The UCT Heaston Scholarship Program grants awards!

UCT has been helping students with college expenses for well over 60 years. It’s something we’re dedicated to. Last year, we awarded more than $61,000 in scholarships to students across the U.S. and Canada through our three scholarship programs: the UCT Heaston Scholarship, which is open to all students; the UCT Scholarship Program for students studying special education; and the Ann Marshall Scholarship Program for the children and grandchildren of UCT members. And we’re already granting scholarships for 2022, starting with the UCT Heaston Scholarship

Thanks to a generous $1.7 million bequest from the estate and trust of deceased member Betty Y. Heaston, UCT was able to establish this program, which has funded three scholarships for four years each (a total of $48,000) in the Heaston name every year since 2014.

A major criterion for the scholarships is for applicants to show evidence of hard work and overcoming obstacles to achieve their goals. Applicants need to discuss their academic careers and extracurricular activities, and provide examples of hard work, challenges they have had to face, and persistence in the face of adversity. Examples of commitment to community service are also required.

As a member of the UCT Heaston Scholarship Program review committee, I’ve read hundreds of essays over the years detailing life-altering illnesses, accidents, and events from students applying for one of the three scholarships. Their resilience and determination in the face of the unimaginable hardships life has handed them is admirable and heartbreaking at the same time. It’s never easy to select just three individuals to receive scholarships each year, but we manage to do it. Here are this year’s award recipients:

Faith Kilkeary, Wexford, Pennsylvania
The Jack & Betty Heaston Memorial Scholarship – $6,000 each year for four years
Attending Duquesene University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Sophia Sims, Dublin, Ohio
The Betty Y. Heaston Memorial Scholarship – $3,000 each year for four years
Attending The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Dejah Watts, Indianapolis, Indiana
The Jack Heason Memorial Scholarship – $3,000 each year for four years
Attending the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Congratulations to Faith, Sophia and Dejah! Best of luck in your endeavors.

The deadline for scholarship applications each year is March 15. Scholarships are awarded to students with the equivalent of high school senior status. Students must be enrolled and entering a college program in the coming academic year. All funds disbursed are to be used for school-related expenses. All funds disbursed are to be used for school-related expenses and are sent directly to the college/university.

The UCT Heaston Scholarship Program Application & Guidelines are available for download at www,uct.org/About Us/Scholarship Programs. For more details contact Scholarship Coordinator Anita Neal at aneal@uct.org or at 800.848-0123 x1100.