Forty-six of Iowa State’s approximately 6,000 faculty and staff were honored at the 1997 Spring Convocation and Awards Ceremony, held Wednesday afternoon in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

About 300-350 people attended the ceremony.

ISU President Martin Jischke began the ceremony with a review of the past year.

“Each year is about gains and losses,” Jischke said. “We look back at gains and losses and look forward towards the future.”

He cited some of ISU’s academic victories. For example, in the past year, Iowa State has had a record number of National Merit Scholars. Over the span of a year, the number of National Merit Scholars went from 54 to 154.

This year also marks the first time the varsity athletes have had a higher average GPA than the student body, with the gymnastics team leading the way.

Within the past year, Iowa State has also been the beneficiary of a $34 million donation. With this large gift, Iowa State is consequently the recipient of the largest monetary donation in Iowa, and the 12th largest donation in the nation

“In many respects it has been a successful and fun year,” Jischke said.

On a more solemn note, the president extended his sympathies toward the friends and family of Uri Sellers, who was killed during Veishea weekend. Jischke said the university must face the problem of alcohol during Veishea and other events as they are planned in the future.

Jischke said everyone must be prepared to face the inevitable problems and challenges of the next century.

“Most new challenges,” he said, “have their origins in higher education.” He said as there is a demand for previous knowledge, research and economic development, there is also a growing demand for new services to teach a population of people who have been historically unserved.

With the demand for knowledge, Jischke said, there are also real competitors for jobs, especially in the private sector. With that demand is a continuing squeeze on state and federal funding.

Employers want well-skilled employees who understand technology and can communicate effectively, he said. “Employers want people who are committed to community and environment.”

He said increasing trust is also imperative for the future of the nation’s education system.

“While we continue to see remarkable support in higher education, there is a decline in public trust across the nation,” he said. “We need that trust to continue our work.”

He said the disagreements are causing too many public fights in our nation, and the turnover among academic leaders is too high.

“Our nation has the best system of higher education in the world,” he said. “If we don’t deal with these issues, we will lose that status.”

Jischke said he wants to educate the community as well as students.

“My hope is that we can increase a learning environment for our community as we increase it for our students and ourselves,” he said.

Jischke estimated the new educational structure will be less structured, more team-oriented and more responsive to the changing needs of students.