Emerita Professor Frances Chapple Rewards Students for Their Efforts and Provides Financial Aid

In a teaching career that spanned 33 years, from 1966 to 1999, Professor Chapple guided countless students through the complexities of physical chemistry. More than simply a brilliant and charismatic teacher (as evidenced by her Oregon Professor of the Year Award in 1990), Frances cares deeply about her students and their success.

Future generations will continue to benefit from her dedication, thanks to the planned estate gift that Frances has set up to support a scholarship in her name. Initiated in 2006 by one of her former students, Dean Hauseman ’79, and supported by more than 50 others, the Frances Chapple Physical Chemistry Scholarship provides aid each year to deserving chemistry students.

Frances spent most of her career at Willamette and says, "From my first day, I felt welcome here. And I still feel at home. Willamette is a very good place, and I love its ethic: teaching students is of paramount importance." She highlights receiving the Oregon Professor of the Year Award, which was preceded by two Mortar Board Professor of the Year awards voted on by Willamette students.

“The awards wouldn't have meant so much without my love of teaching, interacting with, and getting to know students,” she says. “Both introductory and physical chemistry are difficult subjects for many people, and I loved seeing students intellectually catch fire when they finally understood it.”

Leaving some money to the university was something she always knew she wanted to do. With physical chemistry being so strenuous, she wanted to reward students as well as provide financial aid.

When asked what advice she would give to others considering a planned gift to Willamette, Frances said "Just do it! It's a thank you to Willamette and a way to help students."