University of Northern Iowa 2012 September 8, 2012 Slife Ballroom Commons
University of Northern Iowa Distinguished Awards 2012 Celebration Hosted by the UNI Alumni Association and UNI Foundation Welcome and Introductions Emcee Bill Calhoun President of the UNI Foundation Special Music Provided by the UNI School of Music Comments from the President Benjamin J. Allen University of Northern Iowa Presentation of Honours and Awards Justin Bierman Chair, UNI Alumni Assocation Board of Directors Rose Lorenz Chair, UNI Foundation Board of Trustees Closing Comments Bill Calhoun
Heritage Honours Awards Established 1956 Honorary Alumnus Award Edward J. Gallagher, Jr. Young Alumnus Award Jason Kilborn 94 Alumni Service Award Sandy Stevens 62 Alumni Achievement Award Mildred Wood 56, 62 President s Philanthropy Awards Established 2012 Emerging Philanthropist Award Michael 92 and Jacqueline 93 Mrosko Faculty and Staff Award Carl 51, 59 and Wanda 52, 66 Wehner Corporation and Foundation Award John Deere Rich Czarnecki Purple and Gold Award Gary 62 and Myrna 63 Floyd
Honorary Alumnus Award Edward J. Gallagher, Jr. This award is presented to friends of the university in recognition of their exceptional support of the University of Northern Iowa. Although Ed is not a graduate of UNI, he has developed a great fondness for the university and, in particular, the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. His lead gift to the GBPAC set the stage for an outstanding cultural venue in the Cedar Valley. His deep passion for classical music has led him and his wife Cathy to become loyal supporters of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra. Ed has served the UNI Foundation well as a trustee and past chair of the board. In addition, Ed served as co-chair of the Cedar Valley portion of the Leading Building Sharing campaign and co-chair of the trustees drive for the Students First campaign. Ed has provided extraordinary leadership to UNI and to the Cedar Valley community.
Young Alumnus Award Jason Kilborn Class of 1994 This award is presented to a graduate who has demonstrated success early in his or her career and who has been active in the life of the University of Northern Iowa. Jason Kilborn is a professor of law at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He is also the Van der Grinten visiting chair in International and Comparative Insolvency Law at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands. He is the author or editor of eight books and many articles and short works. He is a frequent speaker throughout the United States and abroad. Jason said UNI was very generous in supporting his education, which launched him forward into an extremely satisfying and enriching career and life. He wanted to give back to the university in a way that more or less replicated the kinds of experiences that he most valued. He established the Jason Kilborn Study Abroad Fund. This gift of scholarship will give UNI students international experiences that are so vital to success in today s workforce.
Alumni Service Award Sandy Stevens Class of 1962 This award recognizes graduates who have exhibited long and continuing service to the university and their community. Sandy Stevens lives in Glen Ellyn, Ill., and is a recognized voice for wrestlers throughout the United States. She is a journalist and public address announcer for wrestling. She announced at the Olympic Games of 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1996 at Atlanta. Sandy has won several awards including Wrestling Woman of the Year by USA Wrestling. At UNI, Sandy s leadership is taking the wrestling program to new heights. She is the lead donor for the wrestling room renovation project and has endowed two scholarships. Sandy also gives tirelessly of her time to the UNI Alumni Association. She served on the board of directors for 10 years, including three as chairperson. Sandy continues to represent UNI in the Chicago area in a variety of capacities, including assisting UNI s admissions counselor in recruiting local area residents to attend UNI.
Alumni Achievement Award Mildred Hope Wood Class of 1956 and Class of 1962 This award recognizes the significant professional accomplishments of UNI graduates. Armed with several degrees from Iowa State Teachers College and a doctorate degree from Indiana University, Mildred became a pioneer educator in the field of learning disabilities. She was a charter member and president of the Iowa Association for Children with Learning Disabilities at the University of Northern Iowa. Since then she has presented at state, national and international conferences, designed and conducted major research projects, published journal articles, served on state and national boards, written a weekly column on learning disabilities, and authored two books in addition to serving as instructor at UNI and education consultant in Area Education Agency 7. In 2003, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack honored her work with the state s highest award of the Iowa Commission of Persons with Disabilities. In 2011, at age 91, Mildred was inducted into the Iowa Women s Hall of Fame.
Emerging Philanthropist Award Michael Mrosko, Class of 1992 Jacqueline Mrosko, Class of 1993 This award recognizes an individual or a couple, no older than 50 years of age, who have provided philanthropic support and creative leadership to the university. Studying overseas was a life-changing experience for Mike and Jaci Mrosko. Mike said it helped him think more broadly, and it opened up many opportunities throughout his career. Now he and Jaci want to make overseas travel experiences available to UNI students. Because they both received scholarships while attending UNI, they wanted current students to have the same advantages. They have established the Michael and Jacqueline Mrosko Endowed College of Business Administration International Travel Scholarship. They have also endowed scholarships in accounting and education and have established an estate gift. Mike has been a guest speaker at the College of Business Administration, and they are both members of the Imagine the Impact campaign national steering committee. Mike and Jaci support recruiting efforts in the Twin Cities and have been a resource to the UNI admissions counselor based there. Mike is very active in the UNI Twin Cities Accounting Alumni group.
Faculty and Staff Award Carl Wehner, Class of 1951 and Class of 1959 Wanda Wehner, Class of 1952 and Class of 1966 This award recognizes an individual or couple currently employed by or retired from the University of Northern Iowa who has provided philanthropic support, dedicated long-term service and creative leadership to the university. Carl and Wanda Wehner embody the essence of UNI s educational spirit. In the classroom, they established high standards and gained a reputation for excellence from their students and colleagues. Carl was a central figure in the development of a strong Department of Mathematics and what would be the Department of Computer Science, and was a pioneer in the use of computers in the classroom. Wanda was a central figure in the development of a strong undergraduate program in the Department of Chemistry that has gained a widespread reputation for excellence. Not only have Carl and Wanda been outstanding leaders in the classroom, they have supported UNI through three fundraising campaigns. They fund an annual undergraduate research award and have established four endowed scholarships that support students in computer science, mathematics teaching, chemistry teaching and elementary education. They have also been long and loyal supporters of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, the UNI Museum, the UNI Connections Scholarship and the UNI Emeritus Association Fund.
Corporation and Foundation Award John Deere Accepting on behalf of John Deere is Rich Czarnecki Global Director, Large Tractor Product Line This award is presented to a corporation, foundation or organization that has demonstrated generosity to UNI through significant leadership giving, dedicated long-term service and assistance to UNI students and faculty through recruitment opportunities and/or programming support. John Deere and the University of Northern Iowa have a long history of collaboration in education, business and technology development and community enhancement. John Deere is the largest single private employer of UNI alumni. UNI has also benefitted from the generous contributions of the John Deere Foundation, John Deere Waterloo Operations and John Deere employees. Since 1971, John Deere has given more than $3 million in support of scholarships, programs and facilities. Employees teach in the classroom, serve on advisory boards and participate in the matching gift program. From Upward Bound, to Solar Splash, to Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, the John Deere impact has been felt in almost every area of campus.
Purple and Gold Award Gary Floyd, Class of 1962 Myrna Floyd, Class of 1963 This award is the most prestigious award for lifetime giving that the University of Northern Iowa Foundation bestows on behalf of the university. This award recognizes the extraordinary, long-time support of an individual or couple who have had a significant and inspiring impact on UNI. Gary and Myrna Floyd spent their careers teaching and sharing their love of science with students. Gary is the retired Dean of Biological Sciences at Ohio State University, and Myrna is retired from middle grades science education. For more than four decades, they have been investing in the university and its students through their volunteer efforts and financial resources. They served on the Students First national steering committee and on the 2012 Golden Grad reunion committee. They are life members of the UNI Alumni Association, and they are recipients of the Alumni Achievement award. Gary and Myrna have long supported the Dean s Fund and the Annual Fund, have endowed a scholarship for future science educators, and annually fund two undergraduate research assistantships in the Department of Biology. The Floyd s legacy will continue to impact future students and faculty with gifts from their estate plan. Their future gifts will create another endowed scholarship, an endowed undergraduate assistantship fund and a special endowment within the college s Dean s Fund. Finally, their generosity will create the Myrna & Gary Floyd Endowed Professorship in Plant Biology. Their philanthropy will have an unending effect on UNI s students and faculty.
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