Foundation Focus

Teaching alum scholarships honor past, support future

JoLeen Eiklenborg confidently knew she wanted to become a teacher as early as her freshman year of high school — and that there was no other choice for her than the University of Northern Iowa. She would follow in her mom’s footsteps, who was an educator herself after earning her teaching certificate from UNI and teaching in a one-room schoolhouse.

Eiklenborg was drawn to the College of Education for its strong reputation and because she felt it helped students become lifelong learners who were ready for the world. She also saw that professors truly invested in their students, ensuring they could succeed and were professionally prepared for any teaching or administrative career.

Eiklenborg earned her physical education teaching degree and minors in health, sports medicine and traffic safety from UNI in 1980, followed by a fulfilling teaching career. In 1992, she also earned a Master of Educational Administration, which led her career to Texas at the State Education Agency, Regional Education Center, and later Texas State Health Services. She was also an adjunct professor with Texas State University.

Now, she’s paying it forward to other students in the College of Education.

“I want to give back to UNI because of the opportunities they’ve given me and for making me ready to be a lifelong learner and be successful wherever my endeavors have led me,” she says. “Everyone should have the opportunity to attend UNI and obtain the skills, knowledge and experience so when they graduate, they are leaders, ready to achieve their lifelong goals wherever they go.”

For many years, Eiklenborg supported UNI financially on an annual basis when she’d receive a call from a student fundraiser. But then she realized she wanted to do more. That led her to establish two endowed scholarships: the Isabelle and Harold Eiklenborg Scholarship, named in honor of her parents, and the JoLeen Eiklenborg Scholarship. The funds were created to support students from all backgrounds — particularly those from Grundy County, where Eiklenborg is from — who are pursuing a degree in education.

“Let’s get the people who want to be educators to come to UNI and focus on their education instead of finances,” she says.

Eiklenborg herself worked part-time through college, but she hopes that with the support of her scholarships, students will have the opportunity to dive more deeply into their studies.

Ultimately, UNI’s College of Education prepared Eiklenborg for life — and to make a difference through her career and volunteer work. She wants exactly that for other students: to be ready to go out and conquer after they graduate.

“UNI put us first,” she said. “We were going to be great future teachers for our future students.”