Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) will award three $1,000 scholarships to Iowa high school seniors in 2020 who plan to enroll in an Iowa college or university. 

The scholarships are in honor of three pioneers in KIB’s 20-year history:

Bob Byers–Educator.  Through Bob’s leadership, KIB’s Litter-Free School Campus program was started in NW Iowa. His dedication to young people and environmental concerns was a driving force encouraging young people to help improve their community.

William Fultz—KIB Founding Board Member and artist. Bill started an advertising agency that became the largest agricultural advertising agency in the world.

Gerald Schnepf—KIB Founding Executive Director.  Gerry’s career spanned 50 years of making Iowa a better place to live, work and raise a family.

The Byers scholarship is supporting high school students who plan to enroll and study environmental science, community development, landscape architecture or architecture (historical emphasis) or community planning and sustainability.

The Schnepf scholarship will be awarded to a senior who has a record of community service and a desire to continue to support and contribute to the enhancement of the place they live and work.  College programs could include community & regional planning and volunteer management.

The Fultz scholarship will be awarded to a senior planning on studying communications, public relations and/or marketing.  

“KIB seeks to foster positive values in younger generations and reinforce them in older generations. We encourage respect for home, neighborhood, community and state,” said Kevin Techau, KIB Executive Director.

For more information or to apply online, visit our scholarship page.

Applications are due January 31, 2020 with notification in March.  All award recipients will be invited to a ceremony in the Governor’s Office in Des Moines in March/April.  

About Keep Iowa Beautiful

Keep Iowa Beautiful was established in 2000 by Governor Robert D. Ray and Donald F. Lamberti becoming the 23^rd State Affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.   The organization is 501c3 charitable organization working with citizens, neighborhoods and communities in improving the vitality and cultural health of the state of Iowa.  Keep Iowa Beautiful is helping build stronger communities to develop sustainable futures.  Learn more at  KeepIowaBeautiful.com

With Fall here it’s time to take a photo of your favorite place in Iowa and enter Keep Iowa Beautiful’s 10^th Photography Contest aimed at raising awareness of Iowa’s rural and urban beauty. This photo contest offers both amateur and experienced photographers an opportunity to tell Iowa’s story in a fun, engaging way during your favorite season.

“This is a great way for Iowans to share what they admire about Iowa’s beauty,” said Kevin Techau, KIB Executive Director.  “First place will receive $50, second place $40 and third $30.  All three will receive a one-year subscription to Our Iowa magazine.”

The deadline is December 13, 2019 and entries must be submitted as high resolution JPEG electronically to [email protected]  .  $5 entry fee, contest rules and payment can be made at on our website.  

Keep Iowa Beautiful empowers Iowans to bring cultural and economic vitality into communities through improvement and enhancement programs.  By working directly with Iowa communities, corporations and private citizens, KIB is building new citizen pride in caring for Iowa. KIB wants to learn what resonates with Iowans based on the photographs they share through this photography contest.  Photos and winner’s names will be posted on the KIB website, Facebook and featured in the KIB Newsletter.

Keep Iowa Beautiful received a $7,500 grant from ITC Midwest to encourage student volunteerism for community service throughout Iowa. The grant will be used to support the Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) programming to connect community service needs with the personal interests and values of students.

“We are very grateful to receive this support from ITC, which will be used to enhance our programming to improve the beauty of Iowa’s countryside and communities across the state. This grant will help create opportunities for students to volunteer for the community service activities that match their own interests and values,” said Kevin Techau, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful.

Through the ITC Charitable Giving Program, ITC Midwest makes contributions to local nonprofits as part of the company’s commitment to the many communities it serves. ITC supports qualified nonprofit organizations whose programs and projects emphasize the company’s focus on education, environmental stewardship, social services, and health and wellness. 

“ITC is pleased to provide this funding to Keep Iowa Beautiful and its programs to encourage volunteerism and community service,” said ITC Midwest Local Government and Community Affairs Regional Manager Troy Weary. “Communities around the state have been highly supportive of ITC’s efforts to improve the regional electric transmission system. We’re pleased to give back by supporting the beneficial programs at Keep Iowa Beautiful.”

About ITC Midwest

ITC Midwest LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp. (ITC), the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company. ITC Midwest operates more than 6,800 circuit miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri. ITC’s focus on transmission and grid development drives operational excellence and delivers superior value for customers, communities and other stakeholders.

On Thursday, August 15th at 6:00 pm, the Green Runners of Des Moines will lead a run from the State Capitol to the Iowa State Fair, collecting trash along the way. The event is free and the first thirty runners to sign up will receive free admission to the State Fair and a free beverage from the Budweiser tent.  This marks the 7^th year the event has taken place.  

The event brings together Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB), the Iowa State Fair, Doll Distributing, and the Green Runners of Des Moines with the shared goal of raising awareness about litter prevention and keeping both Iowa and the Iowa State Fair clean.  The run combines the opportunity to improve your health and the health of the neighborhoods by cleaning up litter along the route.  

“The Green Runners are elated to be, once again, participating in this fun event with such prominent local organizations with shared goals.” states Rachel Kautzky-Scheib, the founder of the group. “We hope the run will raise awareness for litter prevention and trash cleanup to keep all communities in Iowa safe and green.”

“The Iowa State Fair is one of the cleanest in the nation,” said Kevin Techau, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. “It’s through the efforts of all Iowans that make Iowa one of the most popular states to live, work and raise a family.”   

The Iowa State Fair runs from August 8^th through August 18^th.  For a complete list of events and attractions, visit www.iowastatefair.org.

Green Runners T-shirts will be for sale at the start of the run for $20.  Runners should plan to arrive around 5:30 pm in running attire on the South side of the State Capitol.  Bags and personal items will be transported to the State Fair from the Capitol.  Bus rides are available at no cost from the State Fair to the Capitol.  To sign up for the Capitol to Corndogs Clean 5K run, email Rachel at [email protected]