NAMPA, Idaho – Julie Heisey knows a thing or two about the importance of friendship and legacies.

So, when her former Northwest Nazarene teammate and lifelong friend Kerri (Locke) Van de Wetering passed away suddenly in May at age 52, Heisey thought a great way to honor her would be through an endowed scholarship in Kerri's name.

"We've all benefited from scholarships," said Heisey, a member of the Northwest Nazarene Athletics Hall of Fame and a graduate of NNC. "Someone we didn't know gave to help us. I love NNU and I want to help the basketball team and get kids to college.

"A big part of it, though, is knowing that a student every year or every four years could benefit from something that represents Kerri's life. Hopefully as those students receive those scholarships that would give them a chance to connect with Kerri's kids and her husband and then new bonds are formed in Kerri's honor."

Donations to the scholarship can be made here.

Van de Wetering, who graduated from NNC with a business degree, is survived by her husband Ryan, two sons Tyler and Cody, parents Gary and Sharon Locke and brother Brian (Trina) Locke. Van de Wetering was a member of Nampa First Church of the Nazarene.

Both Heisey and Van de Wetering grew up in the Treasure Valley, though their paths didn't cross on the basketball court until they were in college.

Van de Wetering played at Fruitland High School and was well-known in the area for her shooting ability.

"We all knew who she was," Heisey said. "She had an amazing shot, it was like a magnet to the basket. She was a wonderful person – quiet and shy, but loved playing basketball and she really cared about people."

One thing Heisey has never forgotten was when Van de Wetering came to campus as a freshman before school started and was put in a dorm by herself. The shy basketball player was isolated and alone.

Heisey vowed to never let something like that happen to one of her players.

So, when athletes showed up before school started to begin training at Seattle Pacific University, Heisey made sure they were partnered with an upperclassman.

"Whenever our kids came to campus, they lived with a senior or a junior before school started," Heisey said. "I didn't want them in the dorm alone, because I remembered it was so hard for Kerri. You want them to have relationships, especially with upperclassmen."

The pair stayed in touch through social media, occasional visits by Heisey to Nampa First Church of the Nazarene and whenever Seattle Pacific came to town to play the Nighthawks.

"She always made an effort to come by early or stayed late to have that personal contact," Heisey said.

Now, Heisey is hoping to pay forward what that relationship meant to her.

"I believe we can do this," she said of the endowed scholarship. "People don't have to make a thousand-dollar gift – you can make a $25 pledge a month and do it for three years. It isn't an impossible task."

And it would be a perfect way to honor Van de Wetering.