Beverly Kruempel is the recipient of the 2013 Carrie Chapman Catt Award for her service to the League of Women Voters of Ames and to the greater community of Ames.
Bev is a long-standing member of the League of Women Voters. She served as President of the Ames League in 1996 through 1998 and as Secretary from 2009 through 2012. During her term, the League study of the Story County Medical Center brought the necessity of maintaining and supporting the Nevada facility for all Story County residents to the attention of voters. As Secretary she was an incredible resource to the board. Her experiences and knowledge of issues allowed her to provide both clarification and context for past League actions. Bev has been an active League member, a loyal presence at general meetings and a frequent assistant on League projects
Bev's academiccareer began at Iowa State Lin/versi/ywhere, as an undergraduate, she was active in residence hall government as well as church and campus 4-H activities. In 1961 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics for General Education. She received her M.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1968. In 1990 Bev was awarded a Ph.D. in Higher Education from ISU.
After receiving her PhD, Bev served the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences as Professor and as Director of Career Services. In these roles she taught, advised and mentored undergraduate and graduate students for many years. Her style was evident in an article she co-authored in the Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences titled “Civic Engagement Comes Alive' That title aptly describes her commitment and service career. Always aware of the importance of civic responsibility, she required students in one of her classes to attend two meetings of a public board or agency. The assignment was to observe the use of critical thinking skills, parliamentary procedure, consensus building, and public input. Students reported they had learned about civic
engagement and had developed a clearer understanding of the importance of participation in civic activities. A graduate student's dissertation noted Dr. Kruempel's “keen intelligence, kindness and commitment to social advocacy and efficiency"
Interspersed with her pursuit of higher education was work in other areas of Iowa and the world. From 1961-1962 she served as an Extension Home Economist in Des Moines County, Iowa. After she and Ken married in 1962, they entered the Peace Corps and were stationed in Brazil for three years. Bev worked with young girls in three 4-H type organizations, where she assisted in designing a home economics school and helped train para-professionals in home economics.
In addition to her illustrious academic career, she also served her church in numerous capacities and was active in local politics and community events. When her children were young, she volunteered as a 4-H club leader. From 1979 to 1985, as the Assistant Director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Story County, Bev coordinated the activities of 250 senior citizen volunteers and organized toy and food distributions. She also chaired the Story County Human Services Council.
When she retired, Bev made a conscious decision that she would volunteer in areas of need rather than fill her time wit/i leisure and social activity. As a member of Collegiate Methodist Church Bev has done mission work in the Philippines the past five years. The missionaries serve as ambassadors from the U.S., speaking to groups and helping to organize activities within the churches. The work also involves physical labor such as painting, cleaning, and small building projects.
Back in Ames, Bev is a regular volunteer at Israel Hospice House, where she organizes all special occasion functions for patients, their families, and hospice personnel. She also assists with the United Methodist Church mission to the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women at Mitchellville, where a full-fledged church has been established. In addition to helping find financial support and
working with the inmates, Bev invites guests from ISU to attend services at the church with her. She also works with people who have been released from prison as they adjust to life in the community.
For Bev, Iowa State University, the Ames Community and her church have played important roles in her life and have prompted her to give of herself to civic involvement, to young people in their formative years, and to those in need both in Iowa and abroad. As impressive as the good work Bev accomplishes is the manner in which she does it. She brings positive energy to every task she undertakes. She is a thoughtful, wise woman who has accomplished much and lives her life with happy zeal.
