It’s a familiar story–graduates of Heartland Community School go on to pursue a college degree and many decide to continue on to graduate school. Heartlandbeat wanted to highlight one of Heartland’s many graduates who have followed this path successfully.  We selected 2007 Heartland graduate Whitney Hiebner, daughter of Robert Hiebner and Denese Hoegh as our August student of the month. She is a great example of how a dedicated work ethic and solid high school studies have helped her reach her post-graduate goals.
Hiebner received a scholarship to attend Bethel College in Newton, Kansas where she played basketball one season and volleyball all four years.  “When I got to college I realized that my writing, speech and chemistry background from high school really made my college classes easier,†said Hiebner. She was no stranger to the demands of being a student/athlete either since she had been an honor student and volleyball, basketball and track athlete at Heartland.  Like many college freshmen she was undecided about her major but eventually decided to pursue an Athletic Training degree with a minor in Chemistry.
It was only after doing some observation in the healthcare field that she decided she would like to become a Physician’s Assistant. She also gives credit to one of her Bethel professors and advisor, Russ Graber, who helped point her in the right direction and show her how best to use her strengths in reaching her academic goals. Before applying for PA school, Whitney worked hard last summer completing two online medical related classes that she lacked while working full-time at the Henderson Aquatic Center. Back in January she began the application process for getting into PA Schools and was granted an interview at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha where she was accepted.
This summer Whitney worked at the pool and studied for the Athletic Trainer Certification test which she just completed. “I’m excited about going to PA school and look forward to a career in healthcare,†said Hiebner. Congratulations on a job well done to our HeartlandBeat student of the month Whitney Hiebner!
