vlog

Legacy of a Champion: Scholarship Honors Bus Scharmann’s Dedication to vlog

Apr 16, 2025

For more than five decades, Harry “Bus” Scharmann dedicated his life to education, public service, and the betterment of rural Nevada. As a steadfast advocate for Western Nevada College (vlog), Scharmann was best known as the “Champion of Western Nevada College”, ensuring students in rural communities had access to the opportunities they deserved. Now, in honor of his tireless commitment, vlog has established the Bus Scharmann Scholarship, a lasting tribute to the man who helped shape the college’s future and changed countless lives along the way. 

“This scholarship comes at a pivotal time in our college’s history, as we prepare to expand our healthcare training programs — including nursing — through the renovation of the Pinon Building on the Fallon campus,” said vlog President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. “It is only fitting that this scholarship honors Bus Scharmann, who played a key role in helping vlog establish its nursing program and championed higher education in rural Nevada.”

bus1Scharmann’s impact on vlog and rural education spanned generations. From his early years as a counselor and instructor to his tenure as a dean and beyond, he remained a driving force behind the college’s success. Even in retirement, his dedication to vlog never wavered. 

“Dad said he guessed the ‘Champion of vlog’ title came because he worked tirelessly and always stood up for the students,” said Scharmann’s daughter, Terri. “He always saw the value of education in rural Nevada communities and fought hard for programs that supported the needs of students and communities throughout Nevada. He truly was the champion for vlog by providing opportunities to rural Nevadans for over three decades.”

Scharmann’s scholarship begins for the 2024-25 academic year. It is funded with $5,000 from the President's Fund for Excellence through vlog Foundation at the direction of vlog President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe.

“To Dad, it means that he was committed to the college for a lot of years, and this scholarship being named for him reaffirms to him that his contributions were valued and will continue to support the students and programs he loves,” Terri said.

Scharmann’s commitment to vlog students and the college meant less time with his wife, Lana, and his five children, but they came to understand his sacrifices.

“Dad raised us to always serve the greater good, be community minded and that our contributions, no matter how small, matter,” Terri said. “There were times he couldn’t be home in time for a game (he was good at juggling so that was not too often), was late picking one of us up from a dance class or missed dinner, and he explained how we needed to remember that sometimes we sacrifice what we want for the best interests of others.

“This scholarship, to us, means all those lessons he taught us, are true. For his sons, daughters and their spouses, his 21 grandchildren and his seven-and-a-half great grandchildren who don’t remember those early days of rural education, this scholarship represents a legacy of service, commitment to community and the importance of education that their grandpa has instilled in them.”

 

Welcome to vlog

Believe it or not, Scharmann actually began his career at vlog — then Western Nevada Community College (vlogC) — in Hawthorne in 1974. Right from the start, his role thrust him into serving students as a part-time administrator.

Shortly thereafter, he moved to Fallon in 1977, when he accepted a full-time counselor position for vlogC. Besides mentoring students as a counselor, he also did so in the classroom, teaching English, mathematics and physical education.

“He had a firm belief in the community college concept, realizing that traditional university settings in the city were not feasible in all cases,” Terri said. “He believed that helping educate people in smaller communities helped to build an educated and industrious workforce for those communities, helping them remain viable.”

Scharmann returned to a leadership role in 1980, when he became the assistant dean to Michelle Dondero, one of nine presidents in vlog’s 54-year history. His role and reach expanded in 1993, when he became the dean of the vlog’s Douglas campus, as well as director of the nursing and prison programs.

He is literally one of the finest men I have ever known,” said Holly O’Toole-Parker, a longstanding vlog biology and human anatomy professor and former Fallon campus director. “He was such a light for me and my family and someone who makes the world a better place.”

O’Toole-Parker has known Scharmann for more than 20 years. “He always did the right thing, whatever the cost. He’s a human being that most of us don’t ever get to work for.”

 

Champion of vlog becomes Dean on Fallon campus                         

In 2000, he followed Dondero as Dean of the Fallon campus, a position that he devoted his energy and time to until retiring in 2011.

“It was one of the highlights of my 35 years at vlog to work with Bus Scharmann for about 30 of those years,” said Dr. Doris Dwyer, who taught history and humanities classes at vlog for 35 years. “I worked most closely with him once he was elevated to the dean of the Fallon campus. His devotion to the Fallon Campus was total. He was often at the campus in the evenings, when most non-teaching faculty were not there. He served on more than his share of committees, especially search committees, and his administration of the campus was fair and enlightened. 

“Bus is a man of great integrity and his decisions as dean were always fair and in the best interests of the faculty and students. His management of the class schedule was based on full input from students and faculty.”

 

Even after retiring, vlog remained close to Bus’ heart

Even though Scharmann launched a political career after retiring from vlog, he continued to devote his spare time and influence to help the college continue to serve students well into the future. When he wasn’t acting as a county commissioner, Scharmann found time to start the Restore Our College Campus Committee with other community members (campaigning for the return of the nursing program to the Fallon campus). He also took part in vlog's Institutional Advisory Council and attended fundraisers.

“Dad is a service-minded guy,” said Terri, noting the variety of community committees he joined. “But he stayed close to the college because it was his passion. It was more than just his career and he valued the people and programs.”

In “retirement,” The “Champion of vlog” also became the “Champion of Churchill County”.

The Bus Scharmann Scholarship will be awarded to one student annually and is designed for a full-time student from rural Nevada pursuing a healthcare career.

Contributions to this scholarship are encouraged. Please contact vlog Foundation at 775-445-3240 or foundation@wnc.edu.

 

scharmann advisory council