The Community Foundation for Crawford County is pleased to introduce Victoria Hiler, a 2025 recipient of one of the two Dr. Laurie Anne Rhodebeck Memorial Scholarship awards and one of the five Robert Schwaderer Scholarship awards.
Victoria, the daughter of Kari Karl and Ben Hiler, is a 2024 graduate of Buckeye Central High School. She is in her first year of an Associate's Degree in Ag Business at Wilmington College.
What is your favorite aspect of college life and why?
"My favorite aspect of college life is being away from home. This is my favorite thing about college life because having a year of college under my belt, I have learned that being away from everything you have ever known changes you as a person, whether it is making new friends in classes, realizing that you have an outgoing personality, or even becoming a stronger person because you have to face problems by yourself."
What new interests or courses of study have you discovered at college?
"My first year of college was crazy because I originally went to Wilmington College for Agriculture Education, but in my second semester of college after taking education classes, I discovered that I didn't really like it. I started looking at different majors in agriculture, and then I found Ag Business. Then I decided to minor in finance to be able to help farmers get loans and better their way of life."
In what way has the college experience changed/improved you?
"The college experience has improved me by making me a more outgoing person and a more confident person. I would second-guess myself a lot in high school and was always the quiet one that never talked. Now I never stop talking and go after my goals."
What advice would you give an incoming college freshman?
"Advice that I would give to an incoming freshman is to have fun and enjoy it. You will only have one freshman year that makes you break out of your shell and become your own person. Freshman year is a learning year, so don't be too hard on yourself."
What is one item on your bucket list and why?
"One item that is on my bucket list is to go to Germany. When I am over in Germany, I would like to experience their way of life and see how different it is compared to the United States."
Congratulations and good luck in the future, Victoria!
To learn more about scholarships offered through the Foundation, visit www.cfcrawford.org/scholarships
