Campus Connection

Scholarship helps student persevere after motorcycle accident It takes UWL business student Nick Dobbs an entire day to type an essay that would take most students two hours. The senior uses the hunt and peck method to find each letter using a switch he operates with his tongue. “It was difficult last semester in a management theory class where you have to keep the ideas flowing,” he says. “I thank God for my teacher, Allan Macpherson, who kept me going. He was a fantastic professor.” Dobbs, who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 2011, says he may have some challenges the typical college student doesn’t face, but he’s determined to earn his business degree and one day own his own business in La Crosse or the surrounding area. “I’m happy for him. I think he’s made a good choice (coming back to school),” says Julie Dobbs, Nick’s mother. “Just because he has a disability and is not able to use his arms, legs or breathe on his own, doesn’t mean he can’t be a productive member of society.” Scholarship came at a critical time Dobbs was awarded a Silver Eagles scholarship in the name of CBA graduate Eric Jungbluth, ’85, in April 2015 to support his educational goals. The money comes at a critical time. Dobbs is approaching the limit on how much federal financial aid he can borrow after four years in college — including two at UWL. Also, the number of credits he can use under the GI Bill benefit are running out.  He receives the benefit for the military service of his father who died of cancer when he was five. Meanwhile, Dobbs has added expenses beyond books and housing such as repairs to the vent he uses to breathe or the mouthpiece on his wheelchair. “A scholarship makes quite a big difference for me because I’m not able to work and generate those extra funds like a lot of students are,” he says. After Dobbs’ accident, he sets goal of supporting himself Dobbs was pulling out of his driveway on his motorcycle to go to work in August 2011. Because of the tall grass, he didn’t see a tractor coming down the road and the two collided. “They said it wasn’t a very solid matchup,” quips Dobbs. He had enrolled to attend UWL that fall, but ended up taking two years off to recover instead. Dobbs could have stayed home and lived off government assistance, but decided that wasn’t the life for him. “I would have gone crazy sitting at home and doing nothing productive with my life,” he says. [caption id="attachment_44290" align="alignright" width="325"] UWL Senior and Silver Eagles Scholarship recipient Nick Dobbs pictured with his mother, Julie. After an accident left him paralyzed, he couldn’t see himself “sitting at home and doing nothing productive.” The scholarship is helping him realize a dream of earning a business degree.[/caption] Getting used to his paralysis and how life changed for him was difficult for the whole family, says Julie. “His life changed dramatically, but our lives changed too,” she explains. Dobbs decided to go back to UWL in 2013 and major in business management and finance. He sees advancing his education as the primary way to eventually support himself again. Julie says the decision to pursue school and a career has helped her as well. She now is at UWL with her son four days a week helping him get to classes. “Getting out and showing what he can do is gratifying because he’s a smart kid,” she says. “If he wants to make use of that in business then I fully support him.” Dobbs says he couldn’t do it without support of his mother, family and friends, as well as the professors who provide extra help outside of class. In addition, he’s grateful for donors who’ve helped not only him, but also other deserving students. “It’s so amazing there are great people out there to help us out like that,” he says.