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Cancer Survivor's Legacy Fuels Art Scholarships
29 Jun
Summary
- Scholarships established in memory of children's book illustrator Paula Heister.
- A £515,000 donation from her family funds the initiative.
- Two scholarships will be awarded annually for ten years.
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has established new scholarships for children's book illustration students, commemorating alumna Paula Heister. The initiative was made possible by a significant £515,000 donation from her family through the Schroeder-Heister-Stiftung charity.
Paula Heister, who graduated from ARU's Children's Book Illustration MA in 2023, tragically passed away at the age of 40 last year shortly after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Her parents highlighted that the scholarships celebrate her experience at ARU, the friendships she formed, and her appreciation for the MA program.
The university confirmed that the donated funds will be distributed over a ten-year period. This funding will enable the provision of two scholarships each year, directly supporting aspiring illustrators. Additional initiatives are also being developed in close collaboration with the Heister family.
These new initiatives aim to reflect Paula's empathy, curiosity, academic rigor, and commitment to artistic innovation. Paula Heister lived in Cambridge and pursued illustration alongside her academic career in science and medicine. Her husband, Chris, ran the 2026 London Marathon in her memory, raising funds for cancer charities.
