Robyn Fleenor and Troy Hissam met for the first time at Northwest College in 1986. Robyn was a member of the Trapper volleyball team and Troy worked as a line judge at games.

They were introduced at a party two weeks before classes started their freshman year and from that moment were inseparable. As the season progressed, Troy became an "unofficial" member of Trapper Volleyball. He would often be found in the all-girls dormitory hanging out in the TV room or eating dinner at Hansel and Gretel’s surrounded by the team. It was a magical time for both Robyn and Troy.

That summer, Troy and Robyn lived with his parents and worked at the marina in Glendo, Wyoming. Robyn ended up with a life-threatening concussion, and it was Troy who performed CPR and brought her back to life. Together their journey was meant to be, and by the end of summer, Troy asked Robyn to marry him. For 10 years, it was just Troy and Robyn.

Living in Colorado, Robyn taught school and Troy worked as a maintenance man and bartender for the local golf club. They enjoyed skiing, taking baths in the river, and having a blast. Then it was on to sunny California to start a family and make a home. Their daughter Michaela arrived in 1997 followed by son Shanter in 2000.

Troy worked at the Desert Princess Country Club in Palm Springs, California. He was an assistant golf pro for 16 years. The country club became a special place to the Hissams where they made many lifelong friends. Sadly, Troy passed away in August 2016 after suffering a heart attack while helping his parents organize their 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

A memorial golf tournament was held in his memory later that year. In October 2019, Robyn contacted the NWC Foundation. She was considering creating a scholarship in Troy’s name. The timing was perfect as there was matching money available for newly named athletic scholarship endowments.

When it was time to establish the criteria for Troy’s scholarship, the choice to create a scholarship with preference to Women’s Volleyball was easy. Volleyball has always been a special sport to the Hissam family. Robyn wouldn’t have attended NWC if it hadn’t been for volleyball, and she wouldn’t have met Troy. Their daughter Michaela played volleyball and Troy proudly referred to himself as a "Volleyball Dad," and Robyn has coached volleyball for the past 31 years. After Troy passed, many of Robyn’s former Trapper Volleyball teammates gave her the support, love, and encouragement she needed.

The golfing community is also special to the Hissams. To give a boost to the growth of Troy’s scholarship, Robyn had the idea to make his annual memorial golf tournament into a fundraiser for the endowment. Within just a few years the Michael Troy Hissam Memorial Scholarship Endowment is fully endowed and continues to grow along with Troy’s legacy at Northwest College. What a gift!

To donate to Troy’s scholarship, visit the Northwest College Foundation website at nwcollegefoundation.org or call 307-754-6110