Through the generosity of John A. Heydt, CAS/BA ’75, and his mother, Florence E. Heydt, American University has received one of the largest scholarship bequests in the university’s history.
In memory of the Heydts’ profound commitment to educational access, the $4.5 million gift will provide scholarship funding to AU students who demonstrate financial need. An equal gift was made to Perkiomen School—of which John was a Class of ’70 graduate—to support students in grades 6–12.
Both mother and son shared a love for AU, with Eagle pride frequently on display in the Heydts’ Reading, PA home.
“When visiting, John would greet us at the door in full AU regalia, and Florence kept our AU blanket on her favorite chair,” says Seth Speyer, Executive Director of Planned Giving.
AU Pride
A lifelong Eagle, John Heydt graduated from AU in 1975 from the College of Arts and Sciences with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies in Personnel Management and Finance.
John came to AU after transferring from a community college and credited the university for providing him with a strong academic foundation and instilling an interest in economics. He cited the knowledge and skills gained during his time at 4400 Massachusetts Ave for empowering him to self-manage his family’s investment portfolio.
While not an AU alumna herself, Florence Heydt had her own entrepreneurial spirit. Widowed in the early 1960s, she raised John as a single parent. She became impressed by her son’s collegiate experience and particularly valued AU’s role in bringing together students, faculty, and thought leaders to exchange ideas and learn from one another.
A Philanthropic Legacy
Together, John and Florence were motivated by a desire to minimize financial barriers for individuals to attain higher education at AU.
In 2022, they established the John A. Heydt and Florence E. Heydt Fund to support student scholarships. Their estate gift has subsequently magnified the fund's impact, enabling a potential Heydt Scholars cohort structure.
“The generosity of John and Florence Heydt reflects their indelible belief in the promise of our students here at AU,” says Vice President of University Advancement Courtney Surls.
“In its extraordinary scale and scope," Surls continues, “the Heydts’ scholarship fund truly represents transformative opportunity for generations of Eagles—now and for years to come.”
