Stephanie Heiser was posthumously awarded the 2026 Lionel Dubay Youth Sports Award by the Community Foundation of Boone County.
The annual honor recognizes an individual who has made an ongoing commitment to Zionsville youth sports – values shared by the late Lionel Dubay.
Heiser passed away unexpectedly in late March, but made a lasting impact with the Zionsville swimming community and the Zionsville Swim Club.
“What struck me most about Stephanie’s story is how consistently people described the same thing: she made them feel like they mattered,” Community Foundation of Boone County CEO Julie Reagan said in a release. “That kind of quiet, steady presence – showing up weekend after weekend, cheering for every swimmer, caring about the smallest details – is exactly what the Lionel Dubay Youth Sports Award was created to honor. Stephanie’s impact on the Zionsville swimming community will be felt for years to come, and we are grateful for the chance to celebrate her legacy.”
Eric Meyer, the head coach of the Zionsville Swim Club, said Heiser was extremely deserving of the recognition and will have an impact on the Zionsville swim community for years to come.
“It was nice to see her efforts recognized in the community for everything she has done,” Meyer said. “Her legacy definitely lives on in her kids and she made a lasting impact on our club.”
Heiser volunteered with the Zionsville Swim Club for over 15 years.
She served on the Board of Directors for eight years and became a certified swim official in 2014, working her way up to the meet referee.
She volunteered at Indiana Swimming national-level meets, including the Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium, and served on planning committees for those events.
For six years, she served as Treasurer of the Zionsville High School Swim and Dive Parent Group, organizing meals, coordinating events, and keeping families connected.
“She was somebody who gave to everyone – whether it was her kid or someone else’s kid,” Meyer said. “She was always giving kids an opportunity to compete. She was a longtime official for our club, which is a huge need because you can’t have competitions without that. She was always going above and beyond. She was always a great person to be around and she always supported everyone at the highest levels.”
That was a sentiment shared by one of the nominators for the award.
“Stephanie was a constant and enthusiastic presence in the stands, cheering not only for her own children but for every Zionsville swimmer,” the nominator stated. “Her generosity, attention to detail, and genuine care for others made a lasting impact. Stephanie Heiser embodied the spirit of philanthropy through years of quiet, selfless dedication. Her legacy lives on in the strength and culture of the Zionsville swimming community she helped build.”
Heiser’s three children – Elyse, Easton and Everett – have all been involved in the swim club and the high school swimming and diving team.
Her husband Brad, is also a swim official who would work alongside her.
Meyer said it is people like Heiser that have helped the Zionsville Swim Club be as successful as it has been.
“The volunteerism is critical to give the kids all the opportunities we can,” Meyer said. “It takes an army of people to put on these events that we have hosted over the years – World Championship Trials, State Championships, along with local meets. Without them, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
In recognition of this award, the accompanying $500 grant has been directed to the Zionsville Swim Club (ZSC).
The Zionsville Swim Club is a USA Swimming member club that has provided competitive swimming opportunities to athletes ages 8–18 in the Zionsville community for more than 40 years. With over 300 members and a mission to inspire and encourage excellence through swimming, ZSC welcomes all skill levels – from national-level competitors to those who simply love the sport.