His influence extended beyond the classroom, shaping not only generations of math students but also the lives of his own family. To carry forward that legacy of mentorship and excellence, his children recently established the Dr. Clemens B. Hanneken Family Endowed Scholarship, which supports deserving first-generation mathematics majors.
“Dad loved Marquette and believed strongly in Jesuit higher education,” says his daughter Anne Hanneken, Arts '78. “This scholarship can help ensure that path continues for future students in his name.”
His son David Hanneken, Jour '86, recalls a story when “Clem” first registered for university-level classes at Eastern Illinois. “As a first-generation student who grew up on a small farm, he was unfamiliar with how to declare a major, so he said, ‘I like math.’ That moment catapulted both his education and his lifelong career.”
Years later, Dr. Hanneken found himself at Marquette, where he was drawn professionally and personally to the Jesuit foundation and guided by his faith to teach in this special place.
For Dr. Hanneken’s seven children, the most meaningful part of this scholarship is opening Marquette’s doors to students who might not otherwise have the chance to attend.
“It might be more important than ever to support students,” says son John Hanneken, Eng '83. “We want to honor our father’s life’s work by providing real hope and helping someone gain the opportunity to experience Marquette.”
Dr. Hanneken and his family pictured above.
Dr. Hanneken believed that Marquette offers an environment that equips students for success in the real world, with resources that keep them engaged in their classes and inspired about their futures. It’s an experience appreciated firsthand by his son David, who has followed in his father’s footsteps as an instructor in Marquette’s Diederich College of Communication. “When I’m talking to young people who don’t yet know what the future holds, it reminds me of my early days at Marquette and of the teachers who guided me,” David says.
Dr. Hanneken enjoying his days as a professor.
Over the years, Dr. Hanneken became a mentor who helped students discover the joy and usefulness of mathematics. Anne remembers the story of one student who needed a C to meet a degree requirement but was struggling to reach that mark. After advising the student to retake the course, Dr. Hanneken watched as he not only improved his grade to an A but later changed his major to mathematics and eventually went on to join NASA, working on the space shuttle program.
Former student Stephanie Mares (Bus Ad ’81, Law ’84) fondly recalls how his class shaped both her academic experience and her future family. “I met my now-husband, Paul, our first day of orientation in 1977. We then found ourselves in Professor Hanneken’s math class and would sit next to each other,” she says. “Each Friday, Professor H. would give a quiz, and Paul would bet me that he would get a higher grade. The prize was a drink. Well, I beat Paul almost every week and so, at the end of the semester, he owed me many drinks. I said, ‘You should take me out and buy me all those drinks you owe me.’ We began dating, married in 1983 and remain married to this day with five children.”
Stories like these — of success and connection — defined Dr. Hanneken’s career and earned him admiration from colleagues and students alike, as well as the university’s Teaching Excellence Award in 1973.
Dr. Hanneken receiving an award at Marquette University.
His love of math extended beyond the classroom, too. He authored a book on abstract algebra to encourage others’ interest in the subject and, later in life, became a master carpenter — a real-world application of his mathematics expertise.
Through this new scholarship, the Hanneken siblings hope to share their father’s passion for math, along with his spirit of lifelong learning and curiosity, with the next generation of Marquette students.