News Archive
5/17/2010
Unique property gift benefits campus and community
A 78.48-acre land donation to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation will ultimately benefit UNI students, faculty and staff and conservationists in the Cedar Valley.
Last year, Steve '67, MA '74, and Linda Segebarth, from Indianapolis, donated 78.48 acres of land to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation. The property, located near Dunkerton, Iowa, was designated as a state Protected Water Area. More than a quarter-mile of Crane Creek, a tributary of the Wapsipinicon River, flows through the property. The land has several wetlands and cover for upland and migratory birds. Due to the land's conservation value, the UNI Foundation sold it to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) at the end of 2009.
Funds from the sale of the property will be used to establish the Vajpeyi Political Science Endowment Fund, named after Dhirenda Vajpey, UNI professor of political science. The endowed fund will support one faculty member each year in the UNI Department of Political Science to pursue his or her scholarly interests and engage students in research.
"Linda and I are delighted with this opportunity to honor professor Vajpeyi," said Steve Segebarth, who graduated from UNI with degrees in history and political science. "His passion for scholarship and teaching opened my eyes to the world of comparative politics."
The Segebarths also are pleased that the land will eventually be managed by the Black Hawk County Conservation Board.
"My late father, Willis, farmed for decades, was a leader in soil conservation and served for a number of years on the board of the county's Soil Conservation Service," Steve Segebarth said.
INHF is a statewide conservation organization that works with landowners and other partners to protect Iowa's land, water and wildlife. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Black Hawk County Conservation Board plan to acquire the Segebarth's property from INHF to preserve as a public hunting and recreation area. The county also owns nearby Sage Sanctuary.
Vern Fish, executive director of the Black Hawk County Conservation Board said, "This property fits the board's mission and is a great opportunity to partner with UNI. It supports our mission in several ways. It will assist in flood control through the Wetland Reserve Program. It will provide habitat for wildlife, and the public will be able to enjoy the property through hunting, fishing and bird watching."
UNI Foundation President Bill Calhoun said, "We are grateful to Linda and Steve for prompting this unique collaboration. Their gift not only provides educational and recreational opportunities for our students and for the local community, it also helps us support and recognize an outstanding faculty member each year."
The Segebarth's gift is part of the $150 million "Imagine the Impact" campaign for the University of Northern Iowa. The campaign focuses on scholarships, faculty and program support. For more information, visit www.uni-foundation.org.
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