Lu Ann & Norma L. Gerlach Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1965, in memory of Lu Ann Gerlach by her parents, Gene W. and Norma L. Gerlach of St. Ansgar, Iowa and her brother Gary (1962 B.A.) formerly of Des Moines , Iowa and now of Scottsdale , Arizona . Mrs. Gerlach's name was added to the scholarship at the time of her death in 1988.

The Gerlach family decision to support the scholarship developed as a result of the kindness displayed by Laura Dustan, Dean and Professor Emeritus, several faculty members, and several students at the time of Lu Ann's death. Gary Gerlach speaks of the day of Lu Ann's funeral in December and as December can be – it was a blinding snowstorm. The funeral was ready to begin and the door to the church quietly opened. In stepped Dean Laura Dustan and several other faculty members from the College of Nursing out of the storm. They had driven in this storm from Iowa City , Iowa to St. Ansgar. It was this strength and commitment to the students that lead the family to support nursing education at Iowa . They convey that if the dean and faculty have such a dedication to their students, then they want to be a part of the College of Nursing .

As a part of the commitment of the family to the scholarship recipients, Mr. Gerlach, his son Gary and his daughter-in-law Karen maintain a scrapbook of photos of the award winners and correspondence from the recipients.