Larry Elsasser Memorial Scholarship Award Winners Announced

Larry Elsasser, Ed ’65, MEd ’73, a well-known Bearcat alum, served as a UC employee for 35 years. During many of these years, Larry served as the director of Tangeman University Center. With Larry’s passing in 2010, the Campus Services staff established the

Larry Elsasser Memorial Scholarship Fund

with the UC Foundation. The scholarship is awarded annually to up to two student employees who work at the university and meet academic and other criteria.

For the 2015 spring semester, the annual Larry Elsasser Memorial Scholarship recipients, Cody Curry and Jeff Seemann, were awarded $1,000 each.

Cody Curry began working as a student worker with the American Sign Language/Sign Language Interpreting (ASL/SLI) Program in the spring of 2014. 

“Since joining the ASL/SLI department, I have learned more than I could have imagined and have strengthened my own interpersonal communication skills and my ASL skills," says Curry. "It is through my work in the ASL/SLI department that I have decided to apply for graduate school in audiology. 

"In this field, it is very important to have knowledge in deaf culture, in the deaf community and to have sign language knowledge. I want to be able to communicate with my future patients as an audiologist. I believe that my student worker position has definitely set me up for a successful future in my field.” 

Cody will graduate in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Of his work, Dr. Kathie Maynard says, “Cody is insightful, energetic, smart, and dedicated. His performance has consistently been on task and very helpful for the program. I believe Mr. Curry to be a competent and committed student, scholar and leader.”

Jeff Seemann has worked as a marketing student assistant for Campus Services marketing since the 2014 summer semester. 

“When I arrived at UC, I was hoping to expand on my knowledge of electronic media," says Seemann. "It's not easy being the 45-year-old on a college campus taking classes full time, but I think I'm making it work. I was fortunate enough to be offered a job working with digital signage in Campus Services marketing, a field I had never dealt with before. 

"Since accepting the position, I have been able to expand my electronic skill set and add to my resume. I know I'm growing alongside technological changes instead of playing catch-up and merely adapting, and I've learned more than I thought was possible. I'm excited to see what the next two plus years will bring.” 

Jeff will graduate in December 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in E-Media. Of his work, Vicki Rogers, associate director of Campus Services marketing, says that because of his experience in the ‘real’ world, "Jeff has understood our systems’ parameters faster than any other student assistant I have ever worked with. His eagerness and astounding ability to accomplish any assignment makes me wish I could hire him full time.”

The annual Larry Elsasser Memorial Scholarship Fund award is based on enrollment status, demonstrated need, work as a student employee, a GPA of 3.0 or better and supervisory review and comments. For information about donating to the Larry Elsasser Memorial Scholarship Fund, contact the UC Foundation.