Our BCS teams collaborate with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of UNI students each year, from the classroom to helping them build their businesses, volunteer work, and student employment. This time of year is bittersweet as we recognize the invaluable work they bring to the table and wish them well as many of them graduate. We want to call special attention to recent award-winners below, and keep scrolling to see how we plan to celebrate our graduates!

Celebrating…

• Kadin Walter [’28, Economics], Lily Bell [’27, Interior Design] and Alayna Akers [’28, Artificial Intelligence and Marketing], three JPEC incubator tenants who took home venture funding at the annual John Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition

• Lane Kruger [‘26, Marketing Management and IDS], who received UNI’s 2026 Lux Service Award, the highest honor given by the Division of Student Life recognizing graduating seniors for exceptional service

• David Williams [‘26, Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics] and Lane Kruger, who were recognized at the Wilson College’s annual Leadership Celebration

• May 4 — BCS Potluck and Graduate Celebration
• May 8 — All-College Meeting & Awards Reception, 3-5 p.m., Deere Auditorium / CBB 3
• May 18 — Dean Wilson’s University-Wide Retirement Reception, 2-4 p.m., remarks at 3 p.m., CBB Student Lounge
• May 21 — Professional Development Conference
• May 25 — Memorial Day; Paid Holiday

Join us Monday, May 4, noon-1 p.m., for a BCS potluck! You know the drill: We’ll gather in room 30 for good food and a good hang. Sign up for a food item to bring in the IDM/IWRC kitchen. 

We’ll also celebrate graduating students during this time:

• Mark Bell (JPEC)
• Cassie Bronk (JPEC)
• Noah Bronk (JPEC)
• Zane Ceynar (IWRC)
• Jada Dachtler (IWRC)
• Lane Kruger (JPEC)
• Norah Pearson (SMS)
• Alayna Rieck (IWRC)
• Adam Schipper (IDM)
• Adam Sikora (IWRC)
• David Williams (JPEC)

Thank YOU for all of the time and energy you give to preparing the next generation as they enter the workforce. Please stop by to celebrate these students and wish them well as they head into their next adventures!

• May 1 — Weekly Campus Walk
• May 5 — IPERS Retirement Benefits Workshop
• May 5 — EFR: Shatter to Grow: Name What's Holding You Back
• May 6 — Medicare 101: What You Need to Know Before You Enroll
• May 7 — TIAA Roth: A Game-Changer for Your Retirement
• May 8 — Weekly Campus Walk
• May 13 — New Hire Orientation
• May 15 — Weekly Campus Walk
• May 21 — Professional Development Conference
• May 22 — Weekly Campus Walk
• May 29 — Weekly Campus Walk

Find all HRS events here.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the search process for the next Wilson College Dean. We expect the Provost to announce the next steps in the coming weeks.

• 1990 — Cindy Angel, Institute for Decision Making
• 1993 — Drew Conrad, BCS and Institute for Decision Making
• 2004 — Joe Bolick, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• 2010 — Patrick Luensmann, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
• 2022 — Mark Harrington, Iowa Waste Reduction Center

• May 1 — Janelle Bolts, Family Business Center
• May 15 — Julie Reinitz, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• May 15 — Jen Wittenburg, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• May 16 — Ben Kvigne, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• May 27 — Haley Hamm, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center

Submit an item for the next monthly BCS Brief newsletter by emailing katie.kreis@uni.edu.