Engineering Athletic Gifts

Kathryn Engel had a true interest in helping Iowa State students, from student athletes to engineering majors.

That interest made possible any number of athletic facility projects and scholarships at Iowa State University. The Marshalltown resident was a longtime supporter of the Cyclones before her death in the spring of 2009.

Her generosity also extended to the College of Engineering where she established scholarships and an endowed fund for the mechanical engineering department, specifically for programs that impacted undergraduate engineering students.

But her impact for engineering students also reached all the way to kindergarteners. The Engel Fund for Engineering Outreach has enabled the College of Engineering to participate in Project Lead the Way, a national organization that has developed a pre-engineering curriculum for K12 students. The program is designed to encourage students to become more involved in the engineering sciences at a younger age.

Kathryn was just as interested in Iowa State student-athletes. Her contributions to Cyclone athletics provided the leadership gift for the James H. Hilton Coliseum addition that houses offices for the men’s and women’s basketball programs, as well as major gifts for the Jacobson Athletic Building, the Jack Trice Stadium Press Tower, Johnny Major Practice Fields, and Bergstrom Indoor Training Facility. Having played basketball herself in high school, she has been a strong advocate and active supporter of women’s athletic programs at Iowa State as a volunteer, fan and donor.

“Athletics was always a big part of her life,” said her son, Dale Johnson (’60, MS ’64 mechanical engineering), who played basketball at Iowa State, “but she also wanted to support engineering students. I think last year alone, 18 engineering students received scholarships from two of her funds.”

Her passion for Iowa State was instrumental in her being named Cy’s Favorite Alum in 1993 and as the recipient of an Honorary Alumna Award from the ISU Alumni Association in 2005.

“It meant a lot to her to be an honorary alumna,” Dale said. “It was a nice gesture on behalf of the university.”

Her support of Cyclone student athletes extended into the seats of Hilton Coliseum. She was a frequent attendee at home football and men’s and women’s basketball games and even provided free tickets for the women’s games at the Green Hills Retirement Community in Ames.

“I remember Kathryn saying ‘we have to get more people involved in the women’s games,’” said Joan Bowles, associate athletic director for development. “She would buy tickets and leave them at the Green Hills desk, and it became so popular that they had to get another bus for all the people that wanted to attend the games.

“Kathryn helped create a whole new fan base for women’s basketball at Iowa State. To this day whenever I see those buses pull up, it brings a smile to my face.”

Kathryn, a teacher and graduate of Iowa State Teachers College and Drake University, became affiliated with Iowa State not only through her son, Dale, but her late husband, Ray Engel, (’29 engineering). The couple provided significant support for several Iowa State projects, including student scholarships and establishing the Raymond A. Engel Mechanical Engineering Laboratory.

“Kathryn saw the impact she could make on people,” Bowles said. “But she was very grounded and sincere about her philanthropy.”