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Principal who died after Perry school shooting will receive Iowa Character Award
12 individuals and groups to be honored this year
DES MOINES — The principal who helped save students in a school shooting in Perry in January will be among the Iowans honored for their character during an annual awards ceremony presented by Drake University’s Robert D. and Billie Ray Center.
Dan Marburger, 56, was critically injured during the Jan. 4 shooting at Perry High School. He died 10 days later.
He will posthumously receive the Character Champion Award at the 2024 Iowa Character Awards on Friday night at Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona. Twelve individuals and groups who will be recognized “for their exceptional character,” according to a news release.
Investigators said Marburger “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.”
Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said Marburger, Perry High School principal since 1997, was a “hero” who intervened with the teenage gunman so students could escape, according to the Associated Press.
A news release announcing the awards said Marburger “believed all students deserve access to high-quality education and supported each student who walked through his halls. He felt that everyone had value and purpose.”
“Dan saved numerous lives during an active shooter event on Jan. 4, 2024, at Perry High School,” the news release stated. “His selflessness that day is perhaps the biggest example of Dan’s character and his love for his students and the Perry community.”
The Iowa Character Awards will be shown on KGAN-TV (CBS 2) in Cedar Rapids and KDSM-TV in Des Moines at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7. The ceremony also will be posted online at iowacharacterawards.org.
According to the Ray Center, the organization annually recognizes Iowans who show six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. More than 200 Iowans have been honored since 2005.
Other honorees this year are:
- Alan Steckman of Mason City, and Carter Hammer, of Sioux City, Citizens of Character.
- Shelby Griebat of Tipton, Aaron Eilerts Community Service Award.
- Katie Hoover of West Des Moines, Educator of Character.
- Iowa League of Heroes, of Cumming, Organization of Character.
- Dallas Center-Grimes Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Organization of Character.
- Clear Creek Elementary, in Clear Lake, School of Character.
- Dubuque, Community of Character.
- Elite Casino Resorts, Partner of the Year.
- Jean Berger of Dexter, Jim Hallihan Pursuing Victory with Honor Award.
- Marta Codina of Des Moines, Robert D. and Billie Ray Pillar of Character Award.
- Honorable mention recipients are Citizens of Character Sherrlyn Hartle of Grimes, Jamie Smith of Dike, Payton Kokke of Mitchellville, and Charley Warren of Mitchellville; Educators of Character Ryan Austin of Johnston, Catie Brand of Pella and Jen Lobeck of Madrid; and Business of Character Genesis Youth Foundation of Des Moines.
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