History

1966

• Hawkeye Institute of Technology established. Travis Martin hired as the first superintendent.
• Hawkeye’s fall enrollment is 227 students.
• The Waterloo Area Vocational School, which was operated by the Waterloo School District, is officially transferred to Hawkeye Institute of Technology.
• The State of Iowa provided $1.25 million to Hawkeye. This was the second largest allocation in the state.
• Voters pass the tax levy—$1.75 million was raised over five years.

1967

• The original board members define the mission of the Hawkeye Institute of Technology as “Teach for the future."
• Hawkeye Institute of Technology is the only technical school in Iowa. John Deere helps Hawkeye with training programs in drafting, manufacturing, engineering, and electronics. This effort evolved into a long-standing partnership between Deere and Hawkeye.

1968

• Construction begins on the first building on Hawkeye's main campus. Until this time, Hawkeye Institute of Technology operated entirely in rented facilities in Waterloo.

1969

• Hawkeye dedicates Butler Hall and Buchanan Hall.

1970

• Hawkeye celebrates the opening of Bremer Hall.

1973

• Hawkeye creates the Gates Department of Business taking over several business programs from the closed Gates Business College.

1974

• Black Hawk Hall is dedicated.
• Hawkeye has 41 career programs and a full-time vocational-technical staff.

1976

• Hawkeye’s fall enrollment is 1,628 students.
• Dr. John E. Hawse becomes the college's second president.

1978

• Hawkeye celebrates the opening of Hawkeye Center.

1983

• Grundy Hall is dedicated.

1985

• Fayette Hall is dedicated. This building is primarily the college's Greenhouse.
• Hawkeye's Metro Center opens at 844 West 4th in Waterloo. Programs and services offered included Adult Basic Education, GED, ESL, Senior Companion, Independent Learning Center, and GRAD Program with Waterloo School District.

1986

• Hawkeye’s fall enrollment is 2,149 students.

1989

• Voters approve $6.2 million bond issue for new buildings and on-campus renovations.

1991

• Hawkeye receives approval to become a comprehensive community college with arts and sciences transfer courses.
• Workforce Development, Region 7, becomes a part of Hawkeye.

1992

• Dr. Phillip Barry becomes the college's third president.

1993

• Hawkeye Institute of Technology officially becomes Hawkeye Community College.
• Enrollment increase by 66%.
• Hawkeye’s Tama Hall is dedicated.
• The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center is dedicated at 515 Beech Street, Waterloo. Programs and services include GED, college courses, summer program for grade school children, non-credit computer courses, and career workshops.

1995

• Hawkeye leases land to the Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, which features a variety of gardens and more than 450 trees. The arboretum is a classroom without walls that complements the other programs at Hawkeye Community College. It serves as a living museum showcasing Iowa's agricultural heritage.

1996

• Dr. William Hierstein becomes the college's fourth president.
• Hawkeye’s fall enrollment is 3,638 students.

1999

• Hawkeye opens its Cedar Falls Center, offering business and industry training in addition to college credit courses.
• Hawkeye dedicates a new Library more than twice the size of the previous facility. The new Library addressed the needs of Arts & Sciences curriculum.

2001

• Dr. Bettsey Barhorst becomes the fifth president.

2003

• Hawkeye dedicates the Independence Center, which offers credit and non-credit courses and serves high school students in Jesup, Independence, and East Buchanan school districts taking college credit classes while still in high school.
• Voters approve a $25.1 million bond issue, one of the largest in the history of Iowa's community colleges. Major projects include an addition to Black Hawk Hall, the Brock Student Center, and the Health Education and Services Center.

2005

• Hawkeye Foundation receives its largest single contribution from the estates of William Fennemann and Edna Fennemann. The college dedicates the Fennemann Center on Hawkeye's farm, featuring classrooms, computer labs, and the farm office. With more than 400 acres, Hawkeye's Farm Lab utilizes up-to-date technology, facilities, and equipment to provide students hands-on experiences in crop and livestock production and management.
• Greg Schmitz becomes the sixth president.
• The Brobst Center for Teaching and Learning opens, named in honor of long-time Hawkeye instructors and administrators, Dr. Dan and Carol Brobst.
• Black Hawk Hall addition is dedicated.
• Hawkeye Community College signs a letter of intent as a partner in the Cedar Valley TechWorks project.

2008

• The new student center is dedicated and named after Harold Brock.

2009

• Hawkeye's fall enrollment is a record 6,343.
• Hawkeye opens its Waverly Outreach Center.

2010

• Hawkeye opens its Western Outreach Center near Holland, Iowa.
• Hawkeye hosts RAGBRAI.

2011

• Dr. Linda Allen becomes Hawkeye's seventh president.
• Hawkeye opens the Health Education and Services Center on Main Campus.

2012

• Hawkeye dedicates the Regional Transportation Training Center, located at 6433 Hammond Ave., Waterloo.
• Hawkeye Community College earns Blue Zones worksite destination.
• Hawkeye Community College expands to Waterloo TechWorks. Classrooms and labs were located to The Green@TechWorks to accommodate two new “green” curriculum offerings—the “Alternative Energy Technologies” program and the proposed “Sustainable Construction” program.
• U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan & U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack visit Hawkeye

2013

• Advanced Technology and Business Center opens on Main Campus.

2014

• Hawkeye names and dedicates the Van Gerpen Patient Simulator Lab.

2015

• The Dislocated Worker Transition Center opens on Main Campus. Iowa Workforce Development, Hawkeye Community College, United Auto Workers Local 838, and John Deere partnered to implement a National Dislocated Worker Grant to assist 650 workers with obtaining new job skills and training.
• Voters overwhelmingly approve a $25 million bond issue. Major projects include a new adult education center, a new health sciences building, expanded training and education opportunities for high school students, and renovation of Grundy Hall.
• Hawkeye's new logo is adopted.
• The Child Development Center is relocated and expanded in partnership with Tri-County Head Start.
• Hawkeye offers Intercollegiate athletics with Sports Shooting starting fall 2015.
• The RedTail Athletics logo is adopted.
• Hawkeye introduces the mascot: Rusty the RedTail.

2016

• The Hawkeye Community College Board of Trustees approved purchasing property located at Jefferson Street and West Mullan Avenue in Waterloo for the construction of a new adult education center. The adult education center will combine the programs and services offered at the Metro Center and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and allow for space to expand programs.
• Men's and women's soccer teams begin their first season of intercollegiate competition.
• Hawkeye is named a 2016 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School for its comprehensive approach to sustainability.
• Hawkeye receives a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to train current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and children for jobs as commercial bus and truck drivers.
• The exhibit, "Hawkeye Community College: 50 Years of Making Connections," opens at the Grout Museum of History and Science.
• Independence Center moves into Independence High School.

2017

• Men's and women's cross country teams begin their first season of intercollegiate competition.
• Co-Ed Dance begins their first season.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Center closes and combines services with the Metro Center.

2018

• Co-Ed Esports team begins their first season.
• Men's golf team begins their first season.
• Women's volleyball team begins their first season.
• Hawkeye partners with Exceptional Persons, Inc. to open a child care center at the Adult Learning Center.
• The Sustainable Construction and Design program forms an innovative partnership with the City of Waterloo to build houses on vacant lots.
• Students and educators from five Iowa high schools travel to Kosovo, collaborating with local schools and government officials as part of a new innovative partnership to improve agricultural education both in Iowa and abroad.
• Waverly Outreach Center closes.
• Metro Center closes and moves services to the Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center

2019

• The Van G Miller Adult Learning Center is dedicated and named after philanthropist Van G Miller. The center provides adult basic education, high school completion, English Language Learning (ELL) classes, integrated education and training or I-BEST programs, Senior Companion Program, and college transition services.
• Dr. Todd Holcomb becomes Hawkeye's eighth president.
• Men's and Women's bowling teams begin their first season.

2020

• Hawkeye expands its course delivery formats with hybrid classes and increases the number of online classes to provide a safe learning environment for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Hawkeye started WE Build, a community-based program that provides career training, counseling, and job preparation for individuals interested in the construction industry.

2021

• Grundy Hall begins a top-to-bottom renovation.
• The Hawkeye Sustainable Construction and Design program became the first and only community college to be awarded the Zero Energy Designation Program from the US Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
• Hawkeye started the Pathways to Education and Employment for Reentry (PEER) program to provide education and career services to individuals with a record.

2022

• Hawkeye Community College had a $444.5 million impact on the Cedar Valley region’s economy, including the support of 6,343 jobs, according to a recent study by EMSI Burning Glass.

2023

• Voters approved a $35 million bond referendum. Major projects include renovating Butler Hall to create a Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Center, creating a STEM or Challenger Center, and expanding the law enforcement academy.
• The Automation and Robotics Center at Techworks is dedicated.
• Women’s softball begins its first season.

Occupation: Veterinarian

Dates Served: 1966–1979

Occupation: Assistant to the President, Wartburg College

Dates Served: 1966–1986

Occupation: Farmer—Engineer

Dates Served: 1966–1974

Occupation: Owner, Elm Park Plumbing & Electric

Dates Served: 1966–1991

James T. Martin, Sr. (1916–2006)

James. T. Martin, Sr., was one of the founding members of the Hawkeye Institute of Technology board of directors, serving for 25 years from 1966–1991. He held the leadership positions of board president, building and site chairman, and foundation president. His greatest accomplishment was knowing that Hawkeye’s current campus grew from his initial work with the building and sites committee. He was named a lifetime founding member of the Hawkeye Foundation and remained active in fundraising activities as long as his health allowed until his passing in November, 2006.

Mr. Martin was active in education throughout his life. Through his seven years on the Independence area school board and his appointment to the Buchanan County Board of Education, Mr. Martin emerged as a leader in community affairs. He was one of the moving forces behind the Area Education Agency and worked tirelessly to gain the passage of the Iowa Community College system.

His position as the secretary of the Master Plumbers of Iowa led to his involvement in the needs assessment for community colleges. As an employer he recognized that many people had the ability to work with their hands but needed more training to excel in their jobs. He knew that traditional college was not always the solution and sought ways to provide vocational training; Hawkeye Tech was the answer.

His passion for education was planted early; having graduated from eighth grade at the age of 11, he completed a “Normal Training Certificate” and taught in a country school briefly. He then opened his own auto repair shop which evolved into an electrical wiring business. His business, coupled with family responsibilities and his growing community involvement, kept him busy for the next 40 years. At age 72, Jim decided to return to school, taking Hawkeye’s General Technology degree program. Jim completed the required course of study in 1990, graduating while currently serving as a Trustee of the college.

Occupation: Attorney

Dates Served: 1966–1969

Occupation: Operations Manager, Iowa Public Service

Dates Served: 1966–1969

Occupation: Manager, Product Engineering, John Deere Research Center

Dates Served: 1966–1980

Harold Brock (1914–2011)

Personal and Family Life

Harold L. Brock was born November 23, 1914 to Edgar and Ada Grace (Snedegar) Brock in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Brock had a sister, Mildred, and a brother, Lynwood. As a child, his family moved to the Washington D.C. area, then to the Detroit, Michigan area.

On June 19, 1937, he married Juliette "Judy" S. Brower in Detroit. She passed away on February 27, 1990 in Waterloo. To this union a son and two daughters were born. Harold had four granddaughters and four great-grandsons.

He married Kathleen Sheehan in Waterloo on July 1, 1991. She passed away on April 14, 2010.

Mr. Brock passed away on Sunday, January 2, 2011.

He is remembered as a quiet, spiritual man who was soft-spoken and gentle. He was a valued source of advice for many with his consistent, confident, and caring views on life's challenges.

He was a man of diverse tastes. He enjoyed shopping on Chicago's State Street but preferred his local K-Mart, which grew from the stores founded in Detroit by his Sunday school teacher, S.S. Kresge. He was at ease in the country club, but looked forward to his next fast food burger, or the next taco with extra hot sauce. For many years his Christmas dinner table included a large bowl of pinto beans and raw onions to remind the family of their humble beginnings, but guests could also enjoy meat from the grill.

He had a quick wit and a sharp memory, and loved sharing stories of his days with the influential men most people only know from history books. Harold met or worked with men such as Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, George Washington Carver, Harvey Firestone, Luther Burbank, Harry Ferguson, Lee Iacocca, Edsel Ford, and Henry Ford II.

He also enjoyed family fishing trips to Gull Lake in Minnesota, outings to Chicago, and his many trips to Japan, along with an occasional round of golf.

Music was part of Harold's life, whether it was attending concerts involving his children or grandchildren, symphony concerts, barbershop shows, or organ recitals. Throughout much of his life, he entertained himself and family members sitting at the Hammond organ in his home.

Years at Ford

In 1929 at age 15, Harold Brock left traditional schooling to enter the Ford Trade and Apprentice School in Dearborn, Michigan. There he met founder Henry Ford, who became his mentor and introduced him to many of the great thinkers and inventors of the day.

Harold began his career at Ford working on car and truck design. By 1938, Mr. Ford chose Harold to spearhead the design and production of the revolutionary Ford 9N tractor, which was accomplished in six months. Harold continued to provide innovations for Ford for more than 28 years, except for the World War II years when he turned his focus to the design of the Jeep which was originally Ford's design. He also redesigned the front armor and drive systems for the Sherman tanks.

John Deere

Mr. Brock joined the design team at the John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo in 1959. He became the Director of Tractor Research and later the first Worldwide Manager of Product Engineering. He headed the design group for the Deere 4020 tractor, which has influenced tractor design ever since. He retired in February 1980, but served as a global consultant and, in the 1980s, assisted in a joint effort between Deere and Yanmar.

Harold Brock was a past president of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and founder of the Mississippi Valley Section of SAE. He was also a member and Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).

Hawkeye Community College

Remembering the training and education he received from Ford, in 1965 Harold Brock was one of four community leaders who lobbied the Iowa legislature to establish Hawkeye Institute of Technology. He was instrumental in building the campus south of Waterloo and later expanding its focus to become Hawkeye Community College. He was involved with the school for 45 years, serving as a member of the Hawkeye Foundation and the Hawkeye Board of Trustees. Brock served on Hawkeye's founding board as Chairman from 1966–1980 and was re-elected in 1998–2007, serving again as Chairman in 2000. In 2009, Hawkeye named the Brock Student Center after Harold for his dedication to the College and its students.

Community Involvement

Mr. Brock was a founding board member of Junior Achievement in Waterloo, and also was on the board of the Grout Museum, Cedar Valley Hospice and other community organizations. Harold served on numerous state and national committees and advisory boards, including Iowa Work Force Development.

Accomplishments

In his later years, Mr. Brock focused his energies on sharing the history he had witnessed. He wrote the book "The Fords in My Past" and co-authored or contributed to several books and video projects on the history of tractors and agriculture. He was called on often as a guest speaker for wide-ranging audiences, from fellow engineers and business leaders, to antique collectors and school children.

Much has been written and spoken about Harold Brock's accomplishments. He was well-recognized in the Waterloo region, state of Iowa, nationwide and internationally, receiving numerous awards and honors, including the Cyrus Hall McCormick Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal Award in 2008, and an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Iowa State University in 2010.

Books, internet blogs, and publications about tractors, agriculture or automotive engineering are filled with references to Harold Brock, using terms like "legend" and "innovator." People who actually spoke with Harold recall him as "amazingly accessible" and "humble," while generous with his time and genuine in his interest for others. He lived the philosophies of Henry Ford about reaching out to youth, and continuing to learn to stay young in mind.

Awards and Honors

• Honorary Doctor of Science, Iowa State University, 2010
• Eight Over 80 Award, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, 2010
• Brock Student Center dedicated in honor of Mr. Harold Brock, Hawkeye Community College, 2008
• Cyrus Hall McCormick-Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), 2008
• National M Sale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award, Association of Community College Trustees, 2007
• Central Region Trustee Leadership Award, Association of Community College Trustees, 2007
• Honorary Diploma, Hawkeye Community College, 2006
• Inspiration Award, Hawkeye Community College Foundation, 2000
• Citizen of the Year, Waterloo Chamber
• National Silver Leadership Award, Junior Achievement
• John P. Kibbie Award, Iowa Association of Community College Trustees

Occupation: Vice President, National Bank of Waterloo

Dates Served: 1966–1968

Occupation: Design Analysis—Technical Services Department, John Deere Research Center

Dates Served: 1966–1983

Harlan Van Gerpen (1924-2012)

Mr. Harlan Van Gerpen’s commitment to equipping people with tangible workforce skills was a driving force behind the development of the College. Harlan served in a variety of administrative roles during his 16 years on the original Board of Directors for Hawkeye Institute of Technology, and his involvement and input toward key decisions provided the groundwork for what is now Hawkeye Community College. Mr. Van Gerpen saw the need to provide training opportunities for people to learn new skills and earn credentials allowing them to secure employment with local employers and in turn provide services to their fellow community members.

Mr. Van Gerpen served three years in World War II as a meteorologist in Europe and 16 months in the Korean conflict as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. He earned a B.S. degree from South Dakota School of Mines and an M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois. He pioneered the use of computers in John Deere’s gear design process, and is believed to have been the first person in the world to use a computer to design gears reducing gear calculations from one week to 15 minutes. He retired from the John Deere Product Engineering Center after 28 years of service and spent the next 23 years as a partner in Van Gerpen/Reece Consulting developing and marketing gear design software.

Van Gerpen served as a state legislator from 1983-1985, and was later appointed to the Iowa Board of Education for a 3-year term. As a lifetime member of the Hawkeye Foundation, he remained active with the College until his passing in October, 2012. His vision to build and sustain career programs continues today through family gifts to establish the “Van Gerpen Health Sciences Endowment” with the Hawkeye Community College Foundation. Hawkeye’s Van Gerpen Patient Simulator Lab was dedicated in 2014 in memory of Harlan and his wife, Betty.