Current
Issue

UNIToday
Archives

Submit
Class Notes

Alumni
Home

UNI Alumni Association NEWS

UNI Lux Service Award recipients

UNI students Samantha J. Keltner, Lipin Loo and Kelly Valentin have been honored as recipients of the UNI Lux Service Award for service to the university.

The Lux Service Award, a tradition at UNI since its inception in 1984, is presented annually to three undergraduate students who best represent the ideal of service to the university community. The honor is conferred in the spirit of keeping the light of service to others burning bright at UNI. UNI’s official seal features a burning lamp of knowledge; the name of the award, Lux, is the Latin word for light.

Keltner, a history major with a special education minor from Ankeny, is a founding member and current president of Connecting Alumni to Students (CATS), a member of the UNI Homecoming Committee, president of Gamma Phi Beta, a Northern Iowa Student Government Senator and a member of UNI’s Summer Orientation staff.

Loo, a biotechnology-honors research major with a minor in chemistry from Penang, Malaysia, has left his mark on UNI through a variety of activities. He is a top student in his academic department, is a member of Student Admissions Ambassadors, promotes cultural understanding through his work with the International Student Association Board and has helped with recruitment activities in his home country of Malaysia.

Valentin, a biology major who is also completing the Global Health certificate program, from Parkersburg, is a mother of three, ages 10, 7 and 3, and has succeeded in the classroom while being an active volunteer. Her lengthy list of activities includes the UNI Global Health Corps, Health Care Volunteer Services, president of the Pre-Medical Club at UNI, Family & Children’s Council of Black Hawk County, and the Misfits Playground. She also coordinated a medical mission to Honduras. Additionally, Valentin established the UNI Pre-Medical Enrichment Project to increase the community engagement of UNI pre-med students. The Lux Service Award program is sponsored by the UNI Alumni Association.

UNI alumni eligible for Merchant Scholarship

UNI alumni are invited to apply for a 2009 Merchant Scholarship. Merchant Scholarship recipients must be attending or planning to attend an accredited graduate or professional school at an educational institution as a full-time student. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of ability, achievement, character, potential and service to society. The scholarships are awarded from a trust established in 1951 to honor Frank Ivan Merchant and his sister Kate Matilda Merchant. Frank was a professor of Latin and Greek, and served as head of the Department of Foreign Languages at UNI, then Iowa State Teachers College. He lived with his sister, who taught piano lessons until her death in 1942. Application and instructions for applying are available online through the UNI Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost at www.uni.edu/vpaa. Deadline for completed applications is March 1, 2009. For more information, contact Merchant Scholarship administrator Cheryl Nedrow at 319-273-2519 or cheryl.nedrow@uni.edu.