11/17/03

$1.3 MILLION GIFT TO INCREASE ISU COLLEGE OF AG STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

AMES, Iowa - A $1.3 million estate gift from Jeanette Kennedy will establish the F. W. Schiele Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship. The donation will increase the value of the Iowa State University's College of Agriculture Excellence in Agriculture endowed scholarship portfolio by nearly 25 percent.

Kennedy left a portion of her farm and other assets to the scholarship fund in honor of her father F.W. Schiele. The farm, which is located north of Durant, was sold to Jeff Graves, who is a 1980 graduate in agricultural business at Iowa State University.

Graves, who was Kennedy's farm tenant, represented the estate when the gift was announced at the College of Agriculture donor recognition event on Nov. 15. The celebration recognized donors, alum and friends of the college. Speakers at the event included Gregory Geoffroy, Iowa State president, and Catherine Woteki, dean of the College of Agriculture.

Eric Hoiberg, associate dean of academic programs in the College of Agriculture, said the gift is an investment in the future because it increases the scholarship opportunities available to students.
"This donation fits the College's vision of being a vital force for opportunity and change. This will strengthen our efforts to ensure that Iowa State is the place where students choose to pursue their dreams in agriculture and life sciences," Hoiberg said.

The Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship program provides in-state tuition for freshman meeting specific academic guidelines. Students can receive the scholarship for up to four years at Iowa State if they maintain a 3.0 grade point average, take a full course load and meet other requirements.