Chicago teacher’s $500,000 gift to NIU provides enduring ‘lesson of life’ Unique scholarship aids future biology teachers After nearly 40 years of teaching his students how to unravel the mysteries of life, biology teacher David R. Layman has figured out how to keep helping them for decades to come.  “Being a high school biology teacher is so rewarding,” explained Layman, a Northern Illinois University alumnus who taught at Crane and Schurz high schools in Chicago. “You’re shaping kids at a time when they are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. You can put them on the right path.” Although he retired from the classroom in 1995, Layman will continue to put students on the right path through the David R. Layman Endowed Scholarship in Biology at NIU. While the scholarship was created in 1997, Layman now is providing a major boost to the fund with an additional gift of a pre-paid $500,000 life insurance policy. The proceeds will be directed to the scholarship fund upon his death. At that time, Layman said, the remainder of his estate also will be given to NIU. “This is an extremely generous gift,” said Michael Parrish, chair of NIU’s Department of Biological Sciences. “We have a special appreciation for Mr. Layman’s long-term commitment to high school biology teaching. There is an acute need, especially in inner cities, and Northern is a state leader in producing the science teachers of tomorrow.”   The Layman Scholarship is geared specifically for students who intend to become public high school biology teachers. Separately, he also is creating an endowment that will be used to bring noted speakers on the biological sciences to NIU.   “I decided to establish the student scholarship because more than ever we need dedicated teachers in the school systems,” Layman said. “A biology teacher can have such an influence on generations. To me, biology is the easiest and one of the most important subjects. It’s the study of all the living things around you. When I taught, I did not expect my kids to go on and necessarily become biologists, but I wanted them to have a greater appreciation of life.”   Scholarship candidates must have a grade point average in biology of 2.5 or above on a scale of 4.0, with an overall GPA of 2.0 or above. First preference is given to incoming freshmen and also to graduates of Chicago public schools, especially Crane High School, on Chicago’s west side, and Schurz High School, on the northwest side.   “I’m hoping the endowment will be an effective tool in recruiting and retaining undergraduate students of promise who have a commitment to teach biology,” Layman said. “It goes primarily to Chicago kids because that’s where I’m from. I think Chicago has a tremendous pool of bright kids who in many cases get written off.”   Layman turned to NIU knowing that his alma mater has a century of experience producing teachers. More than 25,000 NIU graduates are teaching in Illinois schools. NIU also offers a secondary teacher certification program in biology designed to address the demand for highly qualified science teachers. That program produces about 20 biology teachers a year.   Among the students in the program is senior Anthony Brown, who is supported by the Layman Scholarship.   “The assistance I’ve gotten from Mr. Layman has been phenomenal,” Brown said. “I have two other brothers in college right now, another brother on his way next year and two younger sisters, so it definitely helps my family situation out a lot.” Brown grew up on Chicago’s southwest side. In the fifth grade, when he began tutoring other students, he decided he wanted to be a teacher. By his freshman year at Bogan High School, he was focusing on biology. Layman has not only provided Brown with financial support, but also professional advice. “He has told me so many stories about what used to happen to him in the classroom,” Brown said. “He even told me what I needed to learn and what classes I need to have under my belt. He’s definitely helped me on my path to becoming a high school biology teacher.” Brown sees the value of the gift for others as well. “If the scholarship helps anyone else, it just adds to the pool of good high school biology teachers,” Brown said. “In turn, that will help students in Chicago.”   For more information on the Layman Scholarship, contact Dana Keeler, NIU scholarship coordinator, at (815) 753-0143.   More news ...