Alumni & Friends
Campaign
Magazine
Give
Mobile Icon for Homepage
Alumni & Friends
Campaign
Iowa Magazine
Give to Iowa
Home Student Impact Grant Recipients

Student Impact Grant Recipients

Student Impact Grants help Hawkeyes experience, learn, and discover important lessons outside the classroom. Past recipients show you cannot always anticipate when a unique idea is going to arise—or when it will inspire action or creation. Support from the Iowa Impact Fund helps in the pursuit of new and exciting ventures. Read the stories of two Student Impact Grant recipients.

For a More Accepting Community

An image from Nachte Raho, a celebration partially funded by an Iowa Student Impact Grant.

Ridhi Jani

In an effort to celebrate and share Indian culture with the University of Iowa community, the Indian Student Alliance (ISA) hosts a series of charitable, cultural, educational, and social events each year. "Spreading diversity and cultural awareness is extremely important to us," says Ridhi Jani, president of the Indian Student Alliance.

The group’s yearly showcase event, Nachte Raho, is one of the largest Bollywood fusion dance competitions in the Midwest. Eight of the best university dance teams from around the nation come to Iowa and perform. The Student Impact Grant helped pay for a top-notch venue, Hancher Auditorium, and secure judges for the competition.

For a Better Quality of Life

An image of Sandra Castillo, a recipient of an Iowa Student Impact Grant.

Sandra Castillo

Tackling real-life problems and gaining hands-on experiences are important for future engineers, including Sandra Castillo. Through her work with the University of Iowa chapter of Continental Crossing—which helps communities in developing countries construct footbridges— Castillo spent five weeks in Nicaragua repairing two suspended bridges.

Thanks to the Student Impact Grant, Castillo was able to pay for lodging, meals, medical and health expenses, and equipment for the trip. "Your support made my experience accessible and affordable," says Castillo. "Your generosity is helping change the world and making a difference in the lives of so many students."

Learn how to apply for the Student Impact Grants.

If you are interested in helping provide students with more opportunities like these, please support the Iowa Impact Fund.

Join an Alumni Network
Make a Gift
Join our Email List
Iowa Magazine
Explore the latest stories from Iowa Magazine.
Related Content
Iowa’s Rapid Response History Course Tackles Hot-Button Topics

The lecture series connects students with experts on the Israel-Palestine conflict and other current events.

Two of a Kind

John W. Colloton gives $50,000 to honor Lisa Bluder and Amy O'Deen. Lisa Bluder Lisa Bluder climbed a ladder and clipped the final strands of the net last month inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, celebrating an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 berth for the UI women?s basketball team. Less than a mile down Hawkins Drive, Amy O?Deen (80BSN, 83MA) climbed the floors of UI Stead Family Children?s Hospital, supporting the UI?s team of pediatric care providers. Though their paths rarely cross, Bluder and O?Deen have risen as leaders who share a mutual passion for the UI and a combined 55 years serving the university, community, and state. John W. Colloton (57MA, 13LHD), the director of UI Hospitals & Clinics for 22 years and an avid Hawkeye women?s basketball fan, recently made two $25,000 gifts to the UI in honor of Hawkeye Women?s Basketball Coach Bluder and O?Deen, the interim director of UI Stead Family Children?s Hospital and the senior assistant director of UI Hospitals & Clinics. ?Our program has enjoyed John?s long-standing support dating back to his time as CEO of UI Hospitals & Clinics and continues today,? says Bluder. ?This gift shows his incredible respect for the women in our program and for female leadership. We are extremely grateful.? The gifts will be used by Bluder and O?Deen to fund additional needs within their programs. Bluder, who was recently named the Naismith National Coach of the Year after leading the UI women?s basketball program to its first NCAA Elite Eight appearance since 1993, earned the respect and admiration of Colloton soon after she set foot in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. ?I could see she was very savvy and had a lot of knowledge on how to work with young women,? says Colloton. ?She has earned many deserving honors and achieved unparalleled success for the program while doing so in a humble and classy manner.? Colloton has supported the UI women?s basketball program for decades as a frequent attendee at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. In 1998, he and his late wife established the John and Mary Ann Colloton (57BSN) Women?s Basketball Scholarship, an annual award that was held by Makenzie Meyer this past season. Amy O'Deen O?Deen recently completed her 36th year as a member of the administrative leadership teams at UI Hospitals & Clinics. She?s been colleagues with Colloton throughout her career and impressed him with her strong, intellectual leadership and human relations skills. ?Amy has led a wide spectrum of programs throughout UI Hospitals & Clinics, the local community, the UI, and statewide,? says Colloton. ?She brings a high level of respect and appreciation to the University of Iowa, and I am eternally grateful for all of her contributions to our team.? A former student-athlete and captain of the UI women?s volleyball team, O?Deen began a fruitful career alongside Colloton in 1983. ?I am honored and humbled by John?s generous gift in recognition of my career at UI Hospitals & Clinics,? says O?Deen. ?His mentorship and support contributed immensely to whatever success I?ve been able to realize during my tenure at UI Hospitals & Clinics. To be honored in parallel with Lisa Bluder, whom I greatly respect and admire, is overwhelming.? Colloton still walks the halls of UI Hospitals & Clinics and attends nearly every Hawkeye women?s basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Even when he?s not present, his impact is felt at both places through his continued support. ?John?s gifts are moving and deeply appreciated,? says Gary Barta, the UI?s Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. ?He has made a tremendous impact on this great university?and we thank him for his continued leadership, passion, and support.? Support UI Stead Family Children?s Hospital or UI Women?s Basketball.

GOLD Leadership Group

The Graduates of the Last Decade ("GOLD") Leadership Group advocates for the interests of recent graduates of the University of Iowa (alumni who earned a UI degree within the past 10 years).

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Statement unless you have disabled them in your browser.

About Us
Careers
Update Your Information
Contact Us
Privacy Statement
© The University of Iowa Center for Advancement

NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity that works to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.

A Gallup world-class workplace for employee engagement.