Ken and Alison Ann Heckbert have established an endowment at the Holland College Foundation to fund an award for Holland College students. Funded through the endowment and valued at approximately $1,000 annually in perpetuity, the Heckbert Family Entrance Award will be available to incoming student athletes beginning in the fall of 2023.

“We are really pleased to be able to make this gift to the Holland College Foundation and establish this award,” said Heckbert, who noted that he had a first-hand appreciation for the impact that gifts like this made to post-secondary students. “When I was in university, scholarships, bursaries, and awards helped me significantly, and I know that there are many promising students out there who may simply need a financial boost as well.”

The Heckberts have been long-time annual donors to the Holland College Foundation, and their endowment gift marked Ken Heckbert’s retirement from Holland College, following 22 years as the CFO and more than a decade serving as treasurer of the Holland College Foundation Board. Alison Ann recently retired from a career with the P.E.I. public school system and is now a member of the Holland College team, teaching in the Early Childhood program.

Applicants for the Heckbert Family Entrance Award must be full-time students entering their first year in any Holland College post-secondary programs, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum academic average of 70 per cent.  Consistent with the Heckbert family’s interest in sport, recipients must also be incoming players on either the men’s or women’s basketball, soccer, or volleyball teams.

“We have always been strong advocates for education, sport, and community involvement,” said Heckbert.  “We believe that this award touches on all of those values.”

The Heckberts see Holland College as an institution that is making a positive impact on the lives and journeys of students while also supporting the needs of industry.

“We hope that our gift will inspire others,” said Heckbert. “Collectively, we can make an incredible impact, not just on our current and future students, but on our community as a whole.”

Learn more about making a gift for the benefit of Holland College and its students here.

In this picture: (L – R) Alison Ann and Ken Heckbert, Holland College Foundation donors; student in the Sport and Recreation Management program and member of the women’s basketball team, Karlita Benitez; and Kent Scales, Holland College Foundation Board Chair in front of the McMillan Centre for Community Engagement on the Prince of Wales Campus.