Keep Iowa Beautiful Announces 2019 Awards & Scholarships

The Keep Iowa Beautiful Board of Directors has announced the 2019 annual award winners for enhancing the beauty, cleanliness and attractiveness of the state of Iowa.  The four award categories are community, organization, corporate and individual.  The recipients will be presented their awards in the Governor’s Office at the State Capitol on Thursday, March 28 at 3:00PM.

“The KIB award program is designed to recognize people and organizations that have gone the extra mile to help build stronger Iowa communities,” said Reo Menning, Chair of the KIB Board of Directors.  “A more attractive community improves the economic vitality and cultural climate of where we live and work.”

The awardees are:

The Donald F. Lamberti Hometown Pride Vision Award—MIRIAM ERICKSON BROWN—For her many years of service as KIB president and board member making Iowa a stronger and better place to live.

The Robert D. Ray Community Award for Excellence—COMMUNITY OF PERCIVAL-Following the devastation of a 500-year flood, the local citizens created a vision, and with hard work and dedication developed grant writing and fundraising skills to complete dozens of projects with the help of many volunteers making this community of 87 a stronger and better place to live and work.  (As of the date of this news release the 2019 flood on the Missouri River has broken all-time highwater records.  Percival is experiencing a second 500-year flood in 8 years.)

Corporate Award of Excellence—IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE LIVING ROADWAY TRUST FUND— For the integrated roadside vegetation management grant program making Iowa’s roadsides visually interesting and making Iowa and its’ communities more attractive.

Organization Award of Excellence—OHNWARD BANCSHARES, INC. AND THE MAQUOKETA STATE BANK— for its outstanding corporate citizenship of substantial financial commitments to local projects and encouraging employees to be involved in leadership roles in local committees making our state the #1 place to live and work.

Also, being honored are four Byers Environmental Scholarships to graduating high school students that will be continuing their education in environmental studies at an Iowa College or University.   And a fifth scholarship in honor of William J. Fultz will be presented to a senior planning on studying communications, public relations and/or marketing at an Iowa institution.  Those receiving the 2019 scholarships are:

• Riley Flint of Hampton
• Kyle Guenther of Bellevue
• Gracie Luchtenburg of Marion
• Alanah Wright of Harlan
• Morgan Johnston of Lenox