Kevin Heilers Continues a Family Legacy of Support

From left to right: Kevin Heilers (’88), Traci Byrnes (’93), Ed Heilers, Greg Heilers (’91), Gary Heilers (’91) and Cherie Dandurand (’90)

Financial aid helped Kevin Heilers (’88) and his four siblings attend Loras College. To show their appreciation, the Heilers family has found several ways to give back. “Although neither attended college, our parents valued higher education and provided the foundation for us to be successful,” says Kevin. “They were supportive of the interests we pursued, regularly visited campus and have financially contributed to Loras since we graduated.”

Recruited to play basketball by Mike Jaskulski, Kevin also found success off the court in his business courses. “My Loras education prepared me well and enabled me to think through issues and find solutions,” says Kevin, who studied accounting with the late Bob Pommerich (’59) and has enjoyed a successful career with Transamerica Life Insurance Company.

In addition to Kevin, his siblings Cherie (’90), Gary (’91) and Traci (’93) each graduated from Loras. His brother, Greg (’91), attended Loras for two years before transferring to Iowa State. “My siblings and I were fortunate to receive financial aid packages that made it affordable for us to attend Loras College,” Kevin says.

When Kevin’s mother passed away in 2014, he and his father created the Ed and Judy Heilers Award — which gives annual awards to students from Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. With the passing of both their father, Ed, and sister, Cherie, in 2021, the Heilers once again decided to honor their family. Kevin, Gary, Greg and Traci are in the process of transitioning the Ed and Judy Heilers Award into a permanent endowed scholarship.

In addition to his other support, Kevin has named Loras the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. By doing so, Kevin has chosen a planned gift that will enable current and future Duhawks to have the same opportunities to be successful.

“It is amazing what students from Loras College are accomplishing on the national stage. Our family support and scholarship will enable the College to continue its legacy of producing quality graduates,” Kevin says. “My family and I take great pride that we are able to give back to Loras College and provide transformational opportunities for students who will be our future leaders.”