Philanthropy has helped many Iowa students achieve success. Two of those students – fourth-year pharmacy students Katy Rolfes and Stephanie Thrall – recently shared their educational experiences with members of the University of Iowa President's Club at the Iowa Memorial Union.

The students are pictured here between two generous UI donors.

Rolfes, the student on the left, has been recognized for excellence throughout her educational career, and supported through the generous gifts of scholarship donors. She has received the Executive Leadership Board Excellence Scholarship, among others. Rolfes is president of the Class of 2014 and has been an active member of Student Leadership Council and the American Pharmacists Association.

“Scholarships have allowed me to focus on education and leadership, preparing me to be a well-trained pharmacist and an active generous member of my community,” Rolfes said.

Thrall, the student on the right, was able to go on a medical mission to Uganda in the summer of 2012 with her sponsor, alumnus Pat Keefe, ’69 BSPh. In 10 days, the clinic saw more than 2,000 patients, filling nearly 7,000 prescriptions. 

“This experience gave me a great foundation working in global health,” Thrall said.

The two students are pictured between Katherine A. “KAP” Linder, ’81 BSPh, and Mary Louise Petersen, ’51 BA, ’13 Doctor of Humane Letters, at the recent UI President's Club Assembly. Founded in 1967, the President's Club recognizes the University of Iowa’s most generous contributors. The theme of this year’s assembly was student success, one of the main priorities of the UI’s For Iowa. Forever More. campaign.

Linder, of Manson, Iowa, serves on the UI Foundation Board of Directors. Petersen is her mother. She also served on the board from 1991 to 2006, and is now a lifetime honorary member.

At the College of Pharmacy, the Petersen Linder Scholarship was established in 2000, by KAP and her husband David Linder, to support a pharmacy student with financial need that shows excellent leadership. The Linders also have a scholarship in the College of Public Health. They are also connected to the Linder family Medical Student scholarship in the Carver College of Medicine, which was started by David Linder’s father. 

Mary Louise Petersen and her husband, Rand, ‘51 BA, live in Harlan, Iowa. Gifts from Mary Louise and Rand Peterson have also supported other areas of the University, especially the Pentacrest museums. Their gifts have made possible the Mary Louise Petersen Chair in Higher Education in the College of Education (currently held by Ernest Pascarella) and the Walter and Margaret Anneberg (named after Mary Louise’s parents) Scholarship Fund in the Carver College of Medicine.

The new west campus residence hall scheduled to open in fall 2015 will be named the Mary Louise Petersen Residence Hall.