Young Alumna Comes Full Circle
Gives Back through New Emerging Leader Program
Two weeks after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa in 2006, Kaitlin Stimpson packed up all her belongings and drove to Durham, N.C., where she is pursuing her Ph.D. at Duke University in genetics and genomics. Stimpson admits that she has become a Duke Blue Devil fan, but says she still bleeds purple.
“I have such wonderful memories of my experiences at UNI, like playing on the soccer team and volunteering at local organizations,” Stimpson said. “It also was a highlight to travel to Belize for an ecology course and to Australia for a semester abroad. Perhaps surprisingly, my time spent in the classroom and McCollum Science Hall was the most fulfilling of my experiences. The faculty’s genuine concern for my education made my classroom experience rewarding and worthwhile. This attention strengthened my confidence and curiosity for science.”
The inspiration Stimpson received as a student has come full circle as she encourages young scientists to strengthen their curiosity. As part of her graduate work, she designs curriculum and demonstrates science experiments to fifth graders. Stimpson said, “I held my professors at UNI in high esteem, and I hope my students will admire me for my commitment to teaching.”
In honor of her esteemed professors and outstanding experiences at UNI, Stimpson has joined the UNI Annual Fund’s Campanile Society as an Emerging Leader, a unique giving club for alumni of the last decade.
“UNI was very generous to me as a student, both in terms of the educational and financial support I received,” Stimpson said. “The Presidential Scholarship I received made it possible for me to attend UNI as an out-of-state student. It is difficult for me to articulate how grateful I am for my experience at UNI. I hope that by continuing to donate to UNI I can help the university provide a quality education to its students. I’m celebrating my successes by continuing the circle of giving.”
Learn more about the Campanile Society and Emerging Leaders at
www.uni-foundation.org./campanilesociety.shtml.
A Glimpse of the Future … a Challenge for Today
Richard O. (Dick) Jacobson is no mystic, but he has a grand vision for the students and scholars who live, learn and teach at the University of Northern Iowa. He envisions students reaching beyond the walls of their classrooms to provide healthcare to impoverished communities around the globe. He envisions faculty empowering tomorrow’s leaders. He envisions a venue for a newly-formed community outreach partnership that will provide opportunities for students to interact with physicians, therapists and athletic trainers as part of their education. 
Visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist Dick Jacobson has pledged $3 million to support the completion of UNI’s Human Performance Complex. The Richard O. Jacobson Human Performance Complex will house the Center for Sports and Human Performance, which will serve athletic training education, Youth and Human Services, Camp Adventure, the Global Health Corps, the National Program for Playground Safety, a community outreach partnership between UNI, Allen Hospital and Cedar Valley Medical Specialists; and remodeled portions of the Wellness and Recreation Center, including the Strength and Conditioning Center, laboratory and locker rooms.
“This is a phenomenal opportunity to build a first-class facility to house programs that will enhance the lives of thousands of Iowans throughout the state. I am pleased to be a part of this project,” said Jacobson.
Jacobson, a Belmond, Iowa, native is the founder of Jacobson Companies. Beginning in 1968 with a single Des Moines warehouse, Jacobson grew the warehouse facilities to more than 30 million square feet, while expanding the company into a business encompassing eight separate companies and employing more than 6,500 people in 25 states. His most recent venture is in the ethanol industry. Hawkeye Renewables is the third-largest producer of ethanol in the United States.
Jacobson invites others to join him in supporting UNI by challenging the UNI Foundation to secure an additional $2 million from other UNI alumni and friends to fund programs served by the complex. To learn more about the Jacobson Challenge, contact the UNI Foundation at 800-782-9522 or 319-273-6078 or www.uni-foundation.org
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