Iowa Central Alumna Donates 500K for Scholarships

Public Information Office
9/19/2024

Bonnie Barnett, who attended Iowa Central in 1961-1962, returned to the college as an employee in 2015. For seven years she served up hot meals to students in the cafeteria as part of the Great Western Dining Services team. Her years of interacting with Iowa Central students made an impact that inspired her to leave a lasting legacy at the college. In her will, she donated forty percent of her estate to Iowa Central to establish the Bonnie K. Largent-Barnett Scholarship. “Her gift to Iowa Central is humbling and we are very honored that she chose Iowa Central to carry on her legacy,” says Dr. Jesse Ulrich, President of Iowa Central Community College.

Her donation of $535,045.26 is significant for the college and its impact will be far-reaching. “We serve over 6,000 students at Iowa Central and more than 80% have an unment financial need. Her gift will go a long way in supporting students,” notes Dr. Ulrich.  He adds that Barnett set an inspiring example. “Besides working in our student dining services, she held jobs as a waitress, and grocery store clerk and cleaned houses. She was a hard worker who lived simply and chose to invest in the future of others through her generosity. Her lifetime of financial discipline is remarkable. She is the epitome of the millionaire next door.”

The major gift came as a surprise to the college. “While I knew Ms. Barnett from the grocery store, she never mentioned her intentions to leave a gift to the college. We are grateful for her generosity and immense kindness to support the college,” says Dr. Ulrich. Bonnie K. Largent Barnett of Fort Dodge died at the age of 80 in November 2023, at the time of her passing, she was still working at Hy-Vee, and tending her own garden