Buena Vista University

Nine Buena Vista University business students and nine science students have been selected for the Clifford A. Rae Academic Achievement Award for the 2025 academic year. The awards, which range up to $10,000, were created by two separate $750,000 endowments from the foundations established by Dr. Harold Walter Siebens and named after the long-time advisor and counsel to Siebens and the foundations. The endowments support annual awards for up to three pre-qualified, academically high-performing BVU business and science students in each of the second, third, and fourth years of school. These awards often help students offset the personal costs associated with completing an internship or experiential learning initiative, providing them with opportunities they otherwise would not be able to experience.

Joshua Giefer earned a Sigma Beta Delta honor society scholarship, a prestigious honor that recognizes academic excellence in business studies on an international scale. Joshua was inducted into BVU's chapter in Spring 2025 and was nominated for the award by BVU faculty representatives for the honor society. His accomplishment highlights the competitive achievements of BVU business students and beyond.

Buena Vista University congratulates more than 130 students who graduated in the Summer 2025.

Buena Vista University congratulates more than 400 students who graduated in Spring 2025.

Buena Vista University congratulates more than 120 students who were named to the Summer 2025 Dean's List. The Dean's List recognizes full-time students achieving a 3.5 grade point average or higher for the semester.

Buena Vista University congratulates more than 550 students who were named to the Spring 2025 Dean's List. The Dean's List recognizes full-time students achieving a 3.5-grade point average or higher for the semester.

17 students participate in BVU's Blue Steel pep band for the 2020-21 academic year. Blue Steel performs at home athletics events in Siebens Fieldhouse, aiming to pump up the players and the crowd with sets that range from, "All About That Bass" to "Final Countdown." The bulk of fall and winter sports seasons across the league were postponed this academic year due to COVID-19, which meant the pep band's season was also put on hold. As men's and women's basketball, along with other sports, return to play this spring, keeping the students and the community safe remains a top priority. Blue Steel members don masks and keep physically distanced as they play this season.

The acclaimed British vocal ensemble VOCES8 captivated audiences at Buena Vista University on February 12 as part of the Doris Grau Performing Arts Series. Adding to the evening's magic, the BVU Vista Chamber Singers joined VOCES8 for a special performance.

In May, 39 Buena Vista University (BVU) music students embarked on an international performance tour of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This 10-day tour gave students the opportunity to take in the sites, history, and culture of this beautiful part of the world and the BVU Concert Band, BVU Concert Choir, and Vista Chamber Singers had the opportunity to perform in spectacular spaces for extremely appreciative audiences.

Buena Vista University students earned 25 awards, including seven first-place honors, at the Iowa College Media Association's annual contest. The awards presentation took place on Feb. 6. Students earned honors for projects they created through digital media programs at BVU, including BVTV, The Tack, and KBVU.

Buena Vista University senior Madalyn Elwood has tackled an extraordinary opportunity in the sports analytics world. The mathematics major from Bennington, Neb., was one of just 21 students nationwide selected to participate in the prestigious 2024-2025 NFL Big Data Bowl Mentorship Program.

Ashley Stueven, a music education (K-12 instrumental teaching licensure), has accepted the band director position at Storm Lake High School.

Buena Vista University crowned its 2023 Homecoming royalty during Coronation on Friday, Oct. 13. Jasmin Terven, Zack Huffman, Kyle Miller, Faith Hankel, Brock Jordan, Joshua Tigges, Addison Weber, Kylee Brown, Emma Chase, and Marcos Rosales were nominated to the Homecoming Court. This year, there was a triple crown for Zack Huffman, Emma Chase, and Joshua Tigges! The tie for royalty showcases the exceptional leadership and spirit within our student community. Congratulations to these outstanding individuals!

Buena Vista University crowned its 2022 Homecoming royalty during Coronation on Sept. 30. Lauryn Kalkowski, Cara Kempadoo, Colin Imhoff, Alondra Melendez, Kenadie Doty, Jadyn Forbes, Taylor Wedemeyer, Emily Newton, and Samuel Bardwell were nominated to the Homecoming Court. Brayden Bergum and Landon Weber were crowned Homecoming Royalty.

Buena Vista University recognized 52 students during its annual Senior Recognition Ceremony this spring. The event honors students for their academic achievements, civic engagement, campus leadership, and more. At Buena Vista University, we take great pride in the accomplishments of our students and gratefully acknowledge the support of friends and family members who have encouraged these students to reach their potential while strengthening the community in the process.

Buena Vista University welcomes 267 new students who will begin their BVU academic journey in Fall 2021.

The Invest in Rural Iowa Scholarship Program helps 15 future BVU Beavers in each of the next four years achieve their collegiate dreams as an anonymous benefactor's incredible $1 million gift provides renewable scholarships of $5,000 per year to students who hail from a 19-county region of Northwest Iowa and pledge to continue their efforts in serving others in their communities.

Two Buena Vista University students, Brenna Horkey and Katie Gruhn, presented their poster at the International Association for Social Work with Groups Virtual International Symposium (IASWG). The poster titled, Sharing Our Story: A Student Support Group at Buena Vista University, is about the project they completed for the course Social Work Practice II during the 2020 Fall Semester. The IASWG Symposium is a peer-reviewed professional conference venue.

BVU students Grace Meyers, Noah Becker, Tillie Heithoff, and Hannah Streitilmier, presented their research at the Western Social Science Association 2021 Virtual Conference on April 23. Their qualitative study, titled COVID-19 Causing Chaos in Collegiate Communities, was completed for SCWK 381 Methods of Social Research II during the 2020 Fall Semester. The WSSA is a peer-reviewed professional conference venue.