UNI is Receiving $3.655 Million Gift to Support Education

Dear UNI Family,

We are very pleased to announce that UNI is receiving a gift of $3.655 million from the Gerdin family to support the renovation of the Schindler Education Center.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Gerdin family, Russ and his wife Ann were among Iowa's leading philanthropists, donating millions of dollars to higher education institutions. Julie Gerdin Durr, Russ and Ann's daughter, is a UNI alumna. She graduated in 1994 with a degree in home economics: fashion merchandising.

Russ founded Heartland Express, Inc., a highly successful trucking firm, in 1978 and served as its president, chairman and chief executive officer. He passed away in October 2011, but his family continues their commitment to education.

UNI has the proud distinction of leading Iowa's number one teacher education program. Our College of Education, and campus as a whole, is doing more than teaching tomorrow's educators, administrators and health specialists.

The investment the Gerdin family has made demonstrates their commitment to ensuring UNI has a 21st century learning, teaching and research education center that will prepare the most highly effective teachers, principals and superintendents.

Thank you again for all that you do. The high quality learning that our students receive comes from all of you. Keep up the good work!

Purple for Life!

Bill Ruud
President    

Jim Wohlpart
Provost and Executive Vice President