that we are today,” he said. “Should we not help Millikin do the same thing and shape future generations by giving back?”