June 10, 2026 – Millikin University has received a transformative estate gift valued at approximately $3.3 million from the trust of Helen Cox Kersting, Class of 1956, establishing a new scholarship fund that will support future generations of students in the School of Music.
The newly created Helen Cox Kersting and Dr. Hans-Joachim Kersting Scholarship Fund honors the lives and legacies of Kersting and her late husband, Dr. Hans-Joachim Kersting. The fund will provide renewable scholarship opportunities for students pursuing degrees in Millikin’s School of Music.
“This extraordinary gift is a powerful statement about the lasting impact of a Millikin education,” said Millikin President Dr. Dean Pribbenow. “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.”
A native of Belleville, Illinois, Kersting graduated from Millikin’s School of Music in 1956 and went on to build a distinguished international career as a concert and operatic soloist. Her education at Millikin served as the foundation for an artistic journey that led her to the Juilliard School of Music, performances with the New York Philharmonic, appearances at Carnegie Hall, and major opera stages throughout Europe.
During her years at Millikin, Kersting was deeply engaged in campus life and musical performance. 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 annual presentation of “The Messiah” throughout her four years as a student, and studied under School of Music faculty member Hubert Norville.
Her vocal talents earned recognition early in her career. In 1955, she won the voice division of a competition sponsored by the Women’s Society of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. As a senior, she received the Winifred St. Clair Minturn Music Award during Millikin’s Awards Day, now known as Honors Convocation.
After graduation, Kersting moved to New York City and was admitted to the Juilliard School of Music on scholarship. She later earned numerous honors, including the Marian Anderson Prize, the Chicago Lyric Opera Prize, and the Titcomb Award from the Metropolitan Opera Guild. In 1960, she received Millikin’s Young Alumnus Award.
Her performance career included a debut with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. She later signed a four-year contract with the Cologne Opera in Germany, where she performed leading roles in productions such as Carmen and Der Rosenkavalier and appeared in several world-premiere modern operas. Her career also took her to prominent cultural centers throughout Europe, 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, Kersting met and married Dr. Hans-Joachim Kersting, an engineer and businessman. Together, they shared a passion for art collecting, travel and cultural preservation. Helen Kersting 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 her performing career, Kersting remained dedicated to supporting young musicians, helping organize and present concerts while continuing her lifelong commitment to music education and mentorship. Her estate gift to Millikin reflects that enduring passion.
“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 for 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 scholarship fund is designed to provide multi-year support, allowing recipients greater financial stability throughout their academic careers. University leaders say the gift will also strengthen Millikin’s tradition of Performance Learning, which provides students with hands-on experiences that prepare them for success in their chosen professions.
“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.”
Darnell said the gift reflects a longstanding culture of philanthropy among Millikin alumni and supporters.
“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.”
