For Denny Hickman, the outdoors was more than a place to visit. It was where he worked, explored, and built a life. His connection to the woods shaped his career, his family’s lumber business, and his belief that natural resources should be used thoughtfully and managed responsibly.
Following Denny’s passing in late 2025, his family established The Denny Hickman – Get Outside and Do Stuff Memorial Scholarship to carry those values forward. Administered by Bridge Builders Community Foundations, the scholarship supports students from Venango and Clarion counties who are preparing for careers connected to the stewardship and sustainable management of natural resources.
The name reflects an approach to life that those who knew Denny will immediately recognize. “Get Outside and Do Stuff” encourages people to be active, learn through experience, spend time in the natural world, and make good use of the opportunities in front of them.
Denny’s connection to the region’s forests was also deeply tied to his family’s work. His generations-long commitment to the lumber business reflected both the economic importance of Pennsylvania’s natural resources and the responsibility that comes with managing them well.
The scholarship provides financial assistance to students pursuing postsecondary education focused primarily on timber harvesting, forestry, and forest management. Eligible paths include trade and technical programs, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degree programs.
By supporting students at the beginning of those journeys, Denny’s family is helping prepare the next generation of professionals to care for and responsibly use the region’s forest resources.
The scholarship also reflects the deeply personal nature of community philanthropy. Memorial funds give families a way to preserve the values and interests of someone they love while creating opportunities that continue into the future.
“Bridge Builders Community Foundation is grateful that we can honor Denny’s legacy by administering this scholarship in his memory and we are thankful to all the contributors who made this first scholarship to Gage possible” Trenton Moulin, President/CEO of Bridge Builders Community Foundations
For Bridge Builders Community Foundations, helping families establish memorial funds is meaningful work. Each one begins with a story and a decision about what should be carried forward.
In Denny’s case, that legacy is rooted in the outdoors, hard work, responsible stewardship, and a commitment to the region he called home. The students who receive this scholarship will carry those values into careers that shape how local forests and natural resources are managed for years to come.
A scholarship cannot capture everything a person meant to their family, friends, and community. It can, however, preserve something essential about how that person lived and offer it as encouragement to others.
Those who would like to support future recipients of The Denny Hickman – Get Outside and Do Stuff Memorial Scholarship may contribute online or mail a check to Bridge Builders Community Foundations. Gifts to the fund will help students from Venango and Clarion counties prepare for careers connected to the future of the region’s natural resources.
