Virgil S. Lagomarcino Laureate Award
College of Human Sciences
Established in 1975 to honor graduates who are nationally and internationally recognized for their meritorious service or distinguished achievement in the field of education
William “Bill” Giddings
BS Mathematics ’68
MS Education ’74
Ph.D. Higher Education Administration ’85
Jean (Worthan) Giddings
BS Home Economics Journalism ’69
MS Education Administration ’71
Sheldon, Iowa
For more than 35 years, Bill and Jean Giddings have helped to educate thousands through outreach, collaboration, and a vision to create better, more informed citizens in our societies.
In his role as president of Northwest Iowa Community College, Bill has been instrumental in the creation and implementation of workforce and economic development programs, raising more than $1 million to secure grants and improve the college’s facilities. He has also worked tirelessly with underserved populations; with his encouragement, hundreds of Latinos in Nebraska and Iowa have pursued their dreams of higher education. For these efforts, he was given the Nebraska Community College Association Chief Executive Officer Award in 1999.
A humanitarian in all senses of the word, Jean has devoted her life to serving populations with special needs. Through her work with Goodwill Industries and her role as a vocational trainer with Village Northwest Unlimited, Jean’s expertise in specialized education brought an awareness of people’s barriers and the challenges they face every day. With her skills in this area, she created the “Brain Power” curriculum, a series of classes that improve cognitive development, thought processing, and social interaction of those with special needs.
A couple that has set the precedent for being active in community, church, and Iowa State organizations, the Giddingses have become role models for many young alumni and education professionals. Their involvement continually makes an impact on the lives of those with whom they come into contact.
The Giddingses are ISU Alumni Association lifetime members.
