Quick Hits
Campaign Iowa State Totals
Fundraising to Date
Effective: April 20, 2009
Total: $668 million
Goal: $800 million
Student Support: $204 million
Goal: $235 million
Faculty Support: $144 million
Goal: $215 million
Program Support: $207 million
Goal: $195 million
Facilities Support: $113 million
Goal: $155 million
Foundation News
Leaving the Foundation:
Keith Fortmann, assistant vice president of development, College of Engineering, to Washington University, St. Louis
Carla Wiedmier, executive director of development, College of Engineering, to Oklahoma State University
Recent Events - Soults Family Visitor Center Dedicated
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday, April 16, for the Soults Family Visitor Center in the Memorial Union.
Don Soults and Iowa State President Gregory Geoffroy
The new $1 million facility will create an unforgettable first impression for thousands of prospective students and their families. The Iowa State Office of Admissions facility features a presentation room for up to 90 guests that includes large flat screen monitors, computer stations and sophisticated lighting and sound systems. A reception area and lounge will hold up to 30 people and allow space for admissions staff members to visit with recruits and their families. The Soults Family Visitor Center was funded, in part, by a lead gift from Don Soults (’61 B.S. and ’68 Ph.D., statistics) of Vienna, Va. (pictured on the left with Iowa State President Gregory Geoffroy).
Recent Gifts - New Business PhD Program Gets Boost through Gerdin Gift
The College of Business will launch its first-ever Ph.D. program this fall and a recent gift by Russell and Ann Gerdin of Iowa City, Iowa, will support that venture.
Russell and Ann Gerdin
The Gerdins have contributed $1 million to an endowment fund to support the Business and Technology doctoral program. The full-time residential program will focus on theory development and testing in areas relating to the management of three critical resources of any organization: customers, supply chain, and information infrastructure.
"The Gerdins are longtime friends of the College of Business," said Labh Hira, the Raisbeck Endowed Dean of the College of Business. "They fully support the college’s efforts to become a comprehensive business college, serving the state of Iowa, the region, the nation, and the world by offering a full portfolio of educational opportunities in business disciplines. Their investment in the Ph.D. program signifies their support for the college’s growth and development."
The Gerdins' gift to the doctoral program is just the latest example of their generous and ongoing support for Iowa State's College of Busines. The couple’s $10 million lead gift made possible the construction of the Gerdin Business Building on campus. The Gerdins also recently contributed $100,000 to Iowa State athletics and $100,000 to the Gerdin Citizenship Program. This program for freshman and sophomore business majors engages the students in hands-on activities to develop leadership skills, knowledge and abilities.
"(Before making this most recent gift) I thought about how Labh (Hira) and his staff have done such a great job, and the students have been so appreciative," Russ Gerdin said. "Why shouldn’t I back this Ph.D. program that the college needs? The thing that impresses me the most (about the College of Business) is the students and how much they really care. The whole culture has always been very good and that just impresses me."
Russ Gerdin is the founder of Heartland Express, a trucking firm that he built from the ground up into one of the nation’s largest. He continues to serve as chairman and CEO of that firm.
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