UNI gets $1 million gift for scholarships

The University of Northern Iowa has received a $1 million gift for scholarships.

The Gerdin Family Foundation created the Ben and Pat Allen Endowed Scholarship fund to honor UNI's former president, who retired this spring after leading UNI since 2006, UNI officials said Tuesday.

The endowed scholarship will be awarded annually to one or more undergraduate students to support tuition costs. The family's intention is to assist hardworking, motivated students, UNI officials said.

Julie Gerdin Durr, a 1994 UNI graduate, said in the university statement that her family members are close friends of Ben and Pat Allen, noting Ben Allen has served on the board of directors at Heartland Express, the family company, since 1995.

"When my dad passed away, the family felt he would have wanted to support Ben and Pat and their contribution to UNI and the state of Iowa by giving a scholarship in their honor," she said.