Weeks after Claire Gagnon walked across the commencement stage at Drake Law School, she put a down payment on a house in South Minneapolis. She thanks Dwight Opperman for it.
"[His scholarship] was such a gift to me," says Gagnon, now a second-year associate at Leonard, Street and Deinard who received a full ride from Opperman. "So much pressure was taken off, not having to worry about financing my education. I graduated No. 1 in my class. I didn't want to let [Mr. Opperman] down."
He has given generously to many students at his alma mater through the years. Since 1998, he has awarded $4.3 million to 59 students, enough to cover tuition and a stipend for each of them.
Another grateful recipient was Chris James, who graduated a year before Gagnon in May 2006 and is exempt from paying $600 in monthly student loan obligations. James paid tribute to Opperman via his Web site, iowalawyers.blogspot.com. "It is amazing how much impact a complete stranger can have upon your life," James wrote. "I have come to know him and through him what it means to be generous. ... Given how much he has done for us, I thought he deserved a shout-out."
Twice a year, scholars past and present attend an event with Opperman. The most recent was an April 25 gathering at the Des Moines Embassy Club. "He has such a presence," Gagnon says of Opperman. "His passion for law and for life is apparent when you first meet him. He has inspired me to give back, not only to Drake but to other organizations that support the legal community."
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