Contributions toward the Fred Frick Scholarship Fund are coming in slowly, but many want to show their appreciation for the longtime school district administrator who will retire at the end of the year.

Announced in April, the scholarship fund established by the Holmen Area Foundation in Frick’s name has been receiving contributions from school staff and community donors.

The foundation established the fund in honor of Frick’s 18 years as superintendent. He has announced his retirement effective June 1, 2008.

The foundation and the school board wanted to give Frick a parting gift, but Frick didn’t want any part of that.

“They want to have some kind of reception on June 1 and that’s great,” he said. “But I want it to be more about the community and less about me. I’m not interested in a gift. I’d rather see people give to something that would be beneficial.”

According to Pat Stephens, the foundation’s president, the Holmen School Board and the foundation decided to establish the fund as opposed to a retirement gift so Frick’s influence will continue in perpetuity.

Stephens said the foundation contributed $500 from its general revenues to establish the fund as an endowment fund. That means that payouts for scholarships are dispersed from the interest the fund earns while retaining the principal amount in perpetuity. As soon as the fund earns enough interest for scholarships, the foundation can begin to award them.

Frick, who was flattered and honored by the establishment of a fund in his name, wants a slight twist to traditional scholarship funds. It’s not just a scholarship; Frick wants it to be an award for leadership. “One thing important to this district is leadership,” Frick said. “I believe in servant leadership. I want to focus people towards a vision that is helpful.”

Frick’s goal is to select students who show leadership in school. “I’m trying to get more of a focus on leadership and people stepping forward as part of the solution,” he said. “We’ve had so many in our community; I’d really like to bring more attention to that role.”

Frick said the selection of a recipient would be a student involved in the school or involved in the community, or both. He also wants to develop an option for the award to go either toward a scholarship or cash award.

In addition, Frick wants to recognize community members for their leadership. He would like to have the recipient not receive a cash award, but designate a nonprofit they would like the money to go to in their name.

The foundation started in 1994 as the Holmen Education Foundation with Frick giving the first push to get it started as a fundraising vehicle for the performing arts center at the high school. It was instrumental in fundraising for the renovation of Viking Field and other community improvement projects through its Community Enhancement Grant fund.

The foundation has other scholarship endowment funds, such as the Ron Ehrlichman Memorial Scholarship Fund, which has a $10,000 endowment.

People who would like to contribute to a Holmen Area Foundation scholarship in honor of retiring Superintendent Fred Frick can send checks payable to Fred Frick Scholarship Fund to P.O. Box 432, Holmen, WI 54636.