Teaching at Iowa State was a backup plan for Kathy Connor, but on Feb. 21 she will celebrate her 25th year in higher education.

Connor, adjunct instructor in curriculum and instruction, is one of the ISU 25-Year Club’s 104 honorees this year. When she first began 25 years ago, she did not expect to still be working for Iowa State, she said.

Connor was a teacher in the Ames School District when her husband became a principal. Ames had a rule preventing spouses of a principal from being employed with the school.

Connor had planned to work at Iowa State only until she could go back to teaching. She credits enjoying working with students as one of the reasons she stuck it out for so long.

“I guess it didn’t seem to take 25 years,” Connor said.

The 25-Year Club has about 1,700 members, said Betty Licht, coordinator of the event and secretary of human resource services. The club was started in 1934 by Col. Harold Pride, who worked with the Memorial Union and the Alumni Association, Licht said.

This year’s 68th annual banquet will recognize 27 active employees who have reached 35 years with the university in addition to the 104 new members.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy will speak, and a program will highlight the events of 1966 and 1976, Licht said.

Each honoree will be given an award by their college dean, their department chairperson and Geoffrey.

Julian Schilletter, former director of residence and a member of the club for 47 years, will be an honored guest, Licht said. A formal dinner will be served followed by a short business meeting to elect new officers.

Justin Peters, professor and chairman of math, said the years have gone fast.

“It comes almost as a surprise to me it’s been 25 years,” Peters said.

When he started, Peters just focused on what he had to do and didn’t consider how many years he would be at Iowa State. He has always had things to do and not enough time to do them, Peters said.

When Robert Parrish, manager of the food stores for dining services, started with the university, he did not anticipate reaching the 25-year mark, he said. But he credits job stability and the Ames community as the reasons he has made it this long.

“We enjoy living in Ames,” he said. “Ames provides a lot for myself and my family.”