Index
Human Performance Complex fund drive receives boost from R.J. McElroy Trust
McLeod Center Wall of Champions fund drive to begin soon
Campaign gift encourages UNI students to teach in Iowa
Memorial Garden - a special time, a special place
Russell Hall renovation plans progress
America's Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie
Campaign Progress

Human Performance Complex fund drive receives boost from R.J. McElroy Trust

A northeast Iowa foundation has provided the momentum needed to complete fundraising for UNI's Human Performance Complex (HPC). The R.J. McElroy Trust recently pledged $500,000 for construction of the complex as a challenge grant. The UNI Foundation must raise $1 million to receive the funding. Of particular interest to the R.J. McElroy Trust is the HPC's Center for Healthy Youth component, which will encompass several UNI health-related education, research and service programs in the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services. Included will be Global Health Corps, Camp Adventure, National Program for Playground Safety, the Institute for Youth Fitness and Obesity, and Youth Agency Administration with the office of the McElroy Professor of Youth Leadership Studies.

"The R.J. McElroy Trust has given steadfast support for projects like the HPC that serve the youth in our area," said Bill Calhoun, vice president for university advancement. "The Human Performance Complex is one of the priorities of UNI's Students First Campaign. We need to raise a total of $6 million in external support for this project, and have reached the $4.5 million mark. By raising $1 million to match the McElroy Trust's challenge gift of $500,000 we will have met the goal."

The 500,000-square-foot HPC addition to the Wellness and Recreation Center will also enable UNI to enter a unique partnership with medical professionals in the Cedar Valley to enhance services to their clients and the education of UNI students. The complex will serve UNI's intercollegiate athletic programs by creating training facilities for player development activities including strength conditioning, plyometrics, nutritional advising, and agility/speed activities.

McLeod Center Wall of Champions fund drive to begin soon

Architects are making plans for a Wall of Champions area within the McLeod Center in recognition of those who have supported construction of the facility. Donors of $1,000 or more will be recognized on nameplates that will be a permanent part of the McLeod Center.

"This is a great opportunity for us to show our gratitude to those who have supported the McLeod Center. In turn, it gives donors the opportunity to recognize family, friends, or organizations in a public way," said Scott Leisinger, vice president for development. "We felt that 'Wall of Champions' was a perfect description for this naming opportunity. It reflects the spirit of our donors and our Panther athletic teams alike."

McLeod Center fundraising reached its $18 million goal in December 2003. Fundraising continues for features that will ensure the arena is a premier facility for the university and community. These include a kitchen/catering area, light/sound grid, finished Panther hospitality suite and hall of fame connector. The Foundation's goal is to complete fundraising by fall 2004, when groundbreaking is expected to occur.

Plans for the Wall of Champions will be finalized this summer. For more information, please contact the UNI Foundation at 800-782-9522 or 1-319-273-6078.

Campaign gift encourages UNI students to teach in Iowa

Teachers graduating from the University of Northern Iowa will have incentive to pursue their careers in Iowa, thanks to a gift from Rex and Kathy Eno of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Enos are contributing the majority of their one million dollar gift to the university to establish the Teaching in Iowa Incentive Award Fund, which will encourage students to take their first teaching position in the state of Iowa.

The University of Northern Iowa is nationally known for its excellent teacher-preparation program. Overall, about 25 percent of Iowa's teachers are UNI graduates. "We are facing a crisis in losing many of our finest teachers to other states at a critical time for education in Iowa," said Rex Eno. "The quality of students found at UNI provides Iowa with graduates who will be tomorrow's leaders -- especially in the field of education. It was important to us to establish a fund that will help encourage our most outstanding teachers to stay here in Iowa. We hope that others will be willing to contribute to this fund in order to keep our good teachers in the state."

Rex Eno is the retired chairman of Life Investors Insurance Company of America and serves as co-chair of UNI's national Students First Campaign. Kathy Eno, a UNI alumna, serves on the advisory board of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

Memorial Garden - A special time, a special place

Visitors to UNI routinely comment on the beautifully landscaped and well-maintained UNI campus. Three years ago, UNI's Student Alumni Ambassadors envisioned a Memorial Garden to enhance the campus and initiated a fund drive to create it. Since that time, the UNI Foundation has joined their efforts to create this special place on campus.

The garden plans call for the development and landscaping of the area east of the newly remodeled Maucker Union and Center for Multicultural Education. The Memorial Garden will contain an amphitheater and stage in the center and will provide a place where students, alumni, faculty and staff can relax or gather for special events. A key component of the Memorial Garden fundraising will be a brick pathway surrounding the flowerbeds. Friends of the garden will have the opportunity to place a personalized brick or paver in the pathway to commemorate their role in building the garden or memorialize a loved one. In addition to purchasing bricks, other gift opportunities include flower gardens, limestone benches, garden lights and granite pavers. For more information or to give to this project, contact the UNI Foundation at 800-782-9522, 319-273-6078 or give online.

Russell Hall renovation plans progress

Russell Hall renovation plans moved forward as the Iowa legislature approved the sale of $7.8 million in bonds for renovation. It is anticipated that the sale of these bonds will allow the project to begin in 2006. The remaining $2 million needed will come from private funding sources.

Although construction of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center has taken some pressure off the use of Russell Hall, 80 percent of School of Music activities still take place there. The renovation has become vital as the university attempts to accommodate a growing number of music majors in a program that has been ranked 20th in the nation. Today, the School of Music has become one of UNI's signature programs, with 50 faculty and staff and more than 350 majors. In addition, there are more than 1,000 non-majors taking music courses.

"Russell Hall simply cannot accommodate the number of students currently in the program. While it is wonderful to have additional students, we need to address the space issues in order to enhance recruitment of future talented students, faculty and staff. We need facilities that complement and enhance our status as one of the top music schools in the nation," said John Vallentine, director of the School of Music.

Russell Hall improvements will provide performance and rehearsal space, complement the new performing arts center, and give students quality space in which to prepare for careers as teachers and performers. Renovations will provide high-quality rehearsal and recording facilities for UNI jazz bands and enhance recruitment of talented students, faculty and staff.

The Russell Hall renovation and addition project is part of the university's $100 million Students First Campaign. The UNI Foundation is seeking to raise $2 million in private funding of the $9.8 million needed to renovate Russell Hall, with the remaining monies allocated from the state. More than $1 million in private funds has been raised so far.

The School of Music is conducting a grassroots campaign to raise money for the project. Gayle Johns Rose '77, a member of the School of Music Advisory Board, has established a $100,000 Alumni Challenge Grant. She is matching all contributions up to $499, and doubling her match for all contributions over $500, up to the grassroots campaign's goal of $100,000. Rose hopes that this challenge will spur alumni and friends to ensure that UNI’s students and faculty are given a facility that will meet their practice and performance needs.
For information on Russell Hall renovations and the Alumni Challenge visit the Russell Hall website.

America’s Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie

America’s Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie is a feature-length documentary film produced for national public television about one of the world’s great ecosystems and its transformation from natural landscape to farmland. The film, produced by Dr. Daryl Smith, professor of biology and science education and director of the Native Roadside Vegetation Center at UNI, debuted at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on April 30. The breathtaking cinematography, original music and moving narrative created a powerful viewing experience for more than 1,200 people who attended this special event. The project is now being marketed for broadcast on national public television to a potential audience numbering in the millions. Subsequently, it will be distributed to schools, nature centers and museums throughout the Midwest. This project has received support from numerous foundations, corporations and individuals. Donations are still needed in order to defray post-production costs. If you would like more information, visit www.uni.edu/~lostland, or call the UNI Foundation at 800-782-9522.

Campaign progress

$99 million of the $100 million goal for the Students First Campaign has been secured. More than $64 million of that is for scholarships and program support. The campaign will conclude in 2005.