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Heather M. Howiler Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund

Established 2023

Heather Marie Howiler was born on October 2nd, 1972 in Auburn, Indiana to Jeanne and Terry Howiler. She attended public school in Garrett, Indiana and graduated from Garrett High School in 1991. She continued her education at Ball State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1995.

Heather moved to the Naperville area shortly after having graduated from Ball State. She furthered her education by earning her Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Aurora University in 2002. She also earned a Certificate of Technology Instruction from the University of Saint Francis in 2018.

Heather was a passionate and beloved educator, having spent 24 years teaching in the Indian Prairie School District (District 204).  She taught 3rd and 5th grades at Kendall Elementary, Builta Elementary, Wheatland Elementary, and most recently she taught Project Arrow (Gifted and Talented) at Peterson Elementary.

Heather was an avid traveler and always up for an adventure. She traveled to Nicaragua, Mexico, Canada, many of the 50 states, and extensively in Europe–having visited most of that continent. She participated in short-term missions trips to Latvia, Albania, and the Czech Republic. She provided a warm and welcoming presence to whatever ministry she touched, and she strengthened and impacted the hearts of those with whom she interacted.

She was a fiercely dedicated friend to those with whom she surrounded herself. She had a large friend network, and she had a unique way of making each of those friends feel like she was their best friend. Sadly, her life was cut short by a terminal diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. After a 2.5-year battle, she lost her life.

Once long ago, Heather Howiler told a roommate that one of her favorite words was indelible. The definition of indelible means to not be able to be forgotten, removed, or erased. It seems like a perfect descriptor for Heather. In her memory, we want to honor students who embody characteristics similar to those she embodied. In doing so, we help keep her from being forgotten.

The Heather M. Howiler Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund is open to current graduating high school seniors in Indian Prairie School District 204. Students must earn a high school GPA of 3.0 and plan to attend a four-year college or university. If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please click here to learn more.

 

YEP has made me realize the importance of being involved in my community, and how to make a difference. There are a lot of problems in the world but if we can do everything that we can to help the world will become a better place. YEP has helped me realize this and encouraged me to help more people in the future.

Madi Porter

YEP Member

Education is important to us. We support causes that touch our lives and align with our values. We believe in paying it forward. We are here for a short time,, and it is the next generation that will take on what we leave behind.

Michelle Emanuel

Donor and Past Scholarship Recipient

Being a part of the Community Foundation scholarship committee is the highlight of my year. For many, a scholarship from the CFFRV is the reason they are able to continue reaching for their dreams and changing the future of our world. I hope each recipients knows just how inspirational they are to those of us who are lucky enough to read their stories.

Jessica Breugelmans

Scholarship Committee Member and Board Member

Grant funds from the Community Foundation helped provide updated technology. These upgrades were transformative. By creating new time saving processes, it turned us into a more efficient organization.

Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry

Grantee

Give your gift of time and see what it means to the people you impact. Helping others is what life is all about.

Neal Ormond

Donor & Fund Advisor

YEP was a great experience to have in high school. I became a more confident person, someone with a lot more perspective. Coming from a small school, YEP allowed me to branch out into my community, meet students from other schools, and learn about their backgrounds. I made some great friends and still keep in touch with them today.

Abby Vagnoni

YEP Alumni

I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Zari Foundation Scholarship and the Community Foundation in supporting my education. I am majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering at the Rose-Hulman Institue of Technology. In my spare time, I volunteer on campus, in the community and I’m also the principal violist in the symphony orchestra. I hope to make an impact on the next chapter of space exploration by eventually working at a groundbreaking aerospace company such as SpaceX or NASA.

Taytum Newell

Albert M. Zari Scholarship Recipient

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