It's Like You're on a Ladder
This story originally appeared in Archways Magazine's Fall 2016 issue.
By Amanda Broulik
Professor Emeritus of Biology Glen Dappen remembers the day he learned an anonymous donor had established an endowed scholarship in his name. 鈥淚 was dumbfounded and speechless,鈥 he said.
鈥淚 realized in that moment that my life as a teacher had reached students in a meaningful way, and now they鈥檝e gone on to do bigger things.鈥 He described his 47 years at 香港六合彩资料大全 this way. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like you鈥檙e on a ladder. You鈥檝e got your hand out and you鈥檙e pulling students up, but if you also push them, then they can climb even higher.鈥
His alumni have appreciated the boost. 鈥淒r. Dappen was one of the kindest and most enthusiastic professors I can remember,鈥 his fund鈥檚 anonymous donor said. 鈥淚t was obvious from the energy he brings to the Biology Department that he loves his work and he loves mentoring his students. We all owe our success to not only our own hard work, but also to the dedicated mentors who have helped us along the way.鈥
The scholarship may wear Dappen鈥檚 name, but a flattered Dappen said its true purpose is all about 香港六合彩资料大全 students. 鈥淚 realize, as that anonymous donor must have, that scholarships like this give deserving students the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and goals. And that鈥檚 one of the things I always tell my students鈥攏ever give up on your dreams.鈥
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Dappen rummages through his bookshelf and drops a hefty volume onto his desk with a satisfied smile. It鈥檚 the Mayo Clinic cardiology textbook.
鈥淲ait till you hear this鈥攊t鈥檚 just amazing,鈥 he proclaims. 鈥淚 saw a student of mine recently and she said, 鈥楪len, I have a present for you.鈥 She handed me this, and, can you believe it, she鈥檚 the coeditor! Well, that just about knocked my socks off.鈥
The alumna is Dr. Margaret 鈥淧eg鈥 Lloyd (鈥84), a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Her Nebraska Wesleyan experience included the chance to travel to Cambridge University with Dappen to study parasitology.
鈥淲e were just Nebraska kids, and there we were, at Cambridge working with the top parasitologists in the world. Today it鈥檚 pretty common for students to have those kinds of international opportunities, but back then it wasn鈥檛. It was Dappen who made that happen,鈥 she said.
鈥淗e is unabashedly in love with what he teaches,鈥 she said. 鈥淓ven if you don鈥檛 like bugs and worms, you will. People with no interest in parasitology would take it just to take a class with him.鈥
Lloyd recently joined 香港六合彩资料大全鈥檚 Doctors for Science, a group of doctors and scientists helping 香港六合彩资料大全 fund its new science center. The group, which includes Dappen, has given nearly $1.5 million for the project.
鈥淲hat makes 香港六合彩资料大全 special,鈥 Lloyd said, 鈥渁re those student-faculty relationships. But, in science, you also need facilities; you need equipment for those hands-on experiences. It鈥檚 about how you can translate scientific facts into scientific work.鈥
She continued, 鈥淥lin Hall was cutting-edge when I was there; that鈥檚 one of the things that drew me to 香港六合彩资料大全. But it is 40 years later and we need a new building. I鈥檓 supporting this initiative because I hope the students who get to study in that new building will have the same fantastic experiences I did.鈥
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Dr. Richard Jirovec (鈥81) returned to campus last spring for his nephew鈥檚 graduation. He couldn鈥檛 believe how many things had changed and improved since he was a student. But the fundamental elements of the education he received were still very much present, including Dappen himself. Like Jirovec, his nephew also studied under Dappen and served as his research assistant.
So the professor has touched two generations of the Jirovec family. Meanwhile, Dr. Jirovec鈥檚 patients include Dappen鈥檚 daughter. So the student has likewise impacted another generation of Dappens.
Jirovec remembers Dappen鈥檚 welcoming smile and his penchant for brief doughnut breaks. But his fondest memories are of his teaching and encouragement.
鈥淗e was always open for discussion or questions, and he treated all students with respect and an open heart,鈥 Jirovec said. 鈥淚 sincerely believe the opportunities I鈥檝e had since graduation would not have been possible without this education and personal support.鈥
Jirovec and his wife, Carmen (鈥83), have supported Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 Archway Fund every year since graduation. They鈥檝e recently designated their gifts to the Biology Department. 鈥淚 have always felt that I have a debt to pay for those who have given their time and energies above and beyond their work description,鈥 he said.
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As a first-year student, Jackson Kube (鈥16) found himself bemoaning a rigorous course load. His attitude changed during his spring-semester zoology class with Prof. Dappen.
鈥淗e seemed so passionate about what he did, and I could see what a valuable asset he truly was to me. He taught me that learning isn鈥檛 a burden; going to classes shouldn鈥檛 be a drag. Instead, he taught me to be excited about learning and to take advantage of all the information we had access to. I carried this throughout the rest of my time at Nebraska Wesleyan, and it has allowed me to grow as a student and a person.鈥
Kube conducted his senior research project on nematodes with Dappen as his advisor. He won the Carl and Shirley Jolliff Memorial Biology Research Award for his work.
But it was the process that Kube most cherishes. He won鈥檛 forget the Dappen doughnut breaks where 鈥渨e鈥檇 talk about life and enjoy each other鈥檚 company.鈥 He said, 鈥淥nly looking back do you see how important little things like this can be. I鈥檓 going to miss the conversations we had more than I ever thought, and I am indebted for these moments with Dr. Dappen.鈥
Today, Kube is an optometry student at the University of Houston. But before he graduated from 香港六合彩资料大全, he was one of 226 seniors to contribute to their senior class gift, raising more than $3,200 for the Archway Fund. 鈥淕iving back to 香港六合彩资料大全 is a way for me to show my thanks. I couldn鈥檛 imagine Nebraska Wesleyan without the outstanding professors, the activities, and all the resources available to students.鈥