Heidi Aceret '90 is a mother of three very active children and works full time for the Department of Education on Kaua'i. The first person in her family to pursue a graduate degree, she realized that she loves to learn and is a lifelong learner while taking her first graduate courses with the University of Phoenix after earning her Bachelors from BYU in 1995. "I learned of a new Masters degree program that would help me obtain the highest certification available for a school teacher or counselor," Heidi said. With the loving support of her husband, she enrolled. "We were going to sell one of our cars to pay for my tuition because we did not want to take out a loan," she recalled. "I am overwhelmingly grateful for the KAPF scholarships I received as they have allowed me to pursue this Masters degree (Education in Teaching) and National Board Certification. By this summer, an educational goal will be reached as I complete my program and submit my portfolio for National Board Certification," stated Heidi. "Also, we were able to keep our car," she concluded.

"As a junior at Kamehameha, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher," Heidi said. "...I too wanted to teach and help young people by working, laughing, and learning with them. At first, I wanted to return to Kamehameha to work. However, living on Hawaiian Homelands and working in the public school system has shown me that my calling may be elsewhere." She continued,

I have a profound desire to assist our young Hawaiian children succeed in life.