Estate Gift by Titonka Couple to Establish New ISU Scholarships

April 27, 2009

AMES, Iowa-- An estate gift from Donald and Trudy Budlong will benefit many students in two departments at Iowa State University.

The endowment is expected to provide about $50,000 each year in scholarships for students in ISU’s departments of animal science and music.

"The Budlongs’ generosity and commitment to education is an investment in the future. They want to help students who are finding it financially difficult to take advantage of the opportunities of higher education," said Maynard Hogberg, chair of ISU’s Department of Animal Science. "Their gift will strengthen our efforts to ensure that Iowa State is the place where students choose to pursue their dreams."

Donald Budlong, a 1949 graduate in animal husbandry from Iowa State, was raised on a farm near Titonka, Iowa, a community that his grandfather helped to found. As an Iowa State student, he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, a national professional fraternity for students majoring in agriculture, and worked on ISU’s Ag450 Farm, a student-managed farm that is the only one of its kind in the nation. He is a past district director and board member of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

Trudy Budlong is a native of Florida. She taught music in Florida, Nebraska and Woden, Iowa, and was a choir director in her church for 16 years. She and her husband are members of the W.M. Beardshear Society, Iowa State’s most prestigious giving society for donors whose lifetime gifts total $1million or more.

All four of Donald and Trudy’s children attended Iowa State. One of their nine grandchildren is Syler ("Sy" pronounced like "Cy," the ISU athletics mascot).

The Budlong’s gift was made as part of Campaign Iowa State: With Pride and Purpose, the university's $800 million comprehensive fundraising effort. More than $669 million in gifts and future commitments have been made to Campaign Iowa State.