UNI gets $1.5 million gift for math teacher scholarship

CEDAR FALLS -- The University of Northern Iowa has received a $1.5 million gift from the estate of Bonnie Litwiller, a retired math professor who recently died.

The gift will be used to support the Bonnie Litwiller Mathematics Teacher Scholarship for students who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need. Preference will be given to students pursuing a degree in secondary math education. Litwiller retired from UNI in 2000.

"We are grateful for Dr. Litwiller's lifelong contributions to and confidence in the programs at the University of Northern Iowa," said UNI President Ben Allen in a statement. "Her gift for scholarships will help provide an outstanding educational experience for more students and will prepare them to meet an important need for mathematics teachers not only in the state of Iowa, but across the nation."

Litwiller was awarded the 2003 Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics Lifetime Achievement Award, the 1995 University of Northern Iowa Outstanding Service Award and the 1993 Regents Award for Excellence from the Iowa Board of Regents. She co-authored more than 900 journal articles, published four books and edited 26 books for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Litwiller died at her home in Morton, Ill., on Jan. 27, 2012.