Sibling scholars earn UW-Whitewater’s top scholarship
Released: May 4, 2004
The sign welcoming travelers to the tiny Fox Valley town of Forest Junction reads, “You Can Get There From Here,” and it might be the perfect metaphor for hometown brothers Chris and Marc Heimerl.
Both siblings were high achievers at nearby Brillion High School, earning valedictorian and salutatorian honors, respectively. Both achieved ACT scores of 33, near the top of the national scale. And both chose the same post-high school destination, a business degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
And along the way, their journey intersected with amazing good fortune: Both were awarded a Rath Scholarship from UW-Whitewater, a four-year, full-ride scholarship worth approximately $30,000. It is the most lucrative and prestigious scholarship offered by the university. Recipients do not apply, but rather are selected from the applicant pool by a campus committee.
The sibling connection was a jaw-dropping coincidence, says UW-Whitewater Admissions Director Tori Erickson. The two brothers are five years apart; Chris, 23, graduated from UW-Whitewater in 2003 and now works in the finance department of Schneider National in Green Bay. Marc’s a graduating senior who will enroll this fall.
Different committee, different year, same answer: Another Rath winner from Forest Junction, unincorporated.
“When I typed Marc’s name into our computer system, I thought, ‘Wow, my staff is really on the ball. They already input his information.’ Then I noticed Chris’ name and the Forest Junction address and realized these guys are related.”
When Erickson phoned the good news home, mother Karen Heimerl said, “ I probably screamed louder than I’ve ever screamed before. I didn’t think there was ever a chance, because I thought it went to a different program each year.”
Marc was equally amazed. “I was on the way to a sectional finals basketball game, walking into a Kwik Trip for a drink, when my cell phone rang. My mom sounded a little excited, I thought something bad had happened.”
When applying to UW-Whitewater, Marc had the Rath opportunity in the back of his mind, but he kept it there. “I didn’t even think about the odds. It was such a longshot that I was not going to set my hopes on it.”
Marc had made up his mind about attending UW-Whitewater his senior year, based on his brother’s positive experience. Chris earned a degree in finance, participated in the Applied Investment Program and volunteered with the America Reads program. Marc said the small-school, rural atmosphere was most appealing.
“Early on, the scholarship really helped me a lot,” said Chris. “ I did not need to get that extra job. I could concentrate on doing well in class, being with friends, doing my volunteer work, rather than working 20 hours a week.”
Karen and James Heimerl said the business program’s service requirement was also a good fit for their sons. “I think it’s such a wonderful thing to instill in these students, that there’s more to life than the big bucks,” Karen said.
Marc had a remarkable senior year at Brillion High School. He played offensive guard on the football team that went on to win the Division V state championship. Marc fostered a bit of local legend by fracturing his leg in that game, but still playing on it for a full quarter.
Pete Kittel, Brillion’s athletic director, football coach and upper-level math teacher, said Marc voluntarily took himself out of the game after halftime, which Kittel found more impressive than playing on a broken leg. “He didn’t try to be a hero beyond the point where it would hurt his teammates,” he said. “It shows some great character on his part.”
Brillion Principal Paul Nistler said Marc was in competition with his best friend for the valedictorian spot, and ended up missing out by a single A-minus. “He’s a really bright kid, but he really works at it,” Nistler said. “That’s a great combination. Sometimes you get one or the other, but not both.”
Marc’s approach to school is simple: “I always went along with the theory of, ‘if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it well the first time.’ If I take a class, I’m not going to skip studying when it only takes an extra half-hour a night to get As.”
The Rath Distinguished Scholarship is administered by the Wisconsin Foundation for Independent Colleges and is made available through a number of private colleges and public universities in the state. Awards are made based on academic merit, leadership and community service.
- Brian Mattmiller,npa@uww.edu
