A family commitment

A family that has helped to provide access to higher education at Nicolet College in Rhinelander since 1983 received a special honor on Thursday, Nov. 16, National Philanthropy Day. According to a Nicolet press release, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Northeast Wisconsin Chapter honored the Hoeper family with its 2023 Outstanding Philanthropist Award. The family’s commitment to philanthropy started with Mary Alice "Jill" Hoeper, a World War II flight nurse. After her husband Paul Edward "Pat" Hoeper, a P-51 fighter pilot, passed away, Jill established the Pat Hoeper Memorial Scholarship with the Nicolet College Foundation. Her vision was twofold: to honor Pat's memory and support nursing students at Nicolet College. The family’s commitment did not stop there. For nearly two decades, one of the Hoeper's sons, Paul "Page" Hoeper, and his wife Barbara have been annual donors, dedicating their support to the scholarship in Pat's name. After Jill passed away in 2021, at the remarkable age of 101, all three of her sons made contributions to the Nicolet College Foundation. The endowment, which has since been renamed the Pat and Jill Hoeper Memorial Endowment, has provided scholarships to 40 students to date, making a lasting impact on the lives of Nicolet College students. Pictured, from left to right, are Page Hoeper, Barbara Hoeper and Peter Hoeper.