The family of the late Michael Dappolone has founded Dapp Inspired, an organization dedicated to providing scholarships and other resources to students who want to pursue careers in STEM and education.
For years, Cherry Hill resident Michael Dappolone was a bright light for many in the community.
Affectionately known by the nickname Dapp, Dappolone was a science teacher for nine years at Cherry Hill High School East, a pack leader for Cub Scout Pack №146, a friendly face for many and a loving husband and father of two.
In December of 2016, Dappolone passed away at the age of 39 from colon cancer. About a year and a half later, his family founded an organization to keep his spirit alive for years to come.
The Dappolone family recently founded a nonprofit named Dapp Inspired. The organization’s mission is to honor Michael’s memory by providing scholarships and other initiatives for local students pursuing science, technology, engineering, math and education careers.
Michael’s wife, Kristie Dappolone, his parents, Anthony and Linda, and his siblings, Brian, Jenn and Kim, helped to form the organization and are serving either as officers or on the organization’s board of directors.
“Everyone that came in contact with Mike just loved him, for his passion for life, education, his family,” Linda said. “He would do anything for anybody.”
“I grew up with him and I shared a bedroom with him as we grew up,” Brian added. “We were always close, we had very similar interests so it was very easy to hang out with him.”
Michael has numerous ties to the Cherry Hill community. He graduated from Cherry Hill High School West in 1995 and went on to attend Stevens Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in chemical engineering. A short time later, Michael had a change of heart with his career.
“He did not like being in a building with no windows all day,” said Kristie, a teacher in Maple Shade Public Schools. “So he ended up navigating a path that led him to education.”
Michael switched his career and became a high school science teacher. He would teach in his hometown for nine years at Cherry Hill East and became an important member of the community.
“While he was there, he did things like run (student government),” Kristie said. “He was the bowling coach, helped with numerous activities like the senior trip to Disney, Mr. East activities, all of those things he was in charge of.”
“It’s one of those things where it took him years for him to get in that spot,” Brian added. “He could relate to students directly.”
In 2013, Michael left Cherry Hill East to serve as the supervisor of instruction at Haddon Township Public Schools. Just two years later, Michael was diagnosed with colon cancer. He passed away on Dec. 3, 2016
About a year after Michael’s death, his family began the process of forming a nonprofit in his name.
“We knew that we wanted to find a way to sort of continue on what he always wanted in helping to educate others,” Kristie said.
The organization is meant to reflect Michael’s best qualities. The first initiative was awarding the inaugural Michael Dappolone Memorial Scholarship this month. Two, $250 scholarships were made available to seniors at Cherry Hill East and Haddon Township High School. Graduating seniors who are pursuing either a STEM or education career were eligible to apply. The scholarships were awarded to students who were actively involved in their local or school community and went out of their way to make a difference in their schools.
The Dappolone family reached out to staff in both districts who knew Michael best to select the inaugural recipients. The scholarship at Cherry Hill East was awarded to Jillian Rivera, and Haddon Township’s scholarship went to Gianna Rusk.
The scholarships were funded through small fundraisers such as teacher dress down days. Having just achieved nonprofit status in May, the organization is planning to hold many more fundraisers, such as dine and donate events, T-shirt sales and a major fundraising event in October. Kristie said Dapp Inspired hopes to increase the scholarship amounts for 2019 and also add a scholarship at Cherry Hill West.
This organization plans to be more than just scholarships. The family is hoping to brainstorm ways to provide resources and other programs to STEM students in the region.
“We’re working to fund science, technology, engineering, math initiatives in the public schools,” Kristie said.
To donate toward Dapp Inspired or for more information, visit www.dappinspired.org.
