Valpo Sophomore Receives “Realizing the Dream” Scholarship

Lizzie Heisler ’21 is the 2018–2019 recipient of the “Realizing the Dream” scholarship at Valparaiso University.

The “Realizing the Dream” annual award recognizes outstanding academic success by awarding a $2,500 scholarship to a first-generation sophomore student who excelled during their freshman year. Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., this award honors one student at each of the 30 member institutions of the Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), a nonprofit association that works for excellence and choice in higher education for all students.

Heisler is a nursing major from Osceola, Indiana. She is a member of the Valparaiso University Chorale, Pi Beta Phi Sorority and Student Nursing Association; is an Ambassador in Admission; and volunteers at the Humane Society and ETHOS Innovation Center.

“To me being a Valpo student means being part of a community and contributing as much as you can to it. Valpo is an amazing campus in that you have so many opportunities presented to you,” Heisler said. “As a student at Valpo you won’t develop just in your major but as a whole person. Every day I am so happy with the people I have met, the opportunities I have and the mentors I was able to work with.”

Heisler has been impacted by Gail Kost, an associate professor in the College of Nursing and Health Professions whom she met at a nursing banquet in Indianapolis earlier this year.

“Often a major like nursing can get to be overwhelming, and Professor Kost is always willing to help explain topics in which I struggle or give me advice when I need it,” Heisler said. “She thoroughly cares about her students and their success.”

“I actually just met Lizzie when I attended the awards banquet. She and I spoke about her courses and she said she was doing well. She articulated being a hard worker. She and her sister are both attending college and will be the first in the family to attend college and graduate,” Kost said. “She is a lovely young woman and seems to have a genuine love for the profession.”

Heisler and the other 29 scholarship recipients were honored and presented with their awards at a banquet in Indianapolis.