As an all-American defensive tackle on the University of Northern Iowa football team, Ben Boothby caught the eye of more than one NFL recruiter. However, the effective treatment he had received for a badly injured wrist and a torn meniscus in his left knee influenced his decision to trade a career in professional football for one in medicine.
“I realized medicine is what I really want to do,” said the now third-year osteopathic medical student at DMU. “I wanted to help people and not hurt people.”
Boothby was among the speakers Oct. 9 at the 2014 Glanton Minority Scholarship Dinner, an annual event that raises funds for the DMU scholarship that assists qualified minority students — under-represented in health care — in all DMU programs. Donors went big during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2014, contributing a record $302,250 to the fund.
“Essentially, what each of you are doing is adopting a kid for four years [of medical school],” concluded Boothby, a Glanton Scholarship recipient. “And that’s a big deal, because it doesn’t just stop after you give the money. What you are doing is affecting people for the rest of their lives.”
That means the lives of Glanton students and all the people they will go on to serve throughout their careers. Since the fund was created in 2004, $829,000 has been distributed to Glanton scholars. The fund is named in honor of central Iowa civic leaders and longtime members of the DMU Board of Trustees, Willie Stevenson Glanton and the late Judge Luther T. Glanton Jr.
The dinner, which will mark its 12th year Oct. 8, 2015, also is DMU’s opportunity to thank donors and recognize a community member who has been a leader in creating opportunities for all. The 2014 honoree was William “Bill” C. Knapp, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded and built Iowa Realty into the state’s largest real estate company. Now chairman emeritus of Knapp Properties, he has been a key player in transforming central Iowa with visionary development projects as well as his philanthropy and service.
“I don’t seek any recognition at all — in fact, I don’t like it, because I get enough good out of just knowing I can do something that makes life better for others,” Knapp said. “Like the Glantons, I believe it is important to give back to the community. The Glanton Scholarship is all about hope…I am very proud to be part of it.”