UNI Foundation Stories & News

Carillon bells on wooden palettes

How to move more than 15 tons of brass bells across the Midwest

After six months without the carillon bells, it's finally almost time for the UNI community to hear the sound of the bells across campus once again.
Carillon bells

Newly-restored Campanile bells return to UNI on May 1

The Campanile, one of the University of Northern Iowa’s most iconic structures, will soon ring out with a newly restored set of bells.
UNI students wearing Live Purple Give Gold shirts posing with TK and TC with thank you signs

Thanks for making #LivePurpleGiveGold an incredible success!

Thanks to all of your incredible support, you made #LivePurpleGiveGold 2023 better than ever!
UNI campus

University of Northern Iowa’s Our Tomorrow campaign surpasses $200 million raised

An outpouring of philanthropic support from donors has pushed UNI's Our Tomorrow campaign closer to the goal of raising $250 million by 2026. 
UNI student smiling

School-Based Mental Health Initiative Wins Nearly $375,000 in Grant Funding

Two recent grants are bolstering the University of Northern Iowa’s leadership role in supporting Iowa K-12 schools.
Deb and Kevin Hemmen

Local couple commit $750,000 to UNI-Dome renovation

Kevin and Deb Hemmen – both longtime Dike, Iowa residents – have pledged $750,000 to ensure the UNI-Dome remains a vibrant facility for the community for the next 50 years.
Mark and Jill Oman

UNI alumni Mark and Jill Oman create scholarship to benefit students in UNI’s new hybrid accounting program

A new accounting scholarship will provide more financial accessibility and opportunities for students enrolled in the new UNI accounting hybrid program at Des Moines Area Community College. The generous $94,000 gift from Greater Des Moines residents Mark (Accounting ‘79) and Jill (Management ‘85) Oman will be awarded to eligible students, starting with the first cohort in August.
Pat and John Van Sickel pose together in the woods

Alumni gift to Applied Engineering Building honors late husband, brother

Pat Van Sickel and David Van Sickel have made a gift to the Applied Engineering Building (AEB) renovation in memory of John Van Sickel – Pat’s husband and David’s brother who died in 2012 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. 
Director Laura Jackson and Donor Cathy Irvine

Iowa tallgrass prairie restoration project more than triples in size, thanks to donor

Thanks to a generous gift, the number of acres of restored prairie developed and managed by the Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa will soon triple in size.
UNI-Dome renovation receives $1.5 million donation from Elite Casino Resorts

UNI-Dome renovation receives $1.5 million donation from Elite Casino Resorts

Elite Casino Resorts is joining the campaign to renovate the UNI-Dome for the next generation with a $1.5 million investment, the second-largest donation to the project thus far.