STUDENT ACCESS & SUCCESS
$108M raised for scholarships
For 150 years, UNI has opened doors for students to learn, grow and build lives of purpose. Your support strengthened that commitment in historic ways,
helping more students access a UNI education and pursue their goals.
Students First, ALWAYS
1 in 4 students now receive a donor-funded scholarship
Thanks to the Our Tomorrow campaign, UNI continues to serve as a school of opportunity, enrolling a larger proportion of low-income and first-generation students than many peer institutions.
- 34% of UNI students are first- generation college students
- 88% are Iowa residents
- 44% come from rural communitiesacross the state
WILL POWER
Paying it forward through the WILL REINART DETERMINATION ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Will Reinart's spirit lives on through the Will Reinart Determination Endowed Scholarship, started by his parents Susan and Scott, to help students who are facing medical challenges pursue their degree at UNI.
Jaxon Hansen is one of four UNI students who have received the scholarship since it was created in 2020. A sports administration major, Hansen is taking advantage of the program’s opportunities to apply his classroom learning in real-world situations through an internship placement.
Hansen, who uses a wheelchair following a spinal cord injury, added that the Reinarts’ encouragement has made it easier to navigate his college journey.
“Receiving the Reinart Scholarship has legitimately changed my life. There are so many costs that come with being a college student and this scholarship has allowed me to pursue a degree without facing the financial struggle that many do.”
PANTHER PRIDE
Behind every scholarship is a donor who believes in the power of a UNI education to change lives.
“When our son died suddenly at the age of 30, we created a speech scholarship with the memorial money. We’ve really appreciated the connection with the students who are getting this scholarship in his honor.” — Bruce Rydberg
“You meet these young people and suddenly it becomes real. To give back and make a difference for these students is incredibly meaningful to me.”
— Cindy Petratis, ’80
“I’m fortunate enough to have some resources, and I want to pass it on to help some young people have a better life.” — Karen Page, ’70
GOAL—GETTER
The path to college once felt uncertain for Marcelo Acosta, ’26, but a donor’s scholarship made all the difference.
Growing up in Des Moines, Acosta and his family worked hard to make ends meet. He did well in school and graduated from East High, but as a first-generation college student, the next step was unclear.
That changed when he was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Rick, ’90, and Lisa Noel Scholarship — created in 2022 to support incoming UNI freshmen who face financial barriers and have overcome adversity in pursuit of their educational goals.
Because of the Noels’ generosity, Acosta’s dream of attending UNI no longer had to wait. Four years later, he has come full circle, graduating from the Wilson College of Business and preparing to begin his career in marketing.
“I’m very proud of the fact that I chose to be here at
UNI. I can’t thank the Noels, along with all
the donors and alumni, enough for believing in me and
making my dream a reality.”
UNI. I can’t thank the Noels, along with all
the donors and alumni, enough for believing in me and
making my dream a reality.”