Upper Iowa University alumni recognized for ‘Peacock Spirit’
Upper Iowa University (UIU) President William R. Duffy presented Kathleen Horstmeyer of Chester with the Professional Accomplishment Award during the UIU Alumni and Awards Luncheon in Fayette, Iowa, Saturday, October 13. The annual event was part of the private university’s Homecoming celebration.
FAYETTE, Iowa (October 15, 2018) – Upper Iowa University (UIU) honored four alumni as part of the recent Alumni and Awards Luncheon held during the University’s “Peacock Pride Ignited…It’s Lit” Homecoming celebration. In addition to paying tribute to the classes of '58, '78, '88, ‘93 and '98, special recognition was provided to the UIU Class of 1968 as its alumni members returned to the Fayette, Iowa, Campus for their 50th reunion.
President William R. Duffy presented the 2018 alumni awards to the following honorees for their accomplishments either professionally, as an emerging alumni or through service to the University, community or country:
Professional Accomplishment Award Kathleen Horstmeyer - Class of 1966
Kathleen (Kerrigan) Horstmeyer graduated from Upper Iowa University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education is 1966 before later receiving a master’s degree from Temple University. During a 37-year teaching career, she has impacted the lives of young people at various grade levels and locations throughout the United States.
Horstmeyer created a multi-age class of first, second, and third graders early in the 70's while earning her master’s degree. During the latter years of her career, she led a thematic project-based and student-focused STEM classroom at the first-grade level. Opportunities derived from the Open STEM classroom proved to be exciting, creative and challenging, with a strong focus on global understanding. She lived in the Rainforest in Peru, mingled with Soviet Union educators, worked with NASA scientists, served as the coordinator of the JPL and Dryden Flight Centers, lived with a Japan family, experienced an African safari, traveled on the Siberian Express, and participated in a US/Soviet Conference.
In addition to serving on many national, state, and local boards and committees, Horstmeyer has been the recipient of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Fellow Award and Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Kathleen and her husband, Edward ‘64, reside in Chester, Connecticut.
