Taking it to the next level with the Marlyn H. Heintz scholarship

HONORING A LEGACY, EMPOWERING FUTURES

The Marlyn R. Heintz Scholarship was created to honor a woman whose love of learning was matched only by the barriers she faced in pursuing it.

Growing up in the 1940s, Marlyn Heintz didn’t have the same educational opportunities as her brothers—a reality that remained a lifelong regret. After her passing in 2008, her husband Max Heintz sought a meaningful way to honor her memory and turned to the Mankato Area Foundation for guidance.

Together, they established the Marlyn R. Heintz Scholarship Fund in 2010 to support young women from Mankato, Minnesota, and Watertown, South Dakota—communities close to the Heintz family. The goal: to help others achieve the college education Marlyn was denied.

Since its inception, the scholarship has supported dozens of young women who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to their communities. One such recipient is McKenna Buisman, a standout student and athlete from Mankato West High School. McKenna was a leader on and off the field—serving as a Key Club officer, captaining her varsity soccer team, and earning the “Ms. Soccer” award for Minnesota Class A teams.

With the support of the Heintz Scholarship, McKenna began her studies at the University of Minnesota, where she joined the Golden Gophers women’s soccer team and enrolled in the Carlson School of Management. “Graduating early was an extremely difficult decision,” she said, “but I knew I wanted to focus on the next chapter in my life because that would set me up for my future.”

Though Max Heintz passed away in 2016, the scholarship continues to reflect both his and Marlyn’s belief in the power of education to transform lives. 

Today, the Marlyn R. Heintz Scholarship stands as a testament to one couple’s commitment to changing the script for future generations—empowering young women to pursue their dreams and take their education to the next level.