Four lovely maidens will soon be arriving in Ames to herald the return of an Iowa State landmark, thanks in part to the 1998 ISU Senior Class Council gift.

The Fountain of the Four Seasons, located in front of the Memorial Union, has been under construction and being renovated since the summer of 1996.

But next week, it will welcome back its four statues, said Terri Hasselman, director of development for University Museums.

Installation will begin immediately, with an unveiling ceremony planned for sometime during Veishea weekend, April 17-19.

The class of 1998 has promised to sponsor one of the maidens and has set a goal to raise $80,000 during the ongoing Senior Class Challenge, said Lon Freeman, one of three challenge officers and senior in chemical engineering.

“It’s got a lot of history for Iowa State, and a lot of the seniors have seen it wear down a little bit,” Freeman said.

“Now, hopefully, they’ll see it come back as a focal point for Iowa State’s campus,” he said.

Only half of the seniors’ donation is allocated to the “damsel in distress.”

Freeman said the other $40,000 will be used to renovate the basin of the fountain.

The figures, sculpted by Christian Peterson, were removed almost two years ago and sent to Connecticut for a high-tech cleaning process.

The entire project, which involves statues, the fountain and the interior plumbing will cost about $250,000, Hasselman said.

Freeman said challenge officers are cooperating with ISU Foundation personnel in the fund-raising effort.

“We’re beginning to seek out Leadership Gifts in order to fund the senior class gift,” he said.

“These are gifts given by leaders in the class of 1998 who feel that their contribution to Iowa State should be at a higher level,” Freeman said, adding that the minimum for a Leadership Gift is $200.

Several of these donations have already been received, he said, and all leadership-level donors will be recognized in a reception at Brunnier Gallery in early April.

Andy Lashier, Senior Class Council president and senior in finance, said this year’s gift is “very significant” because of its timeliness.

“This will be the first time a senior class gift will be completed before graduation in the spring,” he said.

“The fountain is something that as seniors, we were able to see it our freshman and sophomore years, and we’ve really missed it,” Lashier said.

Freeman agreed.

“This is very exciting for us, because we can actually see it go up,” he said.

Another notable feature of the 1998 gift is the wide range of donors.

The senior classes of 1946, 1947 and 1948 are each sponsoring one statue in order to help the project be completed.

“I think it’s a real bonus that we’re with three other classes,” Lashier said. “It’s a cross-generational gift.”

Freeman said this aspect of fund raising will be a major selling point as the council makes face-to-face contact with possible Leadership Gift donors.

“We’ll go out and discuss with them the benefits of the gift … and the uniqueness of being able to give with the other three classes,” he said.

The Leadership Gift campaign is taking place this week, Freeman said, with personal contacts being made by the ISU Foundation and the 18 members of the Senior Class Council.

Then, the second phase of the fund drive will begin, with the class-wide call-a-thon running April 6-17.

Freeman said he hopes the generosity of those who give Leadership Gifts will pave the way for a successful phone campaign.

“Hopefully others will see that commitment and want to give as well,” he said.

Previous senior class gifts have funded the renovation of Lake LaVerne, landscaping at Reiman Gardens, and the marquee at the Iowa State Center.

The first senior gift on record, Freeman said, is the grandfather clock located in the Memorial Union.

The clock was donated by the class of 1889.

Seniors interested in giving at any level should e-mail [email protected].