9/21/01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jennifer Hartman, director, Freeburg Early Childhood Education Program, (319) 287-9415

Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

UNI hosts dedication ceremony for Freeburg Center

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- An official dedication ceremony for R.J. McElroy Hall, home of the Freeburg Early Childhood Education Program, will take place Sat., Sept. 29, at 9 a.m. The event will be at the new building, on the Allen College Campus, 1950 Heath St., Waterloo.

The public may attend.

Operated by the Regents’ Center for Early Developmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa, the Freeburg program will serve 66 children, providing developmentally appropriate education in a model facility.

"This program will provide high-quality early education for students between age 3 and first grade," explained Rheta DeVries, director of the Regents' Center. "It also will serve as a training site for preparing future and practicing teachers."

Those attending will be allowed to tour the new building.

The Freeburg program is a collaborative effort among the Regents' Center, the UNI College of Education, Waterloo Community Schools, Allen College and Allen Health Systems, Tri-County Head Start, the McElroy Trust, private donors and corporate contributors.

The building project and collaboration are the results of a unique partnership that began with a $1 million gift to the UNI Foundation from Janice Freeburg Cannon of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Cannon received a two-year degree from UNI, then Iowa State Teachers College in 1957, and taught second grade early in her career. A subsequent $1 million gift from the McElroy Trust initiated the building project.

Additional gifts for the project have come from the John Deere Foundation, AEGON USA Charitable Foundation, the Community Foundation-Leighty Fund. the Minnie Crippen Trust, and the HON INDUSTRIES Charitable Foundation. Individuals gifts were received from Dan and Sally Frudden of Charles City; Anna Spengler of Madison, Wis.; Lela Ping Abbott and the late Roy L. Abbott of Bradenton, Fla.; Eldred and Donna Harman, and Ross and Pat Christensen, all of Waterloo.

The building features four classrooms, observation rooms, a family resource center, teachers’ offices, a multi-purpose room, kitchen and library. It was designed by StruXture Architects and the general contractor was Prairie Construction, both of Waterloo.

9/21/01

Contact:

Ella Sweigert, Study Abroad Program Coordinator, (319) 273-7652

Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

University of Northern Iowa to host International Opportunities Fair Wednesday, Sept. 26

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa---The University of Northern Iowa International Opportunities Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26, in Maucker Union, Expansion B, on the UNI campus in Cedar Falls. The fair is sponsored by the UNI Study Abroad Center.

Attendees will have the chance to explore international opportunities, and speak with over 35 exhibitors, while they learn about programs offered, such as; study abroad, internship, research, volunteer, travel and work.

The event will also feature travel information provided by Council Travel, door prizes and give-aways.

More information about the fair is available at the Center's website at www.uni.edu/studyabroad.com or by contacting the UNI Study Abroad Center at (319) 273-7078.

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