The William C. Roper II Scholarship in Nursing

One way in which UNCG provides support for veterans is through scholarships. In the School of Nursing, some scholarship opportunities for veterans are inspired by veterans.

William (Bill) C. Roper brought home his experience as a U.S. Air Force medic during the Vietnam War, transferring skills acquired from combat to heal his family. His beloved spouse, Laura, lost her leg to bone cancer. Laura’s mother suffered the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Roper helped each of them in turn with compassion and care, implementing his medical knowledge. His personal sense of war-time duty was converted to devotion as he assisted his loved ones after arduous 12- to 16-hour work days to pay the bills. Roper’s dedication was not without sacrifice: He was denied the opportunity to earn a nursing degree because of time and circumstance.

Roper’s stepchildren, Kevin Treiber ’98 and Celeste Treiber Klitenic, were grateful for his attention to the medical needs of their mother and grandmother. In 2008, to honor his unrelenting kindness, Roper’s stepchildren and their spouses established The William C. Roper II Scholarship in Nursing to assist future students pursuing nursing degrees at UNCG.

Treiber, who led the scholarship initiative, was inspired by his stepfather, following in his footsteps to become a U.S. Army medical specialist during the Desert Storm campaign. Later, as a student veteran, Treiber was an active force on UNCG’s campus, demonstrating leadership skills as president of the BSN Class of 1998. He subsequently worked as a Red Cross disaster nurse and as an emergency room nurse. Ultimately, Treiber put his nursing experience to work as a successful entrepreneur, now president of TDY Medical Staffing. He is also chairman of the board of directors for the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania.

While Roper passed away in 2007, his selfless ministering to his wife contributed to her overcoming cancer. Treiber and his mother regularly attend the School of Nursing’s annual Stakeholder’s Luncheon, meeting recipients of the scholarship that memorializes the man who served his country and also honors Laura, the grateful recipient of her husband’s exceptional care.

Students who have served in the U.S. armed services and other non-traditional students are preferred for the family’s scholarship. Since its establishment, more than $20,000 has been awarded among 11 students to help them pursue nursing degrees. Their achievements honor Bill Roper’s legacy of duty and devotion.

Written by Zoe Dillard, Donor Relations