Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward announced on November 27 that alum Mike Gerdin (‘92) and the Gerdin Charitable Foundation will contribute $10 million to the renovation of the Regents Center, the largest single-gift in College history.
The lead gift will be used to renovate the Regents Center, which will be renamed the Gerdin Fieldhouse for Athletics and Wellness upon completion. The contribution from Gerdin and his wife Nicole is part of the early stages of fundraising for a large-scale renovation of Regents, which will include the reconfiguration of the gymnasium, construction of new team locker rooms, creation of gathering and study spaces, and the implementation of air conditioning.
Ward, speaking to an audience that included students, faculty, Luther athletic department staff and community members, highlighted that the Gerdin Fieldhouse will become “a year-round destination for practice, recreation, wellness, camps and competitions.”
“This extraordinary investment by the [Gerdin Family] will literally be game-changing for Luther College, not to mention contributing to the vitality of [Decorah], Winneshiek County, and Northeast Iowa,” Ward said.
Gerdin is a former member of the Luther Men’s Basketball team. He said his motivation for giving to Luther stemmed from a past visit to Luther, where he realized that the gymnasium had not been updated since his graduation as a student over 30 years ago.
“I told President Ward that it’s time,” Gerdin said. “It’s time for Luther to upgrade. We started talking about the gift and what it could mean to all sports, and the community of Decorah.”
Vice President of Development Mary Duvall said that with the donation, Luther has reached 60% of their financial goal for funding renovations to Regents. The project is apart of the larger 2023-2025 Strategic Framework, which also includes plans to renovate Preus Library and Main Building.
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Renae Hartl and former Men’s Basketball head coach Jeff Olinger (‘85) also spoke to the audience, as did Director of College Ministries Melissa Bills. Hartl expressed her gratitude to Gerdin and his family for their generous contribution to the Luther community.
“Here at Luther, students are at the heart of all we do, and these gifts are really about them,” Hartl said. “Our campus becomes their home for four years, and we work hard to provide an environment where we exercise our minds in classes and labs, and we stress and push and exercise our bodies as part of overall wellness and a strong tradition of NCAA Division III athletics.”
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation consists of Mike and Nicole Gerdin, Ann Gerdin, Julie Durr, and Angela Jaansen. The foundation has previously donated funds towards the establishment of a Gerontology Chair at the University of Northern Iowa, and towards the expansion of Iowa State University’s College of Business. Gerdin serves as Chairman and CEO of Heartland Express, located in North Liberty.
The full announcement can be watched on YouTube, and more information about the gift can be found at luther.edu.
