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When Loyalty Pays Off

Derek and Nikki Dictson with family

Derek '98 and Nikki '98 Dictson started planning their will to support their children, Logan and Kylie, when they realized they could also support their NMSU family in the same way. Now, they are two of the youngest members of the NMSU Foundation's 1888 Society.

Even from a young age, Derek Dictson knew he would be an Aggie at New Mexico State University. His pride for the institution grew during his father's more than 40-year career with NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service—a career for which Billy Dictson, a retired director, would eventually be honored by the New Mexico Association and the National Association of County Agriculture Agents Hall of Fame.

So, Derek applied to NMSU and nowhere else. His loyalty paid off. Because Derek lived in New Mexico—then just outside of Clovis in a small town called Texico—he qualified for NMSU's premier scholarship program: The President's Associates Scholars.

"It paid my way through school," Derek says. "I graduated from NMSU without debt, and I understand how rare that is even today."

Yet, leaving debt-free isn't the only life-changing benefit of his time at NMSU. During his freshman year, he met his wife, then Nikki McClelland, at a student mixer. They would eventually marry following their sophomore year.

He also connected with one of his greatest mentors, Dr. William Gorman, who then taught agricultural economics in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

"I was two years into animal science when I realized I didn't want to go to vet school," Derek says.

"Dr. Gorman introduced me to career opportunities in Agricultural Economics, and it's because of his guidance to switch my major that I've been able to be nimble and find success in my career."

Derek and Nikki Dictson as graduates

Derek and Nikki met, married and then graduated from NMSU in the late 1990s. Today, they have great pride in the education and experiences they received and established a new planned gift to give back to where it all began.

After graduating from NMSU, Derek and Nikki earned their master's degrees from Texas A&M. Their careers have led them to Seattle, Texas and now Alabama, where the duo works for Auburn University. Derek leads the fundraising efforts for the College of Engineering and Nikki continues the family's legacy in the university's extension and outreach efforts.

Yet, no matter where they go, Derek says New Mexico is still home—and it inspired the couple to start thinking about how to give back to the communities that set the course of their lives.

"Right now, Nikki and I are raising our kids so we can't give back as much as we'd like to," Derek says. "But it's because of our kids that we started planning for ways to take care of our family when we're no longer here, and that includes our NMSU family."

The couple established a planned gift in their estate that will support a future President's Associates Scholar who is studying in the field of agriculture. With this gift, Derek and Nikki are now two of the youngest members of the NMSU Foundation's 1888 Society.

"You're never too young to start thinking about how to take care of the ones you love the most," Derek says. "Through our estate, we are leaving a certain percentage to our kids and a certain percentage to the organizations we care about, including NMSU. State made us who we are and we're grateful for all of the opportunities and connections it provided to us along the way."

You, like Derek and Nikki, can create a legacy at NMSU. To become a member of The 1888 Society, contact Steven Covington at (575) 646-3190 or (800) 342-6678 or plannedgiving@nmsufoundation.org.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to the New Mexico State University Foundation a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to the New Mexico State University Foundation, a nonprofit corporation currently located at P.O. Box 3590, Las Cruces, NM 88003, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to the NMSU Foundation or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support NMSU's mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the NMSU Foundation as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the NMSU Foundation as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and the NMSU Foundation where you agree to make a gift to the NMSU Foundation and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.

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