Garden memorial honors Betty Andres
Faculty members pictured alongside the bronze statue installed in memory of UIU alumna and benefactor, Betty Andres, during Commencement weekend were (seated, l-r) Dr. Billie Cowley, Dr. Gail Moorman Behrens; (standing) K.C. Robb, Jody Grover, Dr. Patricia Dietz, Latisha Smith, Dr. Jill Buchan, Dr. Cindy Waters, Dr. Gina Kuker, Dr. Dawn Jacobsen, Dr. Janet Kehe, Rachel Majewski, Dr. Graeme Armstrong, Sue Burrack, Dr. Barb Ehlers, Angie Leete, Karla Gavin.
Former UIU alumna and benefactor, Betty Andres, was honored over Commencement weekend with the installation of a memorial in the garden outside of the Andres School of Business and Education. The memorial is a bronze statue of a garden bench with three children perusing a book. A plaque is also planned for the site in the Zinita B. Graf Memorial Garden.
Dean Gail Moorman Behrens said the School of Education faculty selected the statue because it reflects the commitment to children and education that was personified by Andres.
“Betty became educated as a teacher here at UIU and pursued a lifelong passion of helping to improve education for students,” Behrens said. “She was especially dedicated to the excellence of UIU and its ability to prepare future educators to make a difference in the world. We are honored to have our school of education named in tribute to Betty and her family, and we wanted to create one more spot on campus where she will always be remembered for her generosity and her support of education.”
The garden statue was purchased through donations from Andres School of Education faculty and Board of Trustee members.
Betty Andres was a Clermont, Iowa native, who graduated from UIU in 1946. She and her husband, Bill, gave generously to the University and the Fayette community during their lifetimes. They helped to implement the campus master landscaping plan, selecting 13 original sculptures for the groups. Betty envisioned and spearheaded the completion of the Andres Center for Business and Education.
After her husband’s death in February 2000, Betty remained committed to ensuring the highest quality education was made available to all students attending UIU. Among the contributions provided by Betty and the William and Betty Andres Foundation, was a $4 million donation to name the Andres School of Education at Upper Iowa.
Betty served on the UIU Board of Trustees for nearly 20 years, 13 of them as vice chair, and was most recently a trustee emerita. She received the UIU Service to the University Award in 2009 and was presented an honorary doctorate during Upper Iowa’s 2011 commencement ceremonies. She passed away in 2015.
Bill and Betty Andres were UIU’s fiscal lifeblood when the university needed them the most. Bill, Betty, and President Jim Rocheleau had visions beyond our wildest dreams, and they reached them. Upper Iowa University is incredibly and eternally indebted to the Andres family. Betty’s impact on the school is beyond comprehension. What a wonderful person.