George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award
This citation honors distinguished College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni and/or friends who have demonstrated outstanding achievement or leadership in making significant, influential, or innovative contributions to society. Selection is made by the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
This award was established in 2005 and is presented annually during Iowa State University’s Homecoming Weekend.
2024 George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Awardee
Robert (attended ISU ’58-’63) and Patricia (’64 food and nutrition) Jester
West Des Moines & Ames, Iowa
Robert and Patricia Jester have made influential contributions to society and Iowa State University.
Robert is president and owner of Jester Insurance Services, which was founded by his great-grandfather in 1897. In 1974, Robert contacted EMC Companies about a new approach of providing insurance to government entities. Starting with the Iowa Association of School Boards and a sponsored safety group program, it now includes almost all public-school entities in Iowa. Robert has given much of his time to organizations such as the Municipal Clerks School, Iowa Association of School Boards, and others by developing educational programs for insurance agents and school personal. He previously served as president for the board of directors of Friends of Iowa Public Television and the Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority. He was named ISU Outstanding Young Alumnus in 1975.
Patricia is the retired president and owner of Creative Foods Ltd., a food and nutrition consulting firm. She authored five cookbooks, including a microwave cookbook that reached 1.5 million copies sold, and consulted for Victoria Magazine, a Hearst publication. She has served on the Iowa State Achievement Fund Board of Trustees and was co-founder of the Polk County Iowa State Alumni Association.
The Jesters have been generous donors to Iowa State. The couple created the Robert and Patricia Jester Endowment Fund for General Scholarships in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Additionally, they have supported the Iowa State Center, the Durham Computational Center, and the construction of a new Honors Program Building.
The Jesters are ISU Foundation Governors, life members of the ISU Alumni Association and members of the Order of the Knoll.
Past Recipients
- 2023 – Gerald, ’62 agricultural business, and Karen Kolschowsky
- 2022 – Christopher E. Nelson, friend of Iowa State University
- 2021 – Rachel Chikwamba, ’02 PhD genetics
- 2020 – Dewayne L. Goldmon, ’91 PhD agronomy
- 2019 – Diane Feickert Birt
- 2018 – Dawn Mellion-Patin, ’95 PhD agricultural and life sciences education
- 2017 – Gerald E. Klonglan, ’58 rural sociology, ’62 MS, ’63 PhD
- 2016 – Walter Hill
- 2015 – Don Koo Lee, ’75 MS forestry, ’78 PhD
- 2014 – Antoine J. Alston, ‘00 PhD agricultural and life sciences education
- 2013 – Jon Kinzenbaw
- 2012 – Jim Gulliford, ‘73 forestry, ’75 MS
- 2011 – Harold R. Crawford, ‘50 agricultural and life sciences education, ’55 MS, ’69 PhD
- 2010 – Rose Marie Boughton, ‘58 dietetics
- 2009 – Jerald DeWitt
- 2009 – Charles E. Sukup
- 2008 – Rich & Nancy Degner
- 2008 – John Pesek
- 2007 – Duane Acker
- 2006 – Harold “Sande” and Margo McNabb