Press Contact:
Andy Frantz, Executive Director
Ph: 515-770-1844
afrantz@keepiowabeautiful.org
DES MOINES, Iowa (April 25, 2025) – Governor Kim Reynolds has officially proclaimed April as Keep Iowa Beautiful Month, continuing a longstanding tradition that highlights the importance of community pride and environmental stewardship. The proclamation encourages all Iowans to participate in local programs that promote cleanliness, beautification, and sustainability in their communities and across the state. For over a decade, Iowa governors have honored April Keep Iowa Beautiful Month, urging residents to take action in preserving the natural beauty of the state through community-led efforts.
“This month serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to care for and protect the places we live, work, and play,” said Andy Frantz, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. “From small towns to larger cities, every act of beautification contributes to the vibrancy and health of our communities.”
Keep Iowa Beautiful Month, named after the statewide nonprofit Keep Iowa Beautiful, reflects a broader mission to foster civic pride and environmental awareness. As a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful for 25 years, the organization works to build meaningful partnerships with government agencies, businesses, communities, counties, and service groups. Its statewide initiatives focus on litter prevention, recycling, beautification, landscape enhancement, volunteerism, and waste reduction.
Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer joined Keep Iowa Beautiful at the Iowa State Capitol on Wednesday, April 23, to commemorate the occasion during the organization’s annual awards and scholarships ceremony.
The recipients of the 2025 Keep Iowa Beautiful Annual Awards honor individuals, communities, organizations, and businesses that demonstrate exceptional commitment to enhancing the beauty, sustainability, and livability of Iowa’s communities.
Keep Iowa Beautiful also announced the recipients of the 2025 Keep Iowa Beautiful Scholarship Awards, recognizing three outstanding Iowa high school seniors for their dedication to improving their communities through service, leadership, and environmental stewardship. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship to support their continued education at an Iowa college or university. Since its inception, the Keep Iowa Beautiful Scholarship Program has awarded $63,000 in scholarships to 73 students. This year’s program drew 145 applications from across the state, showcasing the passion and potential of Iowa’s next generation of leaders.
Keep Iowa Beautiful 2025 award recipients:
Robert D. Ray Community Award for Excellence: Presented to the City of DeWitt in recognition of their continued efforts to enhance the beauty, cleanliness, and overall appeal of their community. DeWitt has a legacy of improvement and community pride through dedication to beautification, sustainability, and collaboration.
Keep Iowa Beautiful Organization Award for Excellence: Awarded to AARP Iowa for their impactful work in helping communities across Iowa plan and implement programs that improve livability and promote healthy, vibrant places to live. AARP Iowa helps foster livable communities that prioritize accessibility, sustainability, and inclusivity for residents of all ages.
Keep Iowa Beautiful Corporate Award for Excellence: Presented to Alliant Energy for their ongoing investment and leadership in strengthening the quality of life in communities throughout Iowa. Alliant Energy has made a profound and meaningful difference in Iowa’s quality of life by empowering communities with resources, expertise, and leadership to thrive.
Donald F. Lamberti Hometown Pride Vision Award: Awarded to the City of Delaware Hometown Pride Committee for their long-standing dedication to improving the quality of life in their community and making rural Iowa a better place to live and raise a family. The Delaware Hometown Pride Committee is a small but mighty group with a high level of community involvement, a sense of pride, and a can-do spirit in making an impact on their community.
Keep Iowa Beautiful Service Award: Awarded to Doug Shull for his dedicated service to Keep Iowa Beautiful and its mission for 25 years. Shull is one of the founders of Keep Iowa Beautiful, has served on the board since the organization’s inception, and is the current Board Chair. His leadership has guided and sustained the organization from the ground up, ensuring that Keep Iowa Beautiful remains a strong and impactful force for good across the state.
Keep Iowa Beautiful 2025 scholarship recipients:
Maranda Wood of Baldwin received the Fultz Communications & Marketing Scholarship. She plans to attend Iowa State University to study Agricultural Communications. This scholarship is named in honor of Bill Fultz, a founding board member of Keep Iowa Beautiful and a visionary in agricultural marketing whose work had global impact.
Kelsey Hoeger of Earlville was awarded the Schnepf Community Service Scholarship. Hoeger also plans to attend Iowa State University, majoring in Agricultural Communications. The scholarship honors Gerry Schnepf, Keep Iowa Beautiful’s founding Executive Director, whose five-decade career helped shape Iowa into a cleaner, more beautiful place to live and work.
Parker Messerich of Charlotte is the recipient of the Byers Environmental Scholarship. Messerich plans to attend the University of Dubuque to study Environmental Science. This scholarship honors the legacy of Bob Byers, a longtime educator whose passion for youth development and environmental advocacy inspired generations of young Iowans.
2025 Keep Iowa Beautiful Month Proclamation.
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About Keep Iowa Beautiful
Keep Iowa Beautiful was established in 2000 by Governor Robert D. Ray and Donald F. Lamberti becoming the 23rd State Affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. It is a 501c3 charitable organization working with citizens, neighborhoods and communities in improving the vitality and cultural health of the state of Iowa. KIB is helping build stronger communities to develop sustainable futures. For more information, visit our website at https://keepiowabeautiful.org/.
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Keep Iowa Beautiful Proclamation
Pictured left to right: Mike Richardson (Keep Iowa Beautiful Board Vice-Chair), Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer, Andy Frantz (Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director)
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Pictured left to right: Andy Frantz (Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director), Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer, Garey Chrones (Councilperson of the City of DeWitt), Steve Lindner (City Administrator of the City of DeWitt), LeAnn Schaefer (DeWitt Chamber & Development Company), Mike Richardson (Keep Iowa Beautiful Board Vice-Chair)
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Pictured left to right: Andy Frantz (Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director), Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer, Garey Chrones (Councilperson of the City of DeWitt), Steve Lindner (City Administrator of the City of DeWitt), LeAnn Schaefer (DeWitt Chamber & Development Company), Mike Richardson (Keep Iowa Beautiful Board Vice-Chair)
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Pictured left to right: Andy Frantz (Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director), Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer, Julie Vande Hoef (Senior Manager of Commercial Operations of Alliant Energy), Katie Popp (Marketing Consultant II of Alliant Energy), Kristen Weaverling (Communications Specialist II of Alliant Energy), Mike Richardson (Keep Iowa Beautiful Board Vice-Chair)
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Keep Iowa Beautiful will present this award to the Delaware Hometown Pride Committee in June in Delaware.
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Pictured left to right: Andy Frantz (Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director), Doug Shull (Keep Iowa Beautiful Board Chair), Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer, Mike Richardson (Keep Iowa Beautiful Board Vice-Chair)
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Pictured left to right: Andy Frantz (Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director), Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer, Maranda Wood (Award Recipient), Sawyer Burken (Maranda Woods friend), Mike Richardson (Keep Iowa Beautiful Board Vice-Chair)
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Pictured left to right: Andy Frantz (Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director), Grace Knipper (Kelsey Hoeger’s grandmother), Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer, Kelsey Hoeger (Award Recipient), Gerald Schnepf (Keep Iowa Beautiful Founding Executive Director), Donna Hoeger (Kelsey Hoeger’s mother), Mike Richardson (Keep Iowa Beautiful Board Vice-Chair)
Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger Photography
Byers Environmental Scholarship: Parker Messerich (absent)