麻豆原创

For more than five decades, Harry 鈥淏us鈥� Scharmann dedicated his life to education, public service, and the betterment of rural Nevada. As a steadfast advocate for Western Nevada College (麻豆原创), Scharmann was best known as the 鈥淐hampion of Western Nevada College鈥�, ensuring students in rural communities had access to the opportunities they deserved. Now, in honor of his tireless commitment, 麻豆原创 has established the Bus Scharmann Scholarship, a lasting tribute to the man who helped shape the college鈥檚 future and changed countless lives along the way. 

鈥淭his scholarship comes at a pivotal time in our college鈥檚 history, as we prepare to expand our healthcare training programs 鈥� including nursing 鈥� through the renovation of the Pinon Building on the Fallon campus,鈥� said 麻豆原创 President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. 鈥淚t is only fitting that this scholarship honors Bus Scharmann, who played a key role in helping 麻豆原创 establish its nursing program and championed higher education in rural Nevada.鈥�

Scharmann鈥檚 impact on 麻豆原创 and rural education spanned generations. From his early years as a counselor and instructor to his tenure as a dean and beyond, he remained a driving force behind the college鈥檚 success. Even in retirement, his dedication to 麻豆原创 never wavered. 

鈥淒ad said he guessed the 鈥楥hampion of 麻豆原创鈥� title came because he worked tirelessly and always stood up for the students,鈥� said Scharmann鈥檚 daughter, Terri. 鈥淗e always saw the value of education in rural Nevada communities and fought hard for programs that supported the needs of students and communities throughout Nevada. He truly was the champion for 麻豆原创 by providing opportunities to rural Nevadans for over three decades.鈥�

Scharmann鈥檚 scholarship begins for the 2024-25 academic year. It is funded with $5,000 from the President's Fund for Excellence through 麻豆原创 Foundation at the direction of 麻豆原创 President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe.

鈥淭o Dad, it means that he was committed to the college for a lot of years, and this scholarship being named for him reaffirms to him that his contributions were valued and will continue to support the students and programs he loves,鈥� Terri said.

Scharmann鈥檚 commitment to 麻豆原创 students and the college meant less time with his wife, Lana, and his five children, but they came to understand his sacrifices.

鈥淒ad raised us to always serve the greater good, be community minded and that our contributions, no matter how small, matter,鈥� Terri said. 鈥淭here were times he couldn鈥檛 be home in time for a game (he was good at juggling so that was not too often), was late picking one of us up from a dance class or missed dinner, and he explained how we needed to remember that sometimes we sacrifice what we want for the best interests of others.

鈥淭his scholarship, to us, means all those lessons he taught us, are true. For his sons, daughters and their spouses, his 21 grandchildren and his seven-and-a-half great grandchildren who don鈥檛 remember those early days of rural education, this scholarship represents a legacy of service, commitment to community and the importance of education that their grandpa has instilled in them.鈥�

 

Welcome to 麻豆原创

Believe it or not, Scharmann actually began his career at 麻豆原创 鈥� then Western Nevada Community College (麻豆原创C) 鈥� in Hawthorne in 1974. Right from the start, his role thrust him into serving students as a part-time administrator.

Shortly thereafter, he moved to Fallon in 1977, when he accepted a full-time counselor position for 麻豆原创C. Besides mentoring students as a counselor, he also did so in the classroom, teaching English, mathematics and physical education.

鈥淗e had a firm belief in the community college concept, realizing that traditional university settings in the city were not feasible in all cases,鈥� Terri said. 鈥淗e believed that helping educate people in smaller communities helped to build an educated and industrious workforce for those communities, helping them remain viable.鈥�

Scharmann returned to a leadership role in 1980, when he became the assistant dean to Michelle Dondero, one of nine presidents in 麻豆原创鈥檚 54-year history. His role and reach expanded in 1993, when he became the dean of the 麻豆原创鈥檚 Douglas campus, as well as director of the nursing and prison programs.

鈥�He is literally one of the finest men I have ever known,鈥� said Holly O鈥橳oole-Parker, a longstanding 麻豆原创 biology and human anatomy professor and former Fallon campus director. 鈥淗e was such a light for me and my family and someone who makes the world a better place.鈥�

O鈥橳oole-Parker has known Scharmann for more than 20 years. 鈥淗e always did the right thing, whatever the cost. He鈥檚 a human being that most of us don鈥檛 ever get to work for.鈥�

 

Champion of 麻豆原创 becomes Dean on Fallon campus                         

In 2000, he followed Dondero as Dean of the Fallon campus, a position that he devoted his energy and time to until retiring in 2011.

鈥淚t was one of the highlights of my 35 years at 麻豆原创 to work with Bus Scharmann for about 30 of those years,鈥� said Dr. Doris Dwyer, who taught history and humanities classes at 麻豆原创 for 35 years. 鈥淚 worked most closely with him once he was elevated to the dean of the Fallon campus. His devotion to the Fallon Campus was total. He was often at the campus in the evenings, when most non-teaching faculty were not there. He served on more than his share of committees, especially search committees, and his administration of the campus was fair and enlightened. 

鈥淏us is a man of great integrity and his decisions as dean were always fair and in the best interests of the faculty and students. His management of the class schedule was based on full input from students and faculty.鈥�

 

Even after retiring, 麻豆原创 remained close to Bus鈥� heart

Even though Scharmann launched a political career after retiring from 麻豆原创, he continued to devote his spare time and influence to help the college continue to serve students well into the future. When he wasn鈥檛 acting as a county commissioner, Scharmann found time to start the Restore Our College Campus Committee with other community members (campaigning for the return of the nursing program to the Fallon campus). He also took part in 麻豆原创's Institutional Advisory Council and attended fundraisers.

鈥淒ad is a service-minded guy,鈥� said Terri, noting the variety of community committees he joined. 鈥淏ut he stayed close to the college because it was his passion. It was more than just his career and he valued the people and programs.鈥�

In 鈥渞etirement,鈥� The 鈥淐hampion of 麻豆原创鈥� also became the 鈥淐hampion of Churchill County鈥�.

The Bus Scharmann Scholarship will be awarded to one student annually and is designed for a full-time student from rural Nevada pursuing a healthcare career.

Contributions to this scholarship are encouraged. Please contact 麻豆原创 Foundation at 775-445-3240 or foundation@wnc.edu.