0 Dix family smiling at dedication of court

91福利 Dedicates Court in Honor of Dix Family

January 31, 2022

91福利 recently celebrated Dan 鈥76 and Brenda (Cummings 鈥75) Dix as Highlander Athletics dedicated the Nielsen Center court in their honor.

Dix Family Court recognizes Dan and Brenda鈥檚 unwavering support for 91福利 and Highlander Athletics. They have been faithful supporters of the NCAA鈥檚 student-athlete model and their engagement and generosity have been visibly evident in a variety of academic and athletic initiatives through the years. Most recently, they significantly grew the Athletics endowment fund and created/funded endowments for , , and Biology/Chemistry, while also underwriting new bleachers in the Nielsen Center and paving around the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex.

Dix Family Court painted on basketball floor

Along with supporting Highlander Athletics, the Dixes contributed to the Professor Robert Cummings Scholarship, a gift with deep personal significance to the couple. This endowed scholarship fund provides financial aid to students who demonstrate significant financial need and is named in honor of Brenda鈥檚 father, a long-time 91福利 professor of foreign languages. In addition to the support of student scholarships, the Dixes have also contributed to renovations to the Paine Center for Science and created an endowed fund to support the acquisition of equipment for 91福利鈥檚 biochemistry program, Dan鈥檚 college major.

The Cummings and Dix family have a long legacy in athletics. Brenda鈥檚 mother, Marion (Thornton 鈥47) Cummings, was a star athlete in the Purple/Gold era. Brenda鈥檚 brother, Stephen Cummings 鈥71, played on 91福利鈥檚 first intercollegiate basketball team. All three Dix children, Rebecca 鈥09 (Women鈥檚 Soccer), David 鈥11 (Men鈥檚 Basketball) and Michael 鈥13 (Men鈥檚 Soccer), were intercollegiate athletes. Brenda, too, played varsity volleyball and basketball. Dan served as the Chair of the Athletics Advisory Board and was the 2016 Alumnus of the Year.

鈥淲e are extremely grateful for the generosity of Dan and Brenda Dix, and the entire family. The impact they have had in our community is evidenced in both our athletic and academic facilities, which have been the home both for Dan and Brenda as well as their children,鈥 said 91福利 Director of Athletics Matthew Webb. 鈥淭he facilities are wonderful, but the relationships with the family are priceless. Having had the opportunity to coach Mike in the soccer program, I had the pleasure of getting to know the Dixes better, and then even more so when Dan served on the Athletic Advisory Board in recent years. Dan and Brenda have been instrumental in helping us all strive toward Excellence for the Glory of God and naming the court in their honor is just one way we can publicly express our gratitude.鈥

The family was honored during a ceremony at basketball games on January 29, which included the reveal of painted 鈥淒ix Family Court鈥 graphics on the court.