Lewis Alumni Feature: William Heiden '84

-

For Lewis alumnus, Bill Heiden '84, a Catholic education has been an integral part of his life since grammar school. Growing up, Bill attended St. Christopher Catholic School and Marist High School and eventually went on to earn his bachelor's degree in biology at Lewis. Today, Bill works as a middle school teacher at Annunciation Catholic Academy in Altamonte Springs, Florida. 

Both as an educator and Catholic educator, Bill tries to incorporate his real world learning experiences into his classroom. Having worked as a research chemist, for 30 years, alongside people in sales and marketing, he recognizes the importance of blending these experiences into his lessons. 

"I always felt my Catholic education and rigor better prepared me for college and career," says Bill. "I felt that I could take on the challenges and expectations of my employers and jobs. At the same time, at Lewis, I was able to be more involved and enjoy the extracurricular activities, because I knew how to balance both the rigor of college and the fun."

"I took on teaching as a second career to give back some of what I had learned and gained from my first career. I feel my faith, and Lewis, contributed to that notion of giving back and supporting others. These
are values I try to instill in my classroom and students. I also remind them change is sometimes necessary in order to improve life for oneself, others, and the community. Embrace it; be part of it if you have passion about something you believe in," Bill adds.

Bill knows firsthand how vital the value of a Catholic education can be and has passed along that knowledge - both inside and outside the classroom. In addition to teaching, Bill is the husband of Lewis alumna Barbara (Ludtke) Heiden '87 and proud father of two children - Katie and Matt. Katie graduated from Lewis in 2020 and will be graduating with her MBA this spring, continuing to live out her father's legacy.

Whether it is a lesson plan or a conversation around the dinner table, Bill has made it his mission to use his Catholic education to ignite a change in the world and make a differences in the lives of others.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Traci Gaydos ’02

-
Image
Lights, curtains, action! Traci Gaydos ’02 came to Lewis University to study Theatre and Music. While pursuing her BA in Theatre, she stumbled upon Stage Management. Stage Management was the springboard for her successful career in event production because it provided her with a transferable skillset. “My Lewis Experience was exactly what I needed for that time in my life: highly connected instructors who met my individual learning style and needs, and a department full of folks cheering each other on to success on and off the stage,” explains Gaydos. After graduating from Lewis and interning at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, Traci applied to the University of Illinois’ MFA program in Stage Management.   After completing her MFA, she continued in opera and theatre production roles until she landed the Production Manager and Marketing Director role for the University of Northern Iowa’s Theatre Department. Traci stayed in Cedar Rapids for three years before being selected to serv...
Read more

Garret A. Eisin MSN, RN '68 '93

-
Image
Fostering community through service has been part of Lewis University’s mission since its inception. Lewis alum, Garret A. Eisin MSN, RN ‘68 ’93, exemplifies these values through his vocation as a Registered Nurse whose passion is to help our nation’s heroes.  Garret’s story began in 1968 when he graduated from Lewis University with his Sociology degree. By 1969, Garret had enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a medic at Letterman Army Medical Center, San Francisco. After serving as a medic, he enrolled at Saint Xavier University School of Nursing and graduated with a BSN in 1974. Eisen then began his nursing career as a Registered Nurse at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, where impacted the lives of his patients through his dedicated service. He later returned to Lewis and graduated in 1993 with a Master’s in Nursing. Eisin acknowledged the important role Lewis played in his life in better preparing him to live out his calling as a nurse. Garret stated, “My education at Lewis Un...
Read more

Lewis Alumni Spotlight: Jaylen Bush '21

-
Image
Black History Month Alumni Spotlight: Jaylen Bush '21 For Jaylen, Black History Month has always been about celebrating the beauties of Black Excellence. Black Excellence is a mindset, and those we highlight this month had, or have, that mindset, according to Jaylen. "Through adversities and tragedies spanning from the darkest days of, not only American history but of our world’s history, Black Americans have fought tirelessly to make all peoples question: 'What kind of country, what kind of world, are we going to be?'" It is Jaylen's hope that we all use this as a time to reflect on ways to, not only celebrate, but also spread beauty and love throughout the world. For him, this is something he is committed to each and every day - especially as he begins his career and paves his own path for excellence. Growing up, Jaylen took part in after-school programs that were sponsored by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). This connection led him ...
Read more