Finkbine Dinner Awards

The Finkbine Tradition

The first annual dinner for representative Iowa men was held February 21, 1917,with William O. Finkbine, 1878A, 1880L, of Des Moines, and Carl Kuhnle, 1881A, 1882L, of Denison, as hosts. In 1921 the first annual dinner for representative Iowa women, the Good-Will Dinner, was held with Dorothy Finkbine Sauers (daughter of W.O.) and her aunts Emilie and Marie Stapp of Massachusetts as hostesses. In 1972 the dinners were combined and designated the Finkbine Dinner of Representative Students. The purpose of the dinners was to enable the hosts and hostesses to become acquainted with each generation of campus leaders and for these leaders to know each other, all to the end of cementing firm and lasting ties to the University. So successful did he believe these dinners to be, Mr. Finkbine provided an endowment to perpetuate them.

Medal
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To these dinners have come each year students chosen as campus leaders, those who have attended Finkbine Dinners in previous years, the president, deans, and other members of the University. Speeches are few, but conversation is predominant in the proceedings.

Mr. Finkbine hoped that the leaders of The University of Iowa’s constituencies: students, faculty, administration, and alumni would, on these occasions, come to have a better understanding of one another’s diverse interests and of their mutual concern for the traditions and vitality of the University.

The Hancher-Finkbine Medallions

To recognize leadership, learning, and loyalty, the tradition of awarding Hancher-Finkbine Medallions was established in 1964. They are named for the founder of the Finkbine Dinner, William O. Finkbine, and for Virgil M. Hancher, a student guest at the first dinner who served for 24 years as president of the University, and who, to an unusual degree, exemplified the three characteristics for which the awards are given. Seven medallions are awarded annually, to four outstanding students, one professor, one staff member and a graduate who has attained special distinction.

Nomination Process:

Alumni nominations are solicited from the University community and through the Alumni Association Board of Directors. In the Fall, a female recipient is selected in odd numbered years and a male recipient is selected in even numbered years. Each Spring, student nominations are solicited from each collegiate dean and recognized student organizations. Deans and Recognized student organizations may nominate two undergraduates and two graduate/professional students for consideration. The faculty nomination process is determined by the collegiate student organization in cooperation with a faculty member in the college who serves as advisor for this process. At least three must be forwarded to the Finkbine Dinner Committee for consideration. For faculty nominations colleges rotate each year with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences every four years because of the large number of faculty in that college. Nominations for staff recipient (first awarded in 2007) are solicited from the campus community. The award will rotate each year between staff in the merit and professional and scientific classifications.

Selection Process:

Each year the Finkbine Dinner Committee composed of students, staff and faculty and an alumnus select the recipients of the Hancher-Finkbine Medallions. Student and faculty recipients are informed of their selection by the collegiate dean and publicly announced at the Finkbine Dinner for representative student leaders held each April in the Iowa Memorial Union. The alumni recipient is informed by the University President in January of each year prior to the dinner.

2012 Nominations

In 2012 the faculty member honored will be selected from faculty in the College of Education and a staff recipient from Merit staff members.

Forms available in PDF format. Adobe Reader required.

Incomplete nominations or nominations that do not adhere to the specifications outlined will not be reviewed by the committee.