Then and Now: At 100, Mary Kaiser Smith reflects UNI’s tradition of teacher education
Then and Now: At 100, Mary Kaiser Smith reflects UNI’s tradition of teacher education
The sound of the Campanile ringing outside her window remains one of Mary Kaiser Smith’s most enduring memories of student life in the 1940s.
Smith, '49, came to UNI, Iowa State Teachers College at the time, during a period shaped by wartime realities and the orderly routines of Lawther Hall, a women’s residence hall under the famously watchful eye of Dean of Women Sadie Campbell. She was there to earn a two-year teaching license — and would later return after the war to complete her bachelor’s degree in teaching.
“I remember sitting by my open window listening to the radio while studying, as I often did,” Smith recalled. “And then came the news that the President (Franklin Roosevelt) had died. I was shocked.”
Much has changed about campus since then, but one thing has remained constant: UNI’s commitment to preparing the educators of tomorrow. That tradition continues in students like Sadie Spargur, a recipient of the Mary Kaiser Smith Scholarship who will soon complete her elementary education degree.
Through opportunities both inside and outside the classroom — and guidance from mentor teachers — Spargur says her time at UNI has shaped the educator she is becoming. Support from donors like Smith helps make those experiences possible.
“Receiving the Mary Kaiser Smith Scholarship means a lot to me because it shows that someone who shares the same passion for education believes in my future as a teacher,” Spargur said. “Knowing that the support comes from a fellow educator and UNI alumna makes it even more meaningful. It motivates me to work hard and continue the tradition of supporting and inspiring future students.”
Clockwise from left:
- Mary Kaiser Smith, ‘49, celebrates her 100th birthday on Valentine’s Day 2026.
- Snapshots from Mary's time on campus.
- Sadie Spargur, the recipient of Mary's scholarship.
From rural Iowa to UNI
Smith’s connection to her alma mater has remained strong. A Dysart native, she has supported the university for more than 40 years, establishing scholarships for education majors from rural Iowa — students whose aspirations reflect her own beginnings. Her generosity continues to prepare future teachers to lead classrooms in communities across the state.
Spargur, who grew up in Bloomfield, a community of about 2,700 in southeast Iowa, followed in the footsteps of her two older sisters who also graduated from UNI.
“Being part of UNI’s 150-year legacy of teacher education is very meaningful to me,” Spargur said. “UNI has a long history of preparing strong and dedicated teachers. As I begin my career, I hope to carry on that legacy by making a positive impact in my classroom and helping my students grow and succeed.”
While Smith keeps busy these days gardening, baking and volunteering — she was named Volunteer of the Year by Des Moines Parks and Recreation — she still sounds every bit the teacher. She shares stories of teaching for a year at a U.S. military base in Okinawa in the 1950s and still considers herself a stickler for neatly written cursive.
As new generations of Panthers prepare to lead their own classrooms, Smith’s journey offers a throughline from ISTC to the UNI of today. Asked to share wisdom from her 100 years, her advice is characteristically straightforward:
“Do what you love,” she said.
