News Former Dubuque Dentist Creates NICC Endowment Posted 22 May 2009 Dental Assisting students enrolled at Northeast Iowa Community College will have a new scholarship opportunity to help with the financial costs of college. A new endowment fund, created with a bequest by Dr. Bruce Meyer and his wife Cece Meyer, provides funding for students in good academic standing who have financial need. Dr. Meyer actively participated in NICC students’ learning by offering his dental expertise at the college’s clinic and allowing his dental practice to serve as an externship for dental assisting students. Dr. Meyer owned his own practice, Bruce R. Meyer, D.D.S., for 30 years before relocating to Suwanee, Ga., with his wife Cece. Cece Meyer created an endowment of $12,000 for students in NICC’s program shortly after her husband’s death in August 2008. The late Dr. Bruce Meyer followed his father’s lead into dentistry and operated his own successful practice in Dubuque. After graduation from the University of Iowa School of Dentistry in 1979, Dr. Meyer served for three years in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Tex., providing dental care for military personnel and their families. Dr. Meyer retired from the U.S. Army Reserves in 2005 as a lieutenant colonel. In 1982, he returned to work at his father’s practice at 1880 Asbury Rd. in Dubuque. Dr. Bruce Meyer took over the business independently in 1985. Over the course of three decades, the vast majority of dental assistants Dr. Meyer hired were NICC Dental Assisting graduates, said Cece Meyer. “NICC’s graduates were always well trained, the college has such a good program and we wanted to help produce more quality dental assistants,” said Cece Meyer. “I think Bruce would be glad to know that we provided this endowment for NICC students,” she said. NICC Dental Assisting program instructors attest to Dr. Meyer’s caring approach to the profession and his dedication to teaching students while performing dental procedures. “He was very gentle, soft spoken and an excellent teacher,” said Gloria Kluesner, a 30-year veteran instructor in the NICC program. “Bruce would stop and explain things to our students instead of just getting the job done.” Tina Adams, also an NICC Dental Assisting instructor and a 1976 graduate of the college’s program, said that Dr. Meyer formed a strong partnership with NICC students and graduates. “He was so impressed with the graduates that came out of the program,” Adams said. “This endowment fund will benefit NICC students and future graduates.”   NICC’s Dental Assisting program prepares students to assist dentists in all phases of dentistry. The program includes chairside procedures associated with general and specialty dentistry, radiology, laboratory and business office assistance. Clinical experience is an integral part of the educational program with rotations through various dental facilities. For more information call NICC at (563) 556-5110, ext. 401, or visit here.