Dee Canfield Scholarship
A scholarship inspired by a friend’s mother
Jim Deitz was inspired by Dee Canfield, the mother of one of his childhood friends. As a young, divorced mother of two, Canfield began taking classes at Black Hawk College in 1968.
Over the next 56 years, Canfield completed two years of Black Hawk College classes, earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, provided braille and talking book service to disabled persons, worked for one academic and three public libraries, then began a second career teaching English to immigrants. In honor of her accomplishments, Jim Dietz established the Dietz Foundation Dee Canfield Scholarship through the Black Hawk College Foundation.
“I think far too many people donate to places like the Ivy League when you can get a good education at local places like Black Hawk College,” he said. “My foundation aims to help people get involved in education, and Mrs. Canfield was someone who went back to college as an adult and a parent,” Dietz said.
After retiring from her library career, Canfield returned to Black Hawk College and spent nine years teaching English as a Second Language classes. “This was work that brought me great fulfillment and joy. I felt this was my true life’s calling,” Dee said.
Because of her first-hand experience, Canfield understands nontraditional students’ challenges. Her educational path as an adult learner inspired Dietz to help those students with the Black Hawk College scholarship. “If I can help a nontraditional student, that’s great. It will always make me think of Mrs. Canfield,” Dietz said. Dietz is an educator and college coach; helping others go into education is important to him.
“I’m deeply honored to be associated with Jim’s scholarship that will provide nontraditional students with encouragement and assistance,” Dietz said. “The education I received at Black Hawk College was of the highest caliber and I’ve always been proud of my association with Black Hawk, both as a student and later as a teacher.”
“Dee exemplifies the transformative power of education, demonstrating how determination and opportunity can create a brighter future,” said Zenaida Landeros, executive director of the Black Hawk College Foundation. “We are grateful that this scholarship extends that promise, providing equitable opportunities for our students at different stages of life to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals,” Landeros said.
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