In honor of Heath, the Caylor-Nickel Clinic and Bumgarner family, along with the support of clinic staff, BRMC and friends, have established the Heath D. Bumgarner Memorial Scholarship.

HEATH D. BUMGARNER

December 17, 1994 - March 3, 2013

Heath D. Bumgarner was a senior at Norwell High School when his life ended tragically in an accidental gun shooting.  Although Heath was only 18 at the time, he had accomplished more in that short amount of time than many people do in a lifetime.  Heath was very goal oriented and knew his junior year that he wanted a career in welding.  He attended Anthis Career Center his junior and senior years where he studied welding.  He received his Entry Level Certification from the American Welding Society in June of 2012.  He was also a member of the AWS.   He achieved many things while at Anthis such as using his artistic efforts and manufacturing skills to design and build a steel art structure replicating the logo for the Whitney Young Early Childhood Center in Ft. Wayne.  That steel structure hangs at the entrance to the school today.  Heath's instructor at Anthis told his parents that he was the best student he has ever had in class.  Heath would broaden his welding skills by working at Novae Corp. in Markle where he eventually starting working full-time third shift while attending school to save money for college.  Heath competed in the Indiana Skills America competition in February of 2013 where he placed first in welding in the Regional competition and was scheduled for State competition in April of 2013.  He was a skilled welder and could have had a bright future in welding without any further education; however, knew the importance of a college degree.  He was enrolled in Ohio Technical College in Cleveland in the Master Welding Program.  He placed first in the entrance exam and had been awarded a $5,000 scholarship.

He was a compassionate young man with a love of the outdoors.  He was involved in track, football, FFA, 4-H, four wheeling, snowmobiling, go cart racing, dirt bikes, hunting and farming.

Heath will be forever loved and never forgotten!