Millikin University receives $3.3 million estate gift to establish Helen Cox Kersting ’56 and Dr. Hans-Joachim Kersting Scholarship Fund

Gift honors the legacy of 1956 Millikin School of Music graduate and international opera performer Helen Cox Kersting.

DECATUR, Ill. – Millikin University has received a substantial estate gift from the trust of Helen Cox Kersting, Class of 1956, to establish a scholarship fund in memory of Kersting and her late husband, Dr. Hans-Joachim Kersting.

The gift is estimated at $3.3 million and will support scholarships for students in Millikin’s School of Music. The Helen Cox Kersting and Dr. Hans-Joachim Kersting Scholarship Fund will provide renewable scholarship opportunities in the School of Music.

Kersting, a Belleville, Ill., native, graduated from Millikin’s School of Music in 1956 and went on to a distinguished career as a concert and operatic soloist. Her time at Millikin helped launch an artistic journey that took her to the Juilliard School of Music, the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, and major opera stages across Europe.

“This extraordinary gift is a powerful statement about the lasting impact of a Millikin education,” Millikin President Dr. Dean Pribbenow said. “Helen Cox Kersting’s life was shaped by music, performance, mentorship, and discovery, and her generosity ensures that future generations of Millikin students will have opportunities to pursue their own artistic promise. We are deeply grateful for this gift and honored to carry forward Helen and Dr. Kersting’s legacy through our students.”

During her time at Millikin, Kersting was deeply involved in campus music and student life. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta, Sigma Alpha Iota women’s music fraternity, and Phi Kappa Phi. She sang with the acapella choir, appeared in opera productions, performed as a soloist in Millikin’s presentation of “The Messiah” in each of her four years, and studied with School of Music faculty member Hubert Norville.

Kersting also earned early recognition for her vocal talents while still a student, including winning the voice division of a contest sponsored by the Women’s Society of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1955. As a senior, she received the Winifred St. Clair Minturn Music Award during Millikin’s Awards Day, now known as Honors Convocation.

After graduating from Millikin, Kersting moved to New York City, where she was admitted to the Juilliard School of Music on scholarship. She went on to earn several major honors, including the Marian Anderson Prize, the Chicago Lyric Opera Prize, and the Titcomb Award from the Metropolitan Opera Guild. In 1960, she was named the recipient of Millikin’s Young Alumnus Award.

Kersting’s performance career included a debut with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. She later received a four-year contract with the Cologne Opera in Germany, where she performed major roles, including Carmen and Der Rosenkavalier, as well as several world-premiere modern operas. Her work took her to major European cultural centers, including Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Vienna.

“Helen Cox Kersting represents the very best of what the arts can make possible,” said Dr. Cameron Jackson, Dean of Millikin’s College of Fine Arts. “Her story begins with talent and opportunity at Millikin and grows into a life of international performance, cultural engagement, and artistic generosity. This scholarship will help students in the School of Music develop their gifts in the same spirit — with discipline, imagination, and a commitment to sharing their artistry with the world. Talented young artists, regardless of circumstance, can fully realize their potential and develop their musical gifts with confidence.”

While living in Germany, Helen met and married Dr. Hans-Joachim Kersting, an engineer and businessman. Together, the Kerstings shared a passion for collecting art, travel, and cultural preservation. Helen later became known for her extensive collection of Native American art, including pottery, Katsinas, jewelry, and basketry. In 2008, she donated a significant collection of Southwestern cultural art to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis.

Following the end of her performing career, Kersting remained passionate about supporting young musicians, including assisting with and presenting concerts. Her estate gift to Millikin reflects that lifelong commitment to music education and mentorship.

“This gift is transformational because it connects a remarkable alumna’s life story to the Millikin students whose stories are still being written,” said Rick Darnell, Vice President of University Advancement. “Helen Kersting understood the power of scholarship support because her own Millikin experience helped open doors to Juilliard, Carnegie Hall, and international stages. Through this fund, Helen and Hans-Joachim Kersting will continue to open doors for students for generations to come.”

The Kersting Scholarship Fund will be designed to provide support for more than one year, helping students pursue their Millikin education with greater financial stability. The scholarship will also strengthen Millikin’s tradition of Performance Learning, which gives students opportunities to grow through hands-on, real-world experiences in their chosen fields.

“Helen’s legacy is not only what she achieved, but what she chose to make possible for others,” Pribbenow said. “Her generosity will live in the voices, performances, classrooms, and careers of Millikin students who will carry her love of music forward.”

For all who aspire to achieve, Millikin delivers on the promise of excellence in education. Millikin University has been dedicated to developing leaders for 125 years, preparing students for professional success, democratic citizenship in a global environment, and a personal life of meaning and value. Performance Learning sets Millikin apart, not simply through what is learned, but through how learning is experienced.

“We are incredibly thankful to those before us, who promoted the culture of paying it forward by giving back to Millikin University. Scholarships impact and change students’ lives. Helen Kersting intentionally created a planned gift via her estate to impact others. Her example is awe-inspiring,” Darnell said. “For years to come, students who have yet to set foot on the Millikin campus will benefit from her enduring legacy, finding encouragement and inspiration through the opportunities provided by Helen Cox Kersting, who had a remarkable Millikin experience, successful career, and generously paid it forward by making the largest scholarship gift to the College of Fine Arts in University history.”

Support & Giving

Private support is critical to the mission of Millikin University, and opportunities exist within each of our four colleges and numerous programs that can fit your charitable interests and financial objectives. To learn more about how you can support students, faculty, research, and state-of-the-art facilities, visit with professionals in our Millikin University Alumni and Development Office (217) 424-6383 or directly visit the University giving pages by clicking Learn about Giving to Millikin.