IN MEMORY OF A FRIEND LOST

In January of 2021, alumnus Mike Hill lost a good friend and college roommate, Kerry Heintz, who was just 63 years old. In his memory, Mike and his wife Tamra founded the Kerry P. Heintz Memorial Scholarship. “I’ve been very fortunate in my life,” said Mike, who retired two years ago from IBM, where he worked as a sales manager among other positions for 28 years. “I’ve always felt like my education held up well over the course of my career.” Mike explained that he and Tamra have been very supportive of the College throughout the years, but wanted to do something more. “My time at Idaho State was very formative to my personal development and started me on a path to a successful career,” said Mike. “I have many great memories of my years there.” Mike explained that the idea of endowing a scholarship came to him as a way to support the University that made such an impact on his life and to honor the memory of his friend. “I wanted to do something lasting in his memory.” Mike and Heintz met the first week of Mike’s freshman year at Idaho State in 1977. The pair started as neighbors in the Garrison Hall dormitory and later became roommates. “School didn’t come easy to Kerry; he worked very hard to get his degree.” According to Mike, Heintz’s earnings from summer employment plus working over Christmas break had to last him the entire school year. “He was completely self-supported. I remember the second semester of his senior year, after he had paid for his room and board and books and fees, he had three dollars left and those three dollars had to last him the rest of the semester.” “Kerry really sacrificed a lot,” said Tamra. “He was truly what you would consider a poor college student. Many of our friends put themselves through college at that time, so it wasn’t uncommon, but I never heard Kerry complain about his situation.” The Hills explained that for Heintz, his education was selfdriven: “Kerry went to college on his own motivation. He was determined to get a degree and he worked hard to earn it.” Heintz’s effort resulted in completing his degree in four years and graduating with over a 3.0 GPA with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing. Heintz then spent most of his career working for Farmers Insurance as the Auto/ Fire Underwriting Supervisor for 29 years while raising two children with his wife, Connie. “We wanted this scholarship to honor the legacy of my friend whose education was a result of his hard work”, explained Mike. “Completing his degree put him on a path to do (continued)

Photo 1: Kerry Heintz (right) with Tamra Hill; Photo 2: Kerry’s graduation; Photo 3: Kerry with his two kids; Photo 4: Kerry Heintz

Recognizing donors who contribute $1,000 or more

Aflac Alan Dye Alex & Brooke Bolinger Association of Government Accountants Bill & Marilyn Byrne Catherine Miller & Michael Duffy Christian & Trisa Clemons Citizens Community Bank Connections Credit Union Curtis & Laura Thompson Don & Cyndee Zebe Donna Molinelli Doris Brydon Gary & Beverly Pitkin Gary & Susan Campbell Gary Wells Idaho Central Credit Union Jake & Grace Jones Jantz Family Foundation Jeanine Sauer Joshua & Amy Thompson Kelli Campbell Kenneth & Rachael Franklin Kernutt Stokes LLP Lewis & Connie Ulrey Michael & Sharon Hayhurst Michael & Tamra Hill Michael Byrne Peter & Nancy Kole Robert & Sharon Mink Rodney & Peggy Lind Roger Akers Ron & Patty Bolinger Sandra Allen & Jim Perlow Shane & Jenifer Hunt Steven & Barbara Keen Steven & Judy Theobald Terry & Michelle Hales The Bailey Financial Group of Northwestern Mutual The Oregon Community Foundation US Bank Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation Wipfli Foundation Inc. more with his life than he may have been able to do otherwise. Idaho State was his launching pad and he really earned his degree through his own determination.” The Hills said that it is their hope that this scholarship will help support students like Heintz who are doing everything they can to earn an education. After graduating, Mike and Heintz kept in touch, although their positions in different cities did lessen their contact. Once both friends had retired, they began to talk more and made plans to get together in the future. “They developed this college friendship when they were young and so many new changes were happening in their lives, then their friendship had come full circle when they both retired,” said Tamra. “It was very unfortunate because they planned to make a whole new set of memories and then he was taken away. So, we wanted to do something in Kerry’s memory because we don’t get to make those new memories now.” “All of us in the Idaho State University College of Business are thankful to Mike and Tamra Hill for permanently endowing this new scholarship that will benefit our students forever,” said College of Business Dean Dr. Shane Hunt. “The Kerry P. Heintz Memorial Scholarship is a testament to friendship and hard work that will help generations of Idaho State College of Business students reach their educational dreams.” Mike graduated from the College of Business two years after Heintz with his degree in marketing. “I had come to Idaho State from Ely, Nevada on an academic scholarship planning to pursue pharmacy.” After taking organic chemistry, Mike said his plans quickly changed and it was Heintz who suggested he try the College of Business.