The University of Northern Iowa provided opportunities for funding to provide public programming and research projects that align with the goals of UNI’s upcoming Sesquicentennial Celebration. 

The following initiatives have been awarded:

A History of General Education at UNI: From Normal School to University - Barbara Cutter, History

This is a research project on the history of general education/common curriculum programs at the University of Northern Iowa from 1876 to the present.

Department of Biology Displays - Peter Berendzen, Biology

Funding to enhance a live animal display and add several new informative displays all focused on the history of the biology department and the sesquicentennial celebration. 

CEEE & UNI: 150 Years of Community and Collaboration - Ashley Coffin

A "Growing Through the Years" event will be a comprehensive celebration of the Center of Energy and Environmental Education and the University of Northern Iowa. Look forward to a four-part speaker series in 2026 with each event featuring a different aspect of the CEEE’s programs.

Iowa Conference on Communication Disorders - Jennifer Garrett, Communication Sciences & Disorders

Each year, the Iowa Conference for Communicative Disorders hosts an annual conference to bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members interested in gaining continuing education in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology. The goal in 2026 is to have a large alumni gathering in partnership with the conference, which will be in its 34th year.

Teacher Education at UNI: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - Becky Hawbaker, College of Education, et al

This project would identify, collect, digitize and share photos, videos, documents and interviews that tell the story of teacher education at UNI in the past, present and possibly future.

Screening of America’s Lost Landscape: the Tallgrass Prairie - Laura Jackson, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Celebrate UNI's history studying and restoring prairie on campus and off, with a winter screening of this documentary, produced by Dr. Daryl Smith. Possible invited speakers include UNI alumni who have gone on to work in the field of conservation as a career or simply as an avocation.

Final Thursday Reading Series 25th Anniversary - Jim O’Loughlin, Languages & Literatures

Final Thursday Reading Series is a monthly forum for creative writers. This proposal is for funding that would allow the eight public events at the Hearst Center for the Arts to each have a novel feature that would mark this 25th anniversary and make connections to UNI as part of the sesquicentennial.

Art Educators of Iowa Conference - Wendy Miller, Art

Funding for two speakers to enhance the Art Educators of Iowa conference. This conference will have a special focus on celebrating alumni art students and will culminate with an alumni collaborative art piece and celebration.