Kirkwood accepts largest land gift in school history in honor of donor’s late daughter

CEDAR RAPIDS - She had a 'larger than life” personality, which makes it only fitting that Jamie Lynn Harder's spirit continues to live on in a variety of ways, including through a new land donation to Kirkwood Community College - the largest in school history.

'For my parents, after they lost Jamie, it was very much a focus that her memory live on - and that it live on because of the life she lived, not just that she died young,” Alexandra Harder said about her sister, who in 1988 died in a plane crash at the age of 17.

Carole Harder, who in 1981 founded the Greater Cedar Rapids Area Council on Youth Leadership, has created scholarships in her daughter's name over the years. And John Harder, a lifelong Iowa farmer, dreamed of doing the same through his trade, Alexandra Harder told The Gazette.

'It's something my dad has wanted to do as long as we can remember,” she said. 'And he's tickled he has worked hard enough to finally be able to pull it off.”

On Dec. 30, John Harder transferred 80 acres of farmland worth $1.1 million to Kirkwood Community College, marking the largest single gift of land in the college's history and one of the largest single private gifts in terms of dollar value.

The land sits near the college's main campus in Cedar Rapids, and it will be farmed by students in Kirkwood's agriculture science department - ranked No. 1 among two-year institutions. Income generated from the land will be put toward a memorial scholarship in Jamie's honor.

'Both of our parents have worked very hard to provide future education opportunities for local students honoring our sister and the extraordinary life she lived,” Alexandra Harder and her sister Jennifer Farrell said in statement.

The idea, Alexandra Harder told The Gazette, is to create a 'new generation of Jamies.”

Jamie Harder was a senior at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids when she died on Easter Sunday in 1988. The class officer, cheerleader, and tennis and diving standout had flown on a private plane to Colorado with one of her best friends for a ski trip.

Shortly after the plane took off from Colorado Springs to return home, the wind direction changed, and the plane plunged to the ground, according to Alexandra Harder. No one on board survived, and Jamie was killed instantly.

Her parents could have quit, she said. They could have fallen down. But they had two younger daughters to care for. And they still had Jamie's spirit.

'Jamie had a larger than life personality,” she said. 'And because she was so great and big and bold, it's sad because she's not here. But there are so many wonderful memories circulating.”

John Harder, who owns land in 10 Iowa counties, starting thinking about a donation to Kirkwood after befriending former president Norm Nielsen years ago. When he found property adjacent the school, he jumped on it and approached current Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich about a year ago.

An initial meeting about the donation occurred in December 2014, and the official transfer was completed Dec. 30.

'We are absolutely thrilled,” Alexandra Harder said. 'It's amazing that my dad has worked so hard to pull this off.”

Starcevich said Kirkwood accepts the gift 'with great gratitude.”

'Through the Harders' generosity, many opportunities will be created for deserving students in Jamie's honor,” he said in a statement.

And, he said, it will be a 'springboard” for many Kirkwood students pursuing a career in agriculture.

'We will literally be planting seeds that will sprout into stories of student success,” he said.

The first 15 scholarships will be awarded in spring 2017 to students who 'demonstrate the same entrepreneurial characteristics, community involvement, and leadership skills as Ms. Harder.”