Coykendall Scholar
As a neighborhood kid growing up on Brownell Avenue, Robert Coykendall ’59 remembers sneaking under a fence on Broad Street to frolic in the baseball fields and catch a sight of the chapel. Years later he would become a Trinity student thanks to a generous financial aid package and his supportive parents who prepared him to take on the academic rigor of a Trinity experience. As a way to pay both forward, Robert established a scholarship fund in honor of his parents, with a preference for greater Hartford students.
Having enjoyed decades of meeting Coykendall Scholars, Robert used gift planning to further enhance his commitment to access for Hartford students. He transferred appreciated assets to Trinity, which were then sold to establish a charitable remainder unitrust as a way to avoid capital gains. He now enjoys a life income stream, and the satisfaction of augmenting his scholarship upon expiration of the trust. In addition to the charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) Robert has made the scholarship a beneficiary of his estate.
That path under the fence on Broad Street is a metaphor for Robert. He sees his fund as a means to “keep the path open” for those who are academically capable, regardless of their financial situation. “If you want to ensure an economically diverse student body, avoid capital gains, and honor someone special in your life, consider a gift of scholarship by way of a planned gift.”
"I cannot begin to describe what this scholarship means to me. How can you quantify how grateful you are for the past years of memories and opportunities that have been given to me? I’ve been intensely challenged at Trinity and have met people who have completely changed my life. I’m extremely happy and grateful for everything; I can say with utmost confidence that I can look back to these years with nothing but fondness."
-Skye Gasataya, Class of 2021
Linley R. and Hellen P. Coykendall Scholar