Hannah R. Winkler Memorial Fund
The Hannah R. Winkler Memorial Fund was established in March 2020 by Hannah’s family to honor her memory. Hannah battled a congenital heart and lung condition, but did not allow her daily health struggles to hinder her ambitions or crush her joy. Donations to the fund will help provide scholarships for local high school seniors, extra-curricular classes for local children and various supports for individuals with visible and invisible disabilities - all platforms near and dear to Hannah’s heart.
The first Hannah R. Winkler Memorial Scholarship was awarded to a high school senior attending St. Clair County Community College for the fall 2020 semester. Hannah was an alumna of SC4, where she received her Associates of Arts and Sciences in Early Childhood Education in 2016. To date, ten recipients have been awarded scholarships and a pavilion in Hannah’s name and dance arch feature has been provided at the new ability-inclusive Gratiot Park. Honoring Hannah’s life has been made possible through the many generous donations from individuals, local companies, and participation in our annual golf outing. The outing is always a blast and we hope to see you at next year’s event!
Hannah R. Winkler Snapshots
Precocious Child
Hannah was an energetic, small child who could be found hanging upside-down from various furniture - everything from the dining room table to the shock on the screen door. During elementary years she attended New Life Christian Academy. At recess she was usually made to play the baby, a role she didn’t always love. But she loved her role as the “mascot” for the varsity cheer team for many years, getting to wear a mini version of their varsity uniform and doing countless cartwheels.
Dance
Hannah had a passion for dance. She was a part of one dance studio or another from the time she was a young child. Pointe, ballet, tap, and lyrical were among her favorite classes. Dance recitals were a consistent part of her life. She lived to perform and was extremely graceful. She also began instructing younger dance students when she was in high school. She liked to teach, mentor, and create the choreography for the dance classes that she led.
High School
Hannah graduated from Port Huron High School in 2014. She joined the Thunderbirds, the school dance team, in her freshman year. She started playing the clarinet in junior high and continued in the high school band. She also played for the golf team, where she made some of her closest friendships and many happy memories. Golf was a sport that she was able to participate in fully even with her health issues. She received her varsity letter for both the dance and golf teams.
Miss Teen Detroit 2015
On a whim, Hannah entered the Miss Teen Detroit Pageant in 2015 to have a fun experience. She hoped to exercise her formal interviewing skills and also get dolled up for the casual and formal wear components. Her platform was invisible disabilities. She was beyond excited when she won and was crowned Miss Teen Detroit 2015. She received an all-expense paid trip to Florida where she competed in the Miss Teen Nationals Pageant. Many of her family members came to cheer her on and had a wonderful vacation with her.
Theater
Hannah loved performing in theater and had roles in plays from elementary school through college and beyond. In elementary school she played “small Alice” in Alice in Wonderland. She participated in The Enchanted Princess Ball, where she had to act, dance, and interact as Tinkerbell. She was active in theater and related classes at SC4, her favorite being her role in Lend Me a Tenor. She excelled at her stage makeup courses. She most recently had participated in the community theater production Boy Gets Girl at The Citadel Stage.
College
Hannah graduated from St. Clair County Community college in 2016. She received an Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences in Early Childhood Education. One of her favorite classes was Children’s Literature. Hannah always had an affinity for young children. She worked at a daycare and preschool center, but ultimately had to step away because of the impact that the exposure to all of the young children on her heath. She became a long term nanny to one or two children at a time, a position that she cherished.