Corporation and Foundation Award
2023 Distinguished Awards
This award is presented to a corporation, foundation or organization that has demonstrated generosity to UNI through significant leadership giving, dedicated long-term service and assistance to UNI students and faculty through recruitment opportunities and/or programming support.
The Bright Foundation
Meredith Dohmen, president
For more than 50 years, the H. Dale and Lois Bright Foundation has quietly contributed millions of dollars to Iowa organizations, charities and educational institutions with the purpose of helping young Iowans.
In 2012, the Bright Foundation began its philanthropic relationship with UNI when it began providing the Bright Scholars of Iowa award, a four-year renewable scholarship designed to make higher education at Iowa universities and community colleges possible for talented young Iowans who may not otherwise have the means to get a college education. In its first year providing the scholarship, the foundation awarded three students, one each from Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.
The Bright Scholars of Iowa Award is in its eleventh year at UNI. To date, the Bright Foundation has contributed millions of dollars in scholarships at UNI and has made a lasting impact on the 94 Bright Scholars at UNI. Each year, the foundation has increased the number of awards given to UNI students. As of this year, 33 UNI students are recipients of the Bright Scholars of Iowa Award and five UNI students have been named Bright Persistence Scholars. Thanks to the support of the foundation, these students are able to attend UNI and gain all of the benefits a UNI education offers.
Watch a video to learn about the impact The Bright Foundation has made.