Message from the Presidents
The UNI Parents Association (UNIPA) is a great opportunity for parents to learn more about UNI and the programs available to your son and/or daughter.
Our oldest son Mark graduated in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and is now with HyVee, Incorporated. While at UNI, Mark was a Presidential Scholar and was also very active in several activities, including the UNI Panther Marching Band, a journalist with the Northern Iowan student newspaper, and student government for Bartlett Hall. He graduated Highest Honors with Distinction…in four years!
Our daughter Megan is a junior majoring in Secondary Education/English and she is having a wonderful experience as well. She lived in Bender Hall her first two years and was active with residence hall government. She is currently living off-campus in Cedar Falls, and she works on-campus for UNI-Tix. Megan is also a member of several campus organizations, and continues to be on the Dean's List each semester. Both of our children have been successful with their academics, in large part because of the support and attention they have received from their professors and educational support staff at UNI.
Pleasantville (Iowa) is a small town, and Pleasantville High School has an enrollment of approximately 210 students….the typical "everyone knows everyone else" small school environment. We continue to be impressed with the "large school opportunities/small school relationships" that UNI offers to each student. Both Mark and Megan continue to have good rapport with their professors, and have never hesitated to talk with their professors about questions they have concerning their academics and professional goals. Even though Mark graduated a year ago, he makes frequent trips to campus to visit with faculty and staff.
There are numerous opportunities to be involved in campus life, making it easy to get to know students from across campus or around the world! There is great diversity within the student body at UNI….including students from all 99 counties in Iowa, 46 states, and more than 60 countries. Residence halls have ongoing events and activities, and the outstanding facilities on-campus provide students with everything from intramural athletics at the Wellness Recreation Center to the performing arts at Gallagher-Bluedorn.
Finally, as parents we often have questions or concerns about our children's college experiences, and this is where the UNIPA can help out! This Association provides a great network for parents to share information and support each other…because it is an on-going journey for us, too!
Lois and John Turnage
UNI Parent Association Presidents