Norm Nielsen, retired president of Kirkwood Community College, was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Friend of Education Award for 2006 by the Iowa State Education Association. Norm was honored on Thursday, May 25, 2006 at a reception at the Class Act Restaurant on the Kirkwood Community College campus in Cedar Rapids (in the atrium of the Mansfield Center).
Pictured with me are Dr. Norm Nielsen (center) and past president of the Kirkwood Faculty Association, Jack Terndrup (at right).
Dr. Nielsen has dedicated his life to strengthening educational opportunities for students of all ages. He epitomizes the spirit of service that our Friend of Eduation is designed to recognize.
As a member of the Kirkwood Community College faculty and later as its president, Nielsen's contributions forever changed the way business and education work together. As a result, he helped develop a knowledgeable workforce that impacts economic development well beyond the borders of Cedar Rapids. The ongoing success of these partnerships continues to be a model for other communites across the state and the nation.
Dr. Nielsen has a vision that goes beyond educating incoming high school graduates and providing continuing education courses for adult learners on campus. His vision created Career Academies for high school students that enables them to begin exploring their dreams. Under his leadership, business throughout the community found they could provide professional development and training opportunities for employees at their job sites.
Although he retired as president of Kirkwood in January of 2005, he continues to serve as a board member on a variety of projects.
Nielsen was nominated for the ISEA Friend of Education Award by the Kirkwood Faculty Association and the ISEA's Cedar Wood UniServ Unit. The award has been presented by the ISEA since 1959 as a way to honor and encourage citizens who get involved in their local schools and work to improve opportunites for students.
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