- The UIU History
- Committee Cochairs
- Capital Campaign Timeline
- Capital Projects: Completed
- Capital Projects: Future
- Endowment
- Annual Fund
- Special Projects
- Naming Opportunities
- Contact Us
- Photos & Videos
- Home >
- Transforming UIU >
Committee Cochairs
Betty Andres | Steve and Diane Harms
Betty Andres, '46
Betty Andres is pictured with her son, Richard (right) and Dr. Alan G. Walker, UIU president (left), waiting for the 2010 Commencement ceremony to begin. It was at this ceremony that Betty was given an honorary doctorate from Upper Iowa University.
Betty is an education graduate of the UIU Class of 1946 and married fellow UIU alum, the late Bill Andres, a graduate of the Class of 1948. Betty was a devoted teacher and mother and took on the added responsibility of serving as a member of the UIU Board of Trustees for 20 years. Betty served in the capacity of vice chair for 13 of those years (1990-2003).
In the mid-1990s, Bill and Betty started a campaign to improve the Fayette campus landscape architecture, which led to even more improvements on campus. After Bill’s passing in 2000, Betty continued her work on improving UIU and fulfilled her vision of a new academic building, the Andres Center for Business and Education.
Betty has once again stepped forward to support the University in its first-ever capital campaign by pledging $4 million from the Andres family, which also led to renaming of the Education Division as the Andres School of Education. Betty continues her leadership role at the University by serving as one of the cochairs for the "Transforming UIU" capital campaign.
In February 2009, Betty was named trustee emerita and that same year was presented with the Service to the University Award at the Homecoming alumni banquet. In 2010, Betty was given an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Upper Iowa University.
Alumni Steve Harms, '73, and
Diane Harms, '73
Diane and Steve Harms.
Steve and Diane Harms are both graduates of the UIU Class of 1973. Steve graduated with a bachelor of science degree in physical education and Diane with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. Both Steve and Diane were active participants in athletics while attending UIU—Steve played football, and Diane chose cheerleading.
Steve and Diane have supported numerous UIU projects over the years. However, the couple's latest contribution is monumental—a $7.5 million commitment to UIU's first-ever capital campaign, "Transforming UIU." The Harms' gift will transform the current UIU football facilities into a new multi-use athletic complex.
A formal ceremony was held in Fayette on October 14, 2011, to break ground for the new stadium complex. At the ceremony, Steve spoke for himself and Diane stating he was pleased to be able to say, "Yeah, we can do that," when they were first contacted by UIU about the possible gift. Steve and Diane Harms continue to show their support with time and service to the "Transforming UIU" capital campaign by both serving as cochairs.
Steve and Diane have remained in Iowa, raising their family in the Des Moines area. Steve is president and chairman of the board of Rain and Hail L.L.C., Rain and Hail Insurance Service, Inc., and Agri General Insurance Company and has served on the UIU Board of Trustees since 2001. The couple regularly attends campus events with Steve's father, Cal, UIU Class of 1948, who lives in nearby Sumner, Iowa.
