Improving Others’ Lives

For many years Betty Anderlik’s knowledge of Iowa State University came almost exclusively from her husband, Joseph Anderlik, a 1954 civil engineering graduate.

Despite living in St. Paul, Minn., for many years, Betty’s only visual concepts of campus were from Joe’s memories and photographs.

“I wasn’t even on campus until 10 years ago,” Betty said.

Ironically, when Iowa State asked for the Anderliks’ assistance in creating engineering teaching and research laboratories in Town Engineering, it was Betty who said the couple should support the project.

“Lowell Greimann (former chair of the civil, construction and environmental engineering department) came to Joe’s office and asked him to help support the renovation of the lab,” Betty remembered. “Joe came home and told me about it, and I said we should do the whole thing.”

The result is the Joseph A. and Elizabeth A. Anderlik Teaching Laboratory, a facility utilized by more than 200 undergraduate and graduate students each year. Every civil engineering undergraduate student enrolled at Iowa State is required to take a beginning environmental engineering course in the lab. The facility also houses several classes for students specializing in environmental engineering.

The lab has specialized equipment to analyze air, water and wastewater. This equipment exposes students to current analytical methods for recognizing and solving environmental problems.

Faculty, students and other researchers use the lab to perform fundamental research on biological treatment such as evaluating the microbiology of wastewater.

The Anderlik Teaching Laboratory is just one example of how Joe, who passed away in 2005, and Betty have supported Iowa State. The couple also established a teaching award, a scholarship and an endowed equipment fund. They contributed to engineering’s teaching and research complex fund as well.

“We supported a variety of projects, and I have continued that support,” Betty said. “Giving back to Iowa State was very important to Joe, particularly the scholarship program because education is so important.

“I believe one of the reasons to have money is to improve others’ lives. I believe education does that, and that’s why we’ve supported education and Iowa State.”

The Anderlik connection to Iowa State is continuing, not only through Betty’s support, but also onto the next generation. The Anderliks’ grandson Ronald will become the couple’s first grandchild to attend Iowa State in the fall of 2009.

Betty attributes his initial interest in attending Iowa State to a 2002 ribbon cutting held for the Anderlik Teaching Laboratory.

“When we did the ribbon cutting, the staff kept pasting the ribbon back together so the grandkids could keep cutting it,” Betty remembered. “The professors also gave the kids a tour of the building and the facilities.

“I think that left quite an impression with our grandchildren. Joe would be really proud that one of them will be attending Iowa State.”