Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

April 2, 2004

Help celebrate alumni and friends on April 16

by John Anderson
A new university event bringing together Iowa State's top awards to alumni and friends will begin at 4:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, in the Memorial Union Sun Room.

The Distinguished Awards Celebration will feature the presentation of the ISU Alumni Association's Distinguished Achievement Citation and Honorary Alumnus award, and the ISU Foundation's three Order of the Knoll awards. In past years, these awards have been presented at separate alumni association and foundation events. The Distinguished Awards Celebration is open to the university community. A reception and refreshments will follow.

"These are inspiring people," said President Gregory Geoffroy, who will present the awards. "They have made big differences in the world, and they have made big differences to our university and in our ability to fulfill our mission with distinction. This event gives us all the chance to honor and thank them."

Distinguished Achievement Citations will be presented to ISU alumni Victoria Bernhardt, professor of professional studies in education and executive director of the Education for the Future Initiative at California State University, Chico; Thomas Harkin, U.S. Senator from Iowa; and Graham Spanier, president of Pennsylvania State University.

Honorary Alumni titles will be granted to John and Linda Dasher of Ames; Russell and Ann Gerdin of Coralville; and Richard Jacobson of Des Moines.

Order of the Knoll awards are: Campanile Award to Ann and Albert Jennings of Des Moines, Cardinal and Gold Award to Richard Stanley of Muscatine, and Corporate/Foundation Award to Square D/Schneider Electric of Palatine, Ill.

"Everyone is invited to this awards presentation and celebration," Geoffroy said. "We want these fine people to see how proud we are of them and how grateful we are for their association with Iowa State University."

The awards recipients will be honored at several other weekend activities, including the Veishea parade Saturday morning and a dinner Saturday night. Many of them also will participate in classes on Thursday and Friday of that week, sharing their experiences and professional expertise with students.