Michelle Ivanich Scholarship Fund

This year marks the 20th anniversary of our high school graduation. Many of us have gone on to become husbands and wives, parents, professionals, homeowners...adults. We've all faced our share of good days and bad, happy times and times of great loss. Each one of us has taken a different path since our last day at LTHS together, and later this year many of you will get togeher for the reunion to share stories and photos and talk about where you've been and what you've seen. You'll remember old times in Lockport, dances you went to, who you went out with, and probably some of you will talk about trouble you caused (What??! I know. We were all angels...) While you are thinking about those days, talking about old friends, I want you to remember one friend in particular. She won't be at the reunion this year, but I know many, if not most of you, will remember her. She had the rare ability to be friends with everyone.

Michelle Killmer (later to go on to become Michelle Ivanich) left LTHS only briefly. She went to college like many of you, and she came right back to LTHS as a teacher. She was married, she was a homeowner, she was a proud pet parent. She loved her job and her students, and as always, she loved life.  From the very first time I met Michelle in 4th grade, even through all of her trials in life, she was one of the happiest people I knew. She was able to look at the bright side of things, even when things were pretty dark.

After I heard that she had been diagnosed with cancer, I followed her updates on the Caring Bridge website that she created. She had posted pictures of herself with her husband Dennis and pictures of her dogs. She talked about different treatments and surgeries she was going through and her hopes to get well again so she could return to teaching full time. Sometimes she was too sick to write, so Dennis would take over to let everyone know how she was doing. Always positive, and always hopeful.

I remember reading the last update from Dennis. It was not long after her 31st birthday, maybe a week, that Michelle passed away. I remember thinking how unfair it was. Why did this have to happen to someone who was so good? So young? So happy? Someone who just wanted to give back and help other people.

In 2008, Dennis started the Michelle Ivanich Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is intended for a graduating LTHS senior who plans to pursue a career in education at an accredited college or university.

After a quick conversation with Dennis and with his permission, I have created this page to help fund that scholarship. Michelle was one of us, a 1995 graduate who wanted to do something good with her life. In honor of our 20th reunion and all of the things we have all accomplished in our lives, let's take this opportunity to fund the scholarship that will help future graduates do the things Michelle loved to do.