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Amelia Heider had just turned 18 and was loving everything about her final year in high school. She was preparing for the state solo and ensemble competition, qualifying in five events. She was looking forward to Fine Arts Night, where she was going to perform and emcee. She had her final season of varsity soccer to finish and was looking forward to the spring band concert, a “sing and swing” concert and an acapella summit with her amazing acapella groups. She had all three of her AP tests to take and couldn’t wait to start college in the fall. Amelia was also a blood donor and after being deferred several times for anemia, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) only a month before high school graduation. Over the next 20 months Amelia traded in her dorm room for a hospital room, undergoing many rounds of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant (donated by her sister) and participated in numerous cancer research trials in Madison, WI and Houston, TX. Amelia graduated from Lodi H.S. in 2022 and had planned on attending UW Eau Claire to continue her passion for the environment. Although that plan was delayed, Amelia was determined to not let cancer prevent her dream of attending college, ultimately taking online classes from her hospital room. Unfortunately, Amelia lost her battle with cancer on Dec. 14, 2023. This scholarship honors her legacy and is intended to help others complete Amelia’s dream of attending college. A Lodi High School graduate(s) who embodies Amelia’s passion, drive and spirit will be selected each year to receive this scholarship.