Overall Winner
Brian Dassler
University of Florida
Senior in English
3.64 GPA
Brian Dassler wants to make a difference in the
field of public education—specifically as a teacher in South Florida. "I feel I
have a responsibility," he says. "I know teaching is something I’m good at
and it’s in my heart. The teachers in my life have played an incredible role in
shaping who I am. They have affected me in incredible ways—inspiring me to love
learning and myself." Dassler has spent the majority of his college career educating
students, parents, and communities at large about the disadvantages that minority students
face within the Florida educational system and striving to develop policies that ensure
equity and quality for all Florida scholars.
Florida Leader magazine, Sun Trust Education Loans, Publix
Super Markets, and a statewide panel of judges are proud to recognize Brian Dassler, a
senior in English at the University of Florida, as the 2001 Florida College Student of the
Year.
"Brian Dassler is among the most outstanding students that I
have worked with in my 32 years of experience in higher education at three different
universities," says James E. Scott, vice president for student affairs. "His
dedication, commitment, and passion for service is second to none. Students look to him
for his honesty and integrity. He’s very admired."
Dassler’s commitment to educational equity is demonstrated
by his role as the student member of the Howard Bishop Middle School Advisory Council.
This group of 15 concerned citizens "study effective strategies for teaching and
learning." An older school such as Howard Bishop often gets lost in the shuffle when
expansion occurs, Dassler says. "Growth often is in the west and school districts
have to meet the demands. Building occurs in newer, white, middle-class
neighborhoods," he says. "We ignore older, eastern, predominantly minority
schools." In Alachua County, Dassler says property taxes are funneled into a single
account and distributed evenly among schools. However, communities comprised of residents
with a higher economic status have the capacity to raise additional money, and newer
schools have more up-to-date facilities and resources, he says.
2001 Florida College Student of the Year Award winner
Brian Dassler of the University of Florida gives his acceptance speech at the award
ceremony.
Dassler experienced these differences firsthand while growing up
in Miami. He attended an elementary school with primarily minority students. "The
school was old. Teachers cared but had lost the sense they were making a difference,"
Dassler says. However, his parents moved the family to the suburbs and diversity gave way
to familiarity. "All of the students looked like me, most of the families were middle
class, and parents were supportive of the school."
Dassler also is a member of the Admissions Task Force, the
Affirmative Action Council, and the Minority Affairs Task Force and Campus Climate
Committee at UF. These groups all contribute to his "singular commitment of making UF
a better place for all students, particularly students who have not always been
welcome," he says. "There are people who are hesitant to send their kids here
because they couldn’t come here. UF has a real checkered past in terms of minorities.
We don’t send a consistent message—we’re getting better, but we’re far
from where we need to be. UF has a history it has to contend with, and it’s hard to
overcome one’s history."
Dassler says that facilitating change will require raising
awareness, educating, and taking some action. "You can’t just talk about making
a commitment to diversity," he says. "We need to treat each other well, get to
know each other, and learn other’s stories." Dassler adheres to his own dogma in
his day-to-day interactions with members of the campus community. "He’s
enthusiastic and considerate of everyone regardless of race," says Dr. David Colburn,
provost and vice president for academic affairs. "His comments aren’t emotional
or off-the-cuff. He has a mature perspective on things." Dassler reaches out to new
UF students as Team Leader for "First-Year Florida," a program designed to help
freshmen transition more smoothly into the college environment. The 16-week course debuted
last fall and offered 20 sections. Dassler selects, trains, supervises, and supports the
undergraduate staff members who are each paired with a faculty member to teach the class.
"We give them the guidelines, training materials, and books—but it’s the
strength of the partnership that makes it work," he says. The course addresses time
management, community service, campus involvement, and studying techniques. Because of the
program’s success, Dassler also is coordinating the expansion from 20 sections to 50
for fall 2001. "Students would say this was the only time of the day that people knew
their name and cared about them, " he says. "It helped them get involved and
find their place."
Dassler works with high school students as well. As the director
for the Emerging Leaders Conference, Dassler schedules workshop presenters and speakers
for the three-day event. "We do our best to stress the importance of
leadership," he says. Organizers send letters to every high school in the state and
150 young leaders converge on the University of Florida campus in February.
Dassler completed his term as Parent Teacher Student Association
chairman in January 2001. While serving in this role, he traveled extensively throughout
the state talking to students about how they can make a difference. "I visited
schools and communities and talked about the power students have when guided
properly," he says.
"He has developed and delivered workshops at all of the
Florida PTA’s annual events, including three straight years at the state
convention," says Patty Hightower, Florida PTA president. "Brian’s
motivational messages at the 1998 and 1999 Leadership conferences were regarded very well
by the nearly 1,000 parents, teachers, and students in attendance." Dassler also
revived the student component at the PTA’s legislative conference in Tallahassee.
"It’s where moms, dads, and teachers go to learn and talk about the issues of
the day," he says. Dassler led the 80-student contingents through a mock session and
a scavenger hunt in the Capitol.
Dassler also is a member of the Accreditation Steering committee,
the Greening UF Steering Committee, and the Gainesville/Alachua County Cultural Affairs
Board. His past leadership positions include serving as chairman of the Student Body One
Florida Task Force and president of the Towers Area Residence Hall. Perhaps his most
distinctive achievement was his appointment by Lawton Chiles to Florida’s
Postsecondary Education Planning Commission in 1998. During his yearlong term, Dassler
attended monthly meetings on campuses across the state, and he presented workshops to
student groups on higher education issues. "Brian has done an outstanding job and his
efforts are appreciated and well respected by students, staff, faculty, and administrators
on campus," Scott says. "His leadership and involvement in student activities is
well known."
Dassler’s involvement often designates him as the sole
student representative on policy-making committees and boards. "I’ve been the
‘kid’ on most things for four or five years. I’m usually the only student
and younger than other members by 25 years. It’s not a role that’s unusual or
uncomfortable." Dassler approaches his work on these types of committees with the
same mentality. " I try to bring the viewpoint of students or reflect the values or
ideas of students. But, I have a responsibility to be knowledgeable about and engage in
all of the issues. Other members don’t see me as just a student." As Dave
Newport, Alachua County Board of County Commissioners chairman, says, "Brian is a
total pleasure to work with. He has intelligence and a conscience—he’s really
sharp."
In addition to his multitude of leadership roles, Dassler works
as the student director of orientation, and maintains a 3.64 GPA. He subsidizes his
education through his job and scholarships. He emphasizes that even though he is active
outside the realm of academics, his studies come first. "My top job is to be a
student," he says. "A student leader is nothing if not a model student."
"There aren’t many students like Brian—committed
to the university, involved in many areas of student leadership, and he does well in
class," says Colburn. "I don’t know how he manages it all."
So, how does Dassler keep all of his ducks in a row? "I have
really recommited to ideas I read about several years ago in Stephen Covey’s The 7
Habits of Highly Effective People," he says. Covey urges people to identify the
"big rocks," or top priorities in their lives, he says. For Dassler, those are
maintaining strong relationships with his family, being a good student, being healthy
physically, and making a difference. "I arrange everything I do around those
‘big rocks.’"
Contact Dassler at dassler@ufl.edu.
| How You Can Apply Find out how you can win a share of $55,000 in scholarships and prizes in the 2003 competition. Check out the Student of the Year's upcoming and recent speaking schedule. |
