Super Fans Adopt Iowa State University

Rod nor Connie French graduated from or attended Iowa State University, but the Des Moines residents are not only friends to ISU, they could easily be classified as “Super Fans.” Their gift of $1.5 million is the largest ever one-time gift to the athletics department, and it’s also proof of the strong affection they have developed for Iowa State University’s athletics and academic programs. 

“I’ve always admired Iowa State because of its high academic standards,” said Rod, a long-time supporter of Iowa State University. “That’s how my support of ISU began. We started going to games and Iowa State became really special to us. I think Iowa State has adopted us and we’ve adopted them.”

Rod, president of Kenworth Mid-Iowa, Inc., a tractor-trailer sales and service company; and Connie, a retired executive of Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, have both found their place in the Cyclone community. Rod has supported the Cyclones for more than 30 years, making his first gift in 1974 for facility renovations. Since then, Rod and his family have created many of their own ISU traditions — like attending basketball games, watching home football games from their stadium skyboxes with friends, and supporting the Cyclone hockey program. The Frenches are indeed a part of the Cyclone family and were even named “Cy’s Favorite Alums” in 2005.

“The funny thing is that Connie is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, so to be honored as ‘Cy’s Favorite Alums’ that’s quite a step,” laughed Rod. “We were very proud and honored by that.”

With their most recent and largest gift, the Frenches fuse together the two things that lured them to Iowa State in the first place — academics and athletics. Today, the Rod and Connie French Athletics Academic Center, located in the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center at Iowa State, provides tutoring, academic counseling and other services to help student-athletes complete their degrees. This specialized resource center helps student-athletes achieve academic excellence by targeting a student-athlete’s specific needs.

“This is a facility that’s unique to a university campus. A lot of the kids in our own family used to study in restaurants because they didn’t have a place like this, so that attracted us to the project right away,” says Rod. “Once we learned Christina Hixson was also involved, we were excited to get on board because we’ve always admired her and what she’s done for Iowa State.”

The 33,500-square-foot building was dedicated last year to a packed house. And because the facility was made possible entirely through private support, the event was also a celebration of the power of philanthropy. The experience left a big impression on Rod and Connie’s grandkids — Michael, 14; Allison, 18; and especially 7-year-old Nicholas.

“There was a picture of our family featured in an Iowa State magazine and Nicholas took it to school for show and tell. He told his classmates how his grandma and grandpa helped build a building. He was very proud,” said Connie. “We are happy to know that our grandchildren are learning lessons about philanthropy at such a young age. That makes it all that much more rewarding for us.”

“The generosity of the Frenches was critical in making this facility happen,” said Iowa State Athletics Director, Jamie Pollard. “Our priority at Iowa State is to educate young people and this center solidifies that commitment and we are very thankful for the financial support to make it happen.”

The center has been open for more than a year and the Frenches still enjoy walking through it and talking with the students and staff. “We’ve been in the center several times since it opened. It’s fun to see all of the students taking advantage of it and really taking to it,” said Connie.

“To me, it’s the most important place on campus,” said Rod. “I’ve talked to students and they really like having access to the facility. It makes you feel very, very warm in your heart to know that you’re able to help these young people reach their goals. It makes you feel really good inside.”

With their grandchildren finishing high school over the next few years, the Frenches are hopeful that one of them will attend Iowa State and become an “official” Cyclone when it’s time for college. “We really hope so, and we know a really great place they can do their studying,” joked Rod.