$1 million gift for campus initiatives will help Luther students thrive

Luther College is proud to announce that Ames residents and Luther class of 1966 graduates Gene and Miriam (Nelson) Takle recently pledged $1 million for the establishment of the Eugene S. and Miriam E. Takle Student Success Fund to support student success initiatives that help students thrive academically, personally and professionally.

“At Luther, learning is grounded in community. The generosity of our alumni to support our students and their needs is a powerful example of Luther’s community supporting transformational learning experiences,” President Brad Chamberlain said. “Gene and Miriam have been longtime supporters, and we are particularly grateful for this gift and the new ways that it will support student development and student success, inside and outside of the classroom.”

The Eugene S. and Miriam E. Takle Student Success Fund will support a new holistic, collaborative and coordinated campus-wide network to motivate academic success and achieve career potential.

Luther class of 1966 graduates Gene and Miriam (Nelson) Takle recently pledged $1 million for the establishment of the Eugene S. and Miriam E. Takle Student Success Fund

“We met at Luther College and we are grateful that we were inspired and prepared to devote our careers to the teaching and learning process,” the couple said. “We are eager to support the administration, faculty and staff in implementing this new initiative.”

The fund will also support existing early intervention programs provided through the Office of Student Engagement, including Luther 360 SOS Referral, and enhance other community-building events and career-focused experiences. Early intervention is critical to personal and academic success for students. Luther 360 provides a way for Luther community members to alert campus employees when a student is experiencing a personal difficulty so that an employee may intervene appropriately.

Gene and Miriam both graduated from Luther in 1966. While on campus, Miriam was a member of the Alpha Beta Psi sorority while Gene was an All-American athlete in cross country and track. He was the first Luther graduate to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Gene was inducted into the Luther Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976. He is a Distinguished Service Award recipient and was granted an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Luther College in 2014.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from Luther, Gene earned a Ph.D. in physics from Iowa State in 1971 and joined the faculty there soon afterward. He is a professor emeritus of agronomy at Iowa State. Gene is considered Iowa’s foremost expert on climate change and its impact on agriculture.

Miriam was a double major, earning bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and art. She is a former teacher who taught preschool and first grade. The couple are longtime members of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Ames.

Through the years, Gene and Miriam have remained deeply connected to Luther. They have financially supported the Luther Fund, the Sampson Hoffland Laboratories, the physics department, college ministries, Career Connections, athletics, and the Class of 1966 Scholarship, among many other areas. They have served as class agents and reunion volunteers.

“Their giving has touched nearly every corner of the campus over the years,” said Mary Duvall, vice president for advancement at Luther. “What makes this gift even more meaningful is the humility and thoughtfulness of the couple behind it. We are honored and deeply grateful that Gene and Miriam have chosen this initiative as the place to make such a transformational and immediate impact.”

The couple believes that academics, athletics and co-curricular activities each play an important role in student success.

“Studies have shown that students who are fully engaged in their learning community develop a stronger sense of ‘belonging’ — one that motivates academic success and the development of career potential,” Gene and Miriam said. “Despite the current challenges facing education at all levels, Luther has a bright future with its innovative plan for developing the next generation of leaders.”