“We thought this would be a great way to make it easier for the students, and we really liked the idea of spreading the money around the whole class,” Klaus Jarr said of their gift. More
Meet Our Donors
“Mary and I felt that providing our planned gift back to UNI was important to us as we want current and prospective business students to have the same opportunities as we did,” says Don Coffin. More
David Van Sickel, ’74, always knew he was going to attend college after high school. In fact, his parents never suggested there were other options. More
Brent Futrell is a native Iowan and knows firsthand the value of hard work. His planned gift to support students will ensure the work future Panthers put into their UNI degrees won’t be accompanied by debt. More
Allison Morris Keim was a people person. Her entire life, she was always on the go—always getting together with loved ones or making instant friendships with strangers. More
College often represents a transformational time for many. It’s no different for Rod and Heidi Foster, whose pivotal experiences at UNI inspired them to give back to ensure the same opportunities for future Panthers. More
Pat and Mike Deters remark on the ease of making their IRA charitable rollover gift, which will support the renovation of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at UNI: "We didn't even have to put a stamp on it." More
Bob and Brenda Good say their UNI experience was life-changing. The couple's gift to UNI ensures future students can have the same opportunities to get a life-changing education. More
Many UNI alumni will remember sports legends "Cubby" Lybbert and Hon Nordley. Cubby was a 1952 national champion wrestler. Hon coached basketball. Both were named to the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame. Payten Javellana Gerjerts, '04, knew them as grandpa and great-grandpa, respectively. More
"One of the best things about being a teacher or a coach is watching young people mature and bloom into their adult selves." —Carol Phillips More
Joan Duea's passion for helping students will resound for generations through an estate gift to UNI. More
Betty Evans Hyde grew up in Missouri at a time when African-Americans were not allowed to attend state teacher colleges. Determined to continue her education, she saved her money and researched colleges to find one that would admit her and permit her to live in the dorms. More
"Build good relationships and profitable transactions will follow." — Steve Corbin, '70, UNI professor emeritus, advised his students. More
Patricia Larson, '70, and Peter Saunders believe today's students are faced with more challenges on a wider range of issues than their own generation. "We believe those challenges come with opportunities for effecting positive change," Patty says. "We are pleased to see that students are accepting those challenges, and that UNI continues to adjust its course offerings to help students explore solutions." More
"Once a year, go someplace you've never been before. —the Dalai Lama. This quote is one that Nicki DeGroot, '03, loves and lives. More
"My fondest memories of UNI are the fun I had with the people I met in class, young men I dated and, especially, my sorority sisters. We enjoyed dances in the Commons Ballroom and the Men's Gym (who can forget the great band IBTC!), parties, Homecoming float building and football games outside—no Dome." More
Guang Jin imagined herself working in the world of industry and chose the only university in the nation that offered a doctorate degree in industrial technology. More
A kindergarten teacher for 30 years, Carol Glass, credits the many role models she had as a student teacher at the Lab School, along with her training at Iowa State Teachers College (UNI), for her successful teaching career. More
"UNI holds a special place in my heart," says Marty Gilson,'73, '76. "Not only did it prepare me for my career, I met my wife, Myral, when I was a junior and she was a sophomore. We married a year later." More
Education is near and dear to Beth Primrose's heart. The 1966 alumna spent 30 years as a kindergarten teacher before retiring. Her late husband, Dean '63, taught business education for 30 years. More
Ron ('55 B.A., '58 M.A.) and Mary ('54 teaching certificate, '83 B.A.) Bro belong to that special group of UNI alumni who, during their years in Cedar Falls, saw the university's transition from Iowa State Teachers College to State College of Iowa to finally the University of Northern Iowa. However, despite the name changes, the Bros say UNI has always felt like home. More
Laura Huisman, former director of finance/controller at L-3 Communications, was born with a passion for business. As a child, she often noticed pictures of men heading to work and knew the office was where she belonged. It wasn't until her time at UNI that the 1969 alum realized her career path differed from her female peers and society's expectations. More
On a beautiful autumn day last year, R. Scott Johnson returned to the UNI campus for the first time in over five years. He was at UNI to meet the recipient of an endowed scholarship he established for a student from Urbandale High School. More
As he was finishing high school nearly 60 years ago, Ron Rubek had no plans to attend college. A good friend talked Ron into attending college with him. Ron arrived at Iowa State Teachers College and moved into a room in Latham Stadium with four other freshmen. More
Growing up in Keokuk, some of Victoria Hanan Roller's favorite teachers, both elementary and secondary, had graduated from Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI). Those teachers' positive and enthusiastic remarks about ISTC made it her choice when selecting an undergraduate college. More