September 07, 1999
The bequest from George N. Heller and Judy W. Heller will enhance the George and Judy Heller Music Education Scholarship Fund established earlier this year at the Kansas University Endowment Association. This complements the already existing Heller Family Scholarship Fund at KU Endowment for students in the School of Education. The first education scholarship was awarded in May. George Heller is a professor of music education at KU. Judy Heller recently retired as secretary to the president of KU Endowment and is a former music teacher.
"George and Judy Heller have added so much to the University of Kansas in years past through the devotion of their talents and scholarship to this institution, and now they have given even more," Shulenburger said. "This additional gift is a wonderful way to promote their values through scholars and teachers of the future. We are very grateful to them both for this thoughtful and generous bequest and for their continuing service to KU."
The music scholarship will recognize the Hellers' careers as music teachers by providing scholarships for undergraduates in music education, George Heller said. They will also help provide a legacy.
"I have spent 26 years at the University of Kansas, and I would like to leave something for the future," he said, adding that he liked the fact that "as long as there is a University of Kansas, there is something here associated with our family."
The Hellers created the education scholarship to honor their children, George Heller said. Of the three Heller children - Scott Thompson and Jenny Heller (both KU alumni) and David Heller - two are teachers. All are college graduates who were assisted with scholarships.
"All of our children have benefited from education, so we wanted to establish some kind of lasting endowment to support school teachers and school teaching," George Heller said. He added that the scholarship gave the children a way to provide their parents with birthday and Christmas presents.
"We scaled back our lifestyle after our children grew up, and we don't need more material things," he said. "This fund allows our children the opportunity to give us a gift without adding to our 'stuff.'"
George Heller received his bachelor's degree, master's degree and doctorate in music from the University of Michigan. Judy Heller received bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. They are members of the Chancellors Club, KU Endowment's major-donor organization, and of the Elizabeth Watkins Society for donors of planned gifts.
The Hellers' gifts are administered by KU Endowment, an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fund-management foundation for the University of Kansas. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the oldest foundation of its type at a public university in the United States and one of the largest.
Story by Janet Majure