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| David Rozelle and Sec Land |
David Rozelle
(heart recipient and Gift of Life volunteer) at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
David Rozelle received a heart transplant in October 2001 at the University of Michigan. After recovering from the surgery, David went back to work as an accounting professor at Western Michigan University, where he's been employed for nearly 37 years. David has received honors for his professional work at the University, and is dedicated to educating and empowering students to be successful in their careers.
But David wants more for his students than success in their careers - he wants them to be successful in life. To that end, he has engaged the Beta Alpha Psi accounting fraternity in promoting organ and tissue donation on campus and in the Kalamazoo community.
With David's support and encouragement, the WMU Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi succeeded in recruiting 829 people to sign up on the Gift of Life Donor Registry during the 4 week competition in 2005 (more than any other school in Michigan).
In 2006, David started afresh with a new group of Beta Alpha Psi students involved in the University Challenge at Western. With David's guidance and encouragement, Western succeeded in recruiting 954 new donor registrants during the 6 week contest. Additionally, Western received extensive media coverage of their participation in the University Challenge - 5 print, 2 radio and 2 television stories.
Upon hearing his story and learning about the Gift of Life University Challenge from David, the Provost of the University encouraged everyone at the school to sign up on the Gift of Life Donor Registry through a personal email message to all faculty and staff.
In 2007, David and the Beta Alpha Psi students continued their successful donor drive efforts in the University Challenge, recruiting 669 more donor registrants. David has also spoken to his own church congregation, on multiple occasions, sharing his story and promoting organ donation. David responds affirmatively to every request for his volunteer time on behalf of Gift of Life.
David received the 2007 WMU Distinguished Service Award, annually presented to one outstanding staff member at Western Michigan University who has provided "-exceptional service to the University through innovative and effective programs-that contribute to the growth and stature of the University, or service that extends the impact and presence of the University into larger communities," according to the WMU News (a campus publication for staff and faculty of WMU). In its article about this award, the WMU News references David's efforts to promote organ donation on campus and in the broader community. David's incredible stamina and the shining example he provided to his students before, during and after his heart transplant are also recognized.
For continuing to inspire those around him to donate life through his personal example of transplant success and his support of the University Challenge, David Rozelle is a Shining Star in Michigan.
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