The 2020 recipients of the University of Iowa Family Spirit Award are the Kitty (Kathleen) and Jody (Joseph IV) Buckwalter Family of Iowa City. For four generations and more than 100 years, the Buckwalter Family has benefited from, contributed to, and advocated for the University of Iowa, and 30 family members have at least one degree from Iowa.

Says Kitty and Jody Buckwalter: “The University of Iowa has enriched the lives of our family for more than a century. Our family members benefited from generations of dedicated, inspirational University of Iowa teachers who challenged their students to think critically, develop their abilities, pursue lifelong learning, and use their knowledge and skills to contribute to the health and wellbeing of others. On behalf of the past and present enthusiastic steadfast Hawkeyes of our family, we are grateful and honored to receive the University of Iowa Family Spirit Award.”

The Buckwalter Family will be formally recognized as the 2020 recipients in the spring. For more information, please visit foriowa.org/family-spirit/.

Jody and Kitty Buckwalter with the next two generations of their family: From left to right,  Marty Potash (00BS, 07MD, 12F) and Sissy (Buckwalter) Potash (07MD, 07F, 12R); Kitty (71BSN, 76MA) and Jody (Joseph IV) (69BA, 72MS, 74MD, 79R) Buckwalter; Jody (Joseph V) (05PhD, 16R) Buckwalter and Allie Hart, Ivan Andújar Segura and Abigail Buckwalter; and Kitty and Jody’s seven grandchildren.